The city of Fargo, North Dakota, sits along the Red River of the North, which forms the border between North Dakota and Minnesota. Moorhead, Minnesota, sits on the other side of the river, and the two cities combined make up the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. Fargo may be known for the movie named after the city, starring William H. Macy, but it’s much more than this. Take a look at these interesting facts about Fargo and some of the common misconceptions.
Photo by Jared Anders on Unsplash1. It’s the Most Populous Fargo in the U.S.
The United States has six cities named Fargo. The one in North Dakota has the largest population, with over 113,000 residents. Fargo sits in the middle of the frontier and has beautiful landscapes surrounding it. Its location, combined with the landscape, results in some of the most incredible sunsets you can find anywhere in the world, almost every night.
2. It Used to Be Underwater
Less than 10 thousand years ago, Fargo and Moorhead were 200 feet under the surface of Lake Agassiz. This was a huge inland sea formed at the end of the last ice age. The waters receded over thousands of years, leaving behind rich black soil. This soil makes the Red River Valley one of the most fertile farming areas in the world.
3. The Great Fire of 1893
In June 1893, a fire broke out on the 500 block of Front Street, which is now known as Main Avenue. There is some debate about how the fire started. Some say it started behind Herzman’s Dry Goods Store, and others say it started because someone threw ashes out the rear of the Little Gem Restaurant. During this time, most of the storefronts were wooden, and on the day of the fire, the winds were gusting at 30 mph. The fire quickly spread out of control, and even though a firehouse sat right on Front Street, the firefighters were out hosing down the dusty streets, so the firehouse was empty. The fire destroyed businesses along 31 blocks, and 350 buildings burned to the ground.
4. Fargo Isn’t Cold All the Time
There is no disputing that the winters in Fargo get cold, with averages down as low as minus-3 degrees that feel even colder with the wind. The city averages about 52 inches of snow every winter, but the cold and snowy winters are just a piece of the puzzle. Fargo also has mild summer weather. The warm season goes from May to September, with an average high of 70 degrees. The average high temperature in July gets up to 83 degrees.
5. It’s a Tough City for Meteorologists
The Weather Channel voted Fargo the toughest weather city in America. The Weather Channel set up the competition using an NCAA-style bracket, and Fargo came out on top. It defeated Juneau, Alaska; even though it has less precipitation, it has more dramatic weather overall, including its infamous cold, the potential for dangerous thunderstorms, and intense summer heat. Fargo sits in Blizzard Alley, an area that gets more blizzards than other areas, and with all the snow it gets in winter, it can have spring floods.
6. F-M Area Has Pro Baseball
The F-M area has had a pro baseball team since the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks debuted in 1996. The RedHawks play in the American Associated of Professional Baseball, which is a Partner League of Major League Baseball. The team plays home games at Newman Outdoor Field. The franchise record through 2020 is 1332-935.
7. What’s in a Name?
The first settlers arrived in Fargo in 1871. These early settlers staked out homesteads at the point where the Northern Pacific Railroad crossed over the Red River, and railroads played a significant role in the development of the city. Fargo was named after William G. Fargo, one of the Wells-Fargo Express Company co-founders and a director of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
8. Divorce Capital of the West
In the 1800s, the Legislature for the Dakota Territory passed a divorce law that allowed applicants to begin the process immediately upon their arrival in the territory. This law, along with many lawyers, earned the city its unique nickname. In 1877, lawmakers amended the code to require three months of residency for a divorce. Because of the easy divorce laws, unhappily married people from all around the country would hop on the Northern Pacific and head to Fargo to get a divorce. Hotels and restaurants popped up so they could live and eat in luxury while waiting the three months.
9. The Flooding Problem
Fargo’s location on the Red River results in some challenges due to spring flooding. This is the only river in the world to flow northward, which means that melting snow and ice, along with runoff from the tributaries, create ice dams in Fargo and cities north of Fargo. These can cause the river to overflow. Since the Red River Valley is flat, it leads to overland flooding. The minor flood stage in Fargo starts at 18 feet, with major flooding at 30 feet.
In 1997, the Red River rose to a record 39.5 feet in Fargo. Grand Forks, which sits 65 miles downstream, experienced massive flooding. The river crested at 54 feet, and over 50,000 people had to evacuate.
The 1997 flood became known as a 500-year flood. In 2009, another major flood saw Fargo-Moorhead reach record levels. The river was expected to reach 43 feet but crested at 40.82 feet. This time, the residents won the war against the rising water by stacking sandbags up to 41 feet high.
10. World-Record Pancakes
Fargo has the distinction of setting the world record for the largest pancake feed. During the Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Karnival fundraiser in 2008, members cooked 34,818 pancakes at the Fargo Civic Center. They cooked and served the pancakes all day, surpassing the previous record set by the Lubbock, Texas, Lions Club.
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Now you know Rydell Cadillac’s list of interesting facts about Fargo. We hope you enjoyed it. If you know of other unique things about this city, let us know so we can add them to the list.
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