Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is a city of 59,042 people in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, founded in 1881.
Why visit Grand Forks
Townapedia lists 76 museums and landmarks, 74 parks and trails, 103 places to eat, 28 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Metropolitan Opera House, River Cinema 15, Grand Forks City Hall and 312 Kittson Avenue.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80°F; January lows average -1°F, and about 49 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Grand Forks
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Grand Forks
Grand Forks is a city in and the county seat of Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 59,166 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 59,845 in 2024, making it the state's third-most populous city, after Fargo and Bismarck. Grand Forks, along with its twin city of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, forms the center of the Grand Forks metropolitan statistical area, which is often called Greater Grand Forks or the Grand Cities.
From the Wikipedia article Grand Forks, North Dakota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do9
Metropolitan Opera House
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Former theatre in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States, now used as an apartment building
Chester Fritz Auditorium
Cinema and theater · 0.4 mi
Theater on the campus of the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, North Dakota
Empire Arts Center
Cinema and theater · 2.6 mi
Theater and movie theater in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
University of North Dakota College of Arts and Sciences
School · 1.0 mi
College at the University of North Dakota
Museums and landmarks76
Grand Forks City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
City hall in Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A.
255 North 4th Street, Grand Forks
312 Kittson Avenue
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
United States historic place
Administration Building for the City of Grand Forks at the Grand Forks Airport
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Airport terminal in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
B'nai Israel Synagogue and Montefiore Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Synagogue and Cemetery in North Dakota, USA
Dakota Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Building in North Dakota, U.S.A.
Downtown Grand Forks
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Human settlement in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States of America
Dr. Henry Wheeler House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
House in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
Electric Construction Co. Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Building in United States of America
First National Bank
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic bank building in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
Flatiron Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Building in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
George B. Clifford House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Victorian house in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
Golden Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Former building in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
64 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds74
62 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes103
Rhombus Guys
Restaurant · Pizza, Sandwich, Pasta, Salad · 2.7 mi
Pizzeria with a bar and seasonal outdoor seating both outside the front door and on the roof. Associated with Rhombus Guys Brewing....
213 Kittson Avenue, Grand Forks
Su-We 11:00-22:00; Th-Sa 11:00-23:00
JL Beers
Restaurant · American, Burger · 1.9 mi
2531 South Columbia Road
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Paradiso Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.0 mi
905 South Washington Street, Grand Forks
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Red Pepper
Restaurant · Regional, Mexican, Sandwich · 2.1 mi
1011 University Avenue, Grand Forks
Mo-Th 10:00-01:30, Fr-Sa 10:00-02:30, Su 10:00-24:00
Speedway 805 Grill & Bar
Restaurant · Burger · 0.6 mi
805 North 42nd Street, Grand Forks
Mo-We 11:00-23:00; Th-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 16:00-21:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.0 mi
623 South Washington Street, Grand Forks
Mo-Th 05:00-22:00; Fr 05:00-22:30; Sa-Su 05:00-22:00
Up North Pizza Pub
Restaurant · Pizza · 3.0 mi
314 4th Street Northwest, East Grand Forks
Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
Northside Cafe
Cafe · American · 1.1 mi
2950 10th Avenue North, Grand Forks
Tu-Sa 06:00-20:00; Su-Mo 06:00-15:00
Rhombus Guys Brewing Company
Brewery and winery · 2.7 mi
116 South 3rd Street, Grand Forks
Tu-Su 16:00-02:00
91 more on the map.
History
Before Europeans arrived, the area where the city developed, at the forks of the Red River and Red Lake River, had been an important meeting and trading point for Native Americans for thousands of years. Early French explorers, fur trappers, and traders called the area Les Grandes Fourches, meaning "The Grand Forks". By the 1740s, French fur trappers relied on Les Grandes Fourches as an important trading post. This was French colonial territory.
The United States acquired the territory from British Rupert's Land with the Treaty of 1818, but indigenous tribes dominated the area until the late 19th century. After years of warfare, the United States made treaties to extinguish the land claims of the Ojibwe and other Native American peoples. When a U.S. post office was established on the site on June 15, 1870, the name was changed to the English "Grand Forks". Alexander Griggs, a steamboat captain, is regarded as "The Father of Grand Forks". His steamboat froze in the Red River on a voyage in late 1870, forcing him and his crew to spend the winter camping at Grand Forks. Griggs platted a community in 1875, and Grand Forks was officially incorporated on February 22, 1881.
From the History section of Grand Forks, North Dakota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay28
Sleep Inn & Suites Grand Forks Alerus Center
Motel and hotel · 0.8 mi
1350 South 42nd Street, Grand Forks
Churches and places of worship13
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 2.9 mi
2311 River Road Northwest, East Grand Forks
Bethel Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 2.0 mi
1616 South 17th Street, Grand Forks
Family of God
Church · Lutheran · 3.4 mi
327 5th Avenue Southeast, East Grand Forks
Shopping31
Gas and EV charging34
Casey's General Store
Gas station · 1.2 mi
1300 Ralph Engelstad Arena Drive, Grand Forks
Schools, colleges and libraries40
Community Alternative High School
School · 0.5 mi
500 Stanford Rd Ste B, Grand Forks
Healthcare6
Department of Veterans Affairs Grand Forks Outpatient Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.2 mi
3221 32nd Avenue South, Grand Forks
Map of Grand Forks
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15°F | -1°F | 0.5 in | 9.5 in |
| Feb | 20°F | 2°F | 0.6 in | 8.2 in |
| Mar | 34°F | 17°F | 0.9 in | 7.8 in |
| Apr | 52°F | 31°F | 1.2 in | 3.0 in |
| May | 66°F | 44°F | 3.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 55°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 59°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 56°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 70°F | 47°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 53°F | 34°F | 2.0 in | 1.5 in |
| Nov | 35°F | 20°F | 0.8 in | 5.1 in |
| Dec | 21°F | 6°F | 0.7 in | 13.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Grand Forks Univ (Nws) Hcn (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Grand Forks County has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2025-10-22: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2023-07-05: Flooding (Flood)
- 2022-07-13: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-10-02: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-07-09: Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-01: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Grand Forks International (GFK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- East Grand Forks 3 mi east, about 6 min by car
- Thompson 10 mi south, about 16 min by car
- Manvel 11 mi north, about 18 min by car
- Emerado 13 mi west, about 20 min by car
- Grand Forks AFB 14 mi west, about 23 min by car
- Fisher 16 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
- Reynolds 17 mi south, about 28 min by car
- Alvarado 19 mi north, about 31 min by car
- Gilby 21 mi northwest, about 34 min by car
- Crookston 24 mi southeast, about 39 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- GrandCitiesArtsFest, Tuey from Flickr, CC BY 2.0
- Grand Forks 16, P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0
- Stratford Building, Grand Forks North Dakota, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- Opera house 1891, publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Joseph Bell DeRemer House, Grand Forks, ND, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- UND Merrifield Hall, MatthewUND, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dr. Henry Wheeler House, Grand Forks North Dakota, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- St Michaels Church, Grand Forks ND, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- Harriet and Thomas Beare House, Grand Forks North Dakota, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- Lyons Garage 214-218 North 4th Street Grand Forks ND, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- Campbell House Grand Forks, ND, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- George B. Clifford House, Grand Forks North Dakota, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- Grand Forks Memorial Park, Mathieu Nicklay, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Junior High School, Grand Forks ND, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- United Lutheren Church, Grand Forks, ND, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- Grand Forks 04, P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0
- St. john bldg 1890 - Copy, publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hariman Sanatorium, Grand Forks, ND, Mathieu Nicklay, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Northern Pacific Depot & Freight House Grand Forks, ND, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- Grand Forks Woolen Mills 301 N 3rd Street Grand Forks, ND, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- Lewis Blvd Riverside Historic District Grand Forks ND, Mathieu Nicklay, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oddfellows Block, Grand Forks, ND, Glorioussandwich, Public domain
- Josh Universe Analog Mission ILMAH, Joshuniverse, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Martina Dimoska in NDX Spacesuit, VictorenX, CC BY-SA 4.0
- This Is The Turning Point tour attendees (54857029317), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- This Is The Turning Point tour attendees (54858205080), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Make America Great Again hats (54857890371), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- This Is The Turning Point tour attendees, Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charlie Kirk mural (54858142498), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- This Is The Turning Point tour attendees (54857888531), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charlie Kirk mural (54858142483), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Glenn Beck October 2025, Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charlie Kirk mural (54857890551), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charlie Kirk shirt (54857026187), Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charlie Kirk mural (54857890586), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- This Is The Turning Point tour attendees (54857888531) (cropped), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Prove Me Wrong booth (54857031032), Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alerus Center view from Seats, SS2027, CC BY-SA 4.0
- UND Gamble Hall, Jimmyjohnson90, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cfl001, B. Baier from Google+, CC BY-SA 3.0
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