Midwest kindness in North Dakota's third-largest city
Sitting along the North Dakota-Minnesota border, Grand Forks just barely makes it as North Dakota’s third-largest city after Fargo and Bismarck. Home to about 59,000 people, Grand Forks comprises the western half of the Grand Cities, where East Grand Forks resides on the opposite side of the waterway. The Red River winds along the eastern side of Grand Forks, separating it from its counterpart and establishing the state border. Here on the western side of the river, Grand Forks represents North Dakota history and culture, featuring both the oldest university in the state and an art museum dedicated to North Dakota artists. Still, the city feels like a small town with plenty of local restaurants and a passion for university sports. “Everybody talks about Midwest kindness and everyone being neighborly, and we’re certainly not the exception to that,” says North Forks resident and Realtor Tim Bernhardt with Crary Commercial. “Everyone’s overly nice here.”
Grand Forks is North Dakota's third largest city by population.
The Red River separates Grand Forks from East Grand Forks.
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Riverside and seasonal recreation in Grand Forks
Along the banks of the Red River, the Greater Grant Forks Greenway offers over 2,200 acres of recreational space along the waterfront, from parks and golf courses to campgrounds. Residents can walk or bike through the 20 miles of trails, stop and fish along the shore or launch a canoe or kayak. “Some people would say the water’s murky,” Bernhardt says. “Sediment rich would be a better way to say it, but you won’t find kids swimming in the river.” The river also used to be prone to flooding, with a particularly bad surge in 1997. “We’ve got a dam system in place now,” Bernhardt says. “As long as you live within city limits, you don’t have to worry about that.” At University Park, 8,000 flowers bloom annually, attracting residents for family pictures and visits to the summertime splash pad or outdoor ice skating rink in winter.
Rotary Park offers beautiful views of the Red River.
Greater Forks Greenway was established after the Red River flooded in 1997.
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North Dakota's oldest and largest university is in Grand Forks
K-12 students generally attend Grand Forks Public Schools, which was awarded an A-minus from Niche and ranked the third-best school district in North Dakota. The University of North Dakota serves 15,000 students, making it the largest and the oldest in the state. Along with its law and medical schools, it is also known for its aerospace program. The university is also one of Grand Forks’ largest employers alongside the Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Valley Middle School serves kids in grades 6 through 8.
The University of North Dakota is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state.
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Grand Forks' active sports and art scene
With the university in the center of town, the community comes together to watch collegiate sports. “We don’t have professional sports here, so we rally behind the hockey team and follow them like they’re a professional team,” Bernhardt says. “And we’ve got an amazing arena that’s the pride of the community — it’s got all sorts of lavish finishes.” People can also head to Chester Fritz Auditorium on campus to see touring Broadway musicals. The North Dakota Museum of Art is also here, featuring contemporary and international collections.
Chester Fritz Auditorium is on of several performance centers Grand Forks.
North Dakota Museum of Art is located on the University of North Dakota Grand Forks campus.
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Fireworks over the river and summer art festivals
Art on the Red, also known as ArtFerst, showcases over 100 artists in an annual celebration that includes live music and food vendors. Every Independence Day, the Sertoma July 4th Festival and Fireworks offers 12 hours of live music and games, ending with a fireworks show over the river.
Historic homes around downtown and new houses along the south side
Grand Forks’ median housing price is about $117,000, though the single-family median price is a bit higher at about $350,000. Older American Foursquares and ranch-style homes mingle with contemporary condo and apartment communities around downtown. Along the southern side of the city, newer housing tracts feature split-level homes, Colonial Revivals and New Traditionals.
After a slight increase in property crimes and violent crimes in 2021, the rate of both fell in 2023; the most recent year crime data is available from the FBI. Bernhardt emphasizes that people feel secure here. “It’s very safe,” Bernhardt says. “It’s the type of place where you can be completely naïve because there’s really low crime.”
Two story homes are commonly found among established neighborhoods in Grand Forks.
Split level homes are common in newer builds in the Grand Forks area.
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Bar hopping through the Historic Downtown District in Grand Forks
The Historic Downtown District’s buildings date back to 1875, featuring plenty of local nightlife bars and pubs. Lights strung across the streets illuminate the nights, so people can bar-hop from location to location. The city prioritized protecting historic buildings since the 1997 flood, but the city has sought to revitalize downtown with luxury apartment complexes. The city also has a mall — Columbia Mall — located on the southwestern side of Grand Forks. In addition to retail shopping, residents can also stop at supermarkets, big box stores, and chains situated around the mall along 32nd Avenue.
Downtown Grand Forks takes great pride in preserving historic buildings.
The streets of downtown Grand Forks are lined with unique places like Bonzer's Pub.
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An international airport and Amtrak station on Grand Forks' west side
Buses powered by Cities Area Transit run throughout Grand Forks, connecting residents with major shopping destinations and employers. U.S. Route 2 runs east to west, linking the city with Grand Forks International Airport and the Air Force base to the west. Those heading into Minnesota to East Grand Forks can cross the river at two spots — the Sorlie Memorial Bridge and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge.
Interstate 29 cuts through the western side of the city, going south to Fargo and north into Canada. The Grand Forks Amtrak Station sits on the far western side of the city and connects to major cities like Chicago and Portland via the Empire Builder line. Because Grand Forks is so far north, the city can get significant snow in the winter. However, the city deploys plows, aiming to clear the streets within 24 hours after snowfall ends.
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