Fargo, ND Summer Camps

About Fargo, ND

Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County . In 2010 , its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777. Fargo, along with its twin city of Moorhead, Minnesota , as well as adjacent West Fargo, North Dakota and Dilworth, Minnesota , form the center of the Fargo-Moorhead , ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Founded in 1871, Fargo is the crossroads and economic center of southeastern North Dakota and a portion of northwestern Minnesota . Fargo is a cultural, retail, manufacturing, health care, and educational hub for the region. Fargo is home to North Dakota State University .

History of Fargo, ND

History Early history The area that is present-day Fargo was an early stopping point for steamboats floating down the Red River during the 1870s and 1880s. The city was originally named "Centralia," but was later renamed "Fargo" in honor of Northern Pacific Railway director and Wells Fargo Express Company founder William Fargo . The area started to flourish after the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad and the city became known as the "Gateway to the West". During the 1880s, Fargo became the "divorce capital" of the Midwest because of lenient divorce laws. A major fire struck the city on June 7, 1893 when the proprietor of a grocery store accidentally started the blaze as she emptied ashes behind her store on a windy day. The fire destroyed 31 blocks of downtown Fargo. However, the city was quickly rebuilt with new buildings made of brick, new streets, and a water system. Over 246 new buildings were built within one year. The North Dakota State Agricultural College was founded in 1890 as North Dakota 's land-grant university , becoming first accredited by the North Central Association in 1915. In 1960, NDAC became known as North Dakota State University .

Fargo, ND City Statistics: