History Grand Forks, North Dakota

downtown grand forks, c. 1912

prior settlement europeans, area city developed, @ forks of red river , red lake river, thousands of years had been important meeting , trading point native americans. french explorers, fur trappers, , traders called area les grandes fourches, meaning grand forks . 1740s, french fur trappers relied on les grandes fourches important trading post. french colonial territory.

the united states acquired territory british rupert s land treaty of 1818, indigenous tribes dominated area until late nineteenth century. after years of warfare, united states made treaties extinguish land claims of objibwe , other native american peoples. when u.s. post office established on site on june 15, 1870, name changed english grand forks . alexander griggs, steamboat captain, regarded father of grand forks . griggs steamboat froze in red river on voyage in late 1870, forcing captain , crew spend winter camping @ grand forks. griggs platted community in 1875, , grand forks officially incorporated on february 22, 1881.

thousands of settlers attracted dakota territory in 1870s , 1880s cheap land, , population began rise. many established small family farms, investors bought thousands of acres bonanza farms, supervised cultivation , harvesting of wheat commodity crop. city grew after arrival of great northern railway in 1880 , northern pacific railway in 1887. in 1883, university of north dakota established, 6 years before north dakota admitted independent state born dakota territory. during first half of 20th century, new residential neighborhoods developed south , west of downtown grand forks. in 1920s state-owned north dakota mill , elevator constructed on city s north side.

in 1954, grand forks chosen site air force base. grand forks air force base brought thousands of new jobs , residents community. military base , university of north dakota became integral city s economy. construction of federal highways, during postwar years residential , business development became suburbanized, spreading new areas land available. interstate 29 built on western side of city, , 2 enclosed shopping malls – south forks plaza , columbia mall – built on south side.

the red river in flood in april 1997

the red river had history of seasonal flooding, aggravated broad ancient lake bed formed red river valley. 1997 red river flood caused extensive damage in city. fargo upstream bulk of flood waters season, , winnipeg had built extensive system of flood control structures in 1960s. in 1997 grand forks suffered damage of major city in red river valley. during height of flooding, major fire destroyed eleven buildings in downtown area. government began developing new levee system protect city, completed ten years later. required relocation of numerous residents neighborhoods emptied construction.

the city , government decided change type of development allowed near river. floodplain bordering red river converted large park known greater grand forks greenway. provided new recreation space city residents, space future floodwaters absorbed naturally trees , other plants, without damage infrastructure. east grand forks developed related greenway park on side of river, has suffered extensive flooding year.

since 1997 flood, there has been public , private developments throughout grand forks. 2 new, large sports venues opened in 2001: alerus center , ralph engelstad arena. in 2007, winnipeg-based canad inns hotel chain opened 13-story hotel , waterpark next alerus center. 2007 grand forks had larger population did before 1997 flood. area employment , taxable sales had surpassed pre-flood levels.