Fargo Guide » More About Fargo: Overview

Overview

North Dakota's largest city, Fargo is nestled in the state's southeast corner near the Minnesota border, where it joins neighboring Moorhead to form the region's agricultural capital and its most important shipping and processing centers. Founded in 1872 as a train depot for the fertile Red River Valley, the city was named by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to honor William G. Fargo of Wells Fargo & Company. While modern Fargo bears little resemblance to the canvas tent and plankwood town of yore, a pioneer spirit continues to thrive in the hearts and souls of its citizens, who have managed to attract such major industries as Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions, Bobcat, American Crystal Sugar, and the Case Corporation. Noteworthy sites include the Plains Art Museum, which celebrates Native American and traditional folk art; Bonanzaville, USA, a reconstructed 19th century farm; and the beautiful Fargo Theatre on Broadway, built in 1925 in Renaissance Revival style. Since Fargo was the hometown of Yankee and Cardinal slugger Roger Maris, baseball fans should stop by the museum dedicated to him at West Acres Mall. Of course, the Fargodome is a major presence too, and with its concerts, trade shows, arena football, and rodeo, you can always count on something going on in Fargo.