Grand Forks - North Dakota - History

The history of the city of Grand Forks is consistent with other cities in the region. After the Native Americans, the first visitors and settlers were trappers and traders, who utilized "les Grandes Fourches" to congregate and to set up a trading post. Les Grandes Fourches was selected as a rendezvous point for trappers." Many more gathered as the years went by; a significant number stayed.

Early farming settlers seeking to reap from the rich soil soon followed. A post office was created to handle the incoming settlers. Sanford C. Cady, the first postmaster, who, on June 15, 1870, is credited with naming the city "Grand Forks" - a literal interpretation of the French name. However, the city was not incorporated until February 22, 1881. The steamboat, which was responsible for a growing number of trappers and traders to the region, was essential to the evolution of Grand Forks into a town.

Alexander Griggs, known as the "Father of Grand Forks" has been acknowledged as responsible for growth of Grand Forks from a trading area to a town. The town was growing quickly. One is the establishment of two local newspapers. From 1880 to 1890 the population grew due to the introduction of the railroad to the region and the subsequent business boom.

In a matter of years the Grand Forks Fire Department, Police Department, the School District and a Hospital emerged within the city. Central School opened in 1881, followed shortly by other schools. All of this development grew around the trading industry and the incredible farming throughout the region. Businesses from mills to breweries to hotels became familiar up and down the river valley.

In 1900, the downtown merchants organized "Winnipeg Day", an "international crazy days” that transported several hundred Canadians into the city. "Crazy Days" continues to be annual tradition, setting aside one day in early autumn as a focus on local business and the local tourist trade.

At this time, North Dakota was a "dry state" and therefore residents looked across the river for much of its "leisure activity." East Grand Forks was growing, thanks mostly to the brewery and some 30 saloons that existed.

 Education was growing as fast as business as the University of North Dakota was well on the way to becoming part of the foundation of the growing city. Thus, with the base of agriculture, trading, retail and education, Grand Forks entered the new century in perfect position to become a thriving regional center.

Like the rest of the country, however, the city suffered through the Great Depression in the late '20s and early '30s that brought hardship throughout the entire region. World War II brought in an economic boom for farmers, and, subsequently, the entire region.

In 1954, the Federal Government chose a site just west of town as the site for a new Air Force Base. It was originally classified as a "jet interceptor air base" and housed over 1600 people by 1960.

On Friday, April 18, 1997, the Red River poured over the dikes into the Lincoln Drive neighbourhood of Grand Forks. By the end of the next day, floodwaters had spread over large areas of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks; people were out of their homes, and downtown Grand Forks was burning. Almost every home in East Grand Forks, and most homes in Grand Forks had flood damage. Residents considered themselves "fortunate" if only their basement was flooded. Many residents lost their house, car, and everything else they own, and now must start over. Thousands of volunteers came to Grand Forks and East Grand Forks to help clean up and rebuild. Many others donated money and supplies to help rebuild.