Fargo, North Dakota

**Fargo** is the  is the county seat of Cass County. The city was founded in 1871, and it has a population of 125,990 as of the 2020 census. This makes it the largest city in the American state of North Dakota. It is the 216th largest city in America.

Fargo is in the eastern part of the state, near the Minnesota border. Fargo is at the intersection of two major highways, Interstate 29 and Interstate 94. Fargo has a twin city of Moorhead, Minnesota. Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, and Dilworth, Minnesota, are part of the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Fargo was founded in 1871 on the Red River of the North floodplain. Fargo is very important to North Dakota. It is a cultural, retail, health care, education, and industry center in the Midwest. North Dakota State University is in the city.

## History

Fargo is on the Red River of the North. Fargo was originally part of Lake Agassiz. When the lake drained, it formed the Red River Valley. Many Native American groups lived near this area. By the 19th century, Fargo was part of Sioux (Dakota) territory. By 1859, there were many settlements in the Red River Valley. The area that is now Fargo was a stopping point for steamboats traveling across the Red River. In 1871, Centralia was established. However, the town was soon renamed to Fargo, after William Fargo. While Fargo was being developed, two separate towns started to form: "Fargo on the Prairie" and "Fargo on the Timber". Fargo on the Prairie was a tent town. It was said to be well-lead by both Northern Pacific Railway engineers and military officers. Fargo on the Timber was known for having lots of whisky and being lawless. In 1872, federal troops shut down Fargo on the Timber, leaving only Fargo on the Prairie. In 1875, Fargo was officially incorporated.

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Fargo, North Dakota
- **settlement type**: City
- **pushpin map**: North Dakota#USA
- **pushpin map caption**: Location within North Dakota##Location within the United States
- **pushpin relief**: 1
- **pushpin label**: Fargo
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision type1**: State
- **subdivision type2**: List of counties in North Dakota, County
- **subdivision name**: United States
- **subdivision name1**: North Dakota
- **subdivision name2**: Cass County, North Dakota, Cass
- **leader title**: Mayor
- **leader name**: Tim Mahoney (North Dakota politician), Tim Mahoney (Democratic Party (United States), D)
- **established title**: Founded
- **established date**: 1871
- **unit pref**: Imperial
- **area total km2**: 131.49
- **area total sq mi**: 50.77
- **population as of**: 2020 United States census, 2020
- **population total**: 125990
- **population rank**: US: List of United States cities by population, 216th
ND: List of cities in North Dakota, 1st
- **population density km2**: 958.19
- **population density sq mi**: 2481.68
- **population urban**: 216214 (US: List of United States urban areas, 177th)
- **population density urban sq mi**: 2,781.6
- **population metro**: 258663 (US: Metropolitan statistical area, 190th)
- **population blank1 title**: Demonym
- **population blank1**: Fargoan
- **timezone**: Central Time Zone, Central
- **utc offset**: -6
- **elevation ft**: 906
- **elevation m**: 276
- **postal code type**: ZIP Codes
- **postal code**: 58102–58109, 58121–58122, 58124–58126
- **area code type**: North American Numbering Plan, Area code
- **area code**: Area code 701, 701
- **blank name**: Federal Information Processing Standard, FIPS code
- **blank1 name**: Geographic Names Information System, GNIS feature ID
- **blank1 info**: 1036030
- **blank2 name**: Public transit
- **named for**: William Fargo