Grand Forks has a population of more than 50,000 people. The area is the trade area for more than 300,000 people and is the American gateway to Winnipeg, Manitoba, a major commerce and trade center 150 miles to the north in Canada. With grassland prairie to the west and Minnesota lake country to the east, Grand Forks is about 300 miles northwest of Minneapolis-St. Grand Forks is surrounded by some of the richest soil in the world.
Agriculture is the main industry in the area.
The region ranks high in the nation in production of potatoes, spring wheat, durum wheat, sunflowers, sugar beets, and edible beans. Light industry, a large Air Force Base, a major University, research facilities, and health care all contribute to the area's commerce. The summers are generally comfortable with very few days of hot and humid weather. Nights, with few exceptions, are comfortably cool. The July mean temperatures is 69.1.