Home › North Dakota › Grand Forks

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Located in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, Grand Forks was established in 1870. The 1997 Red River flood devastated the city — 75% of homes damaged or destroyed. University of North Dakota is the state's oldest university.
Trending in Grand Forks
Latest updates coming soon
2 hours ago
More local news on the way
5 hours ago
Founded 1870 | Population 59,000 | Peak 59,000 (2024) | County Grand Forks County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Grand Forks, North Dakota

undefined
1870 Founded: Red River settlement.
undefined
1942 Military Presence: Military installations became a major part of Grand Forks's identity and economy.
undefined
1997 Flood: Catastrophic Red River flood destroys much of city.
undefined
1997 Higher Education: Educational institutions helped define Grand Forks's character and economy.
undefined
2010 Modern Era: Grand Forks continued to develop as part of the region, with new infrastructure and community amenities.
🧠
How Well Do You Know Grand Forks?
5 questions • 2 minutes
Take the Quiz →

Complete Historical Timeline

1870 Culture
Founded
1942 Government
Military Presence
1997 Disaster
Flood
1997 Culture
Higher Education
2010 Culture
Modern Era

Did You Know?

1
The 1997 Red River flood devastated the city — 75% of homes damaged or destroyed.
2
University of North Dakota is the state's oldest university.
3
Named for the forks of the Red River and Red Lake River.
4
Grand Forks is located in Grand Forks County, North Dakota.
5
Grand Forks was founded in 1870.

Famous People from Grand Forks, North Dakota

JR
James Rosenquist
Photographer, Artist · Born Nov 29, 1933 · Died Mar 31, 2017 (age 83)
AR
Alan Ritchson
Actor, Singer · Born Nov 28, 1982 · Age 43
LA
Lynn Anderson
Actor, Singer · Born Sep 26, 1947 · Died Jul 30, 2015 (age 67)
LP
Leonard Peltier
Prisoner, Political Activist · Born Sep 12, 1944 · Age 81
DM
Doug McDermott
Basketball Player · Born Jan 3, 1992 · Age 34

Other Cities in North Dakota

View all North Dakota cities →
F
Fargo
Pop. 141,434
B
Bismarck
Pop. 76,000
M
Minot
Pop. 49,000
W
Williston
Pop. 29,160
D
Dickinson
Pop. 25,679
See something that needs correcting?
We take accuracy seriously. Help us keep Grand Forks's history right.