Minot ( ) is a city in and the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...
of
Ward County,
North Dakota
North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, S ...
, United States,
in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the
Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the
2020 census.
Minot is the state's
fourth-largest city and a trading center for a large part of northern
North Dakota
North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, S ...
, southwestern
Manitoba
, image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg
, map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada
, Label_map = yes
, coordinates =
, capital = Win ...
, and southeastern
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a province in western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North ...
. Founded in 1886 during the construction of
James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway, Minot is also known as "Magic City", commemorating its remarkable growth in size over a short time.
Minot is the principal city of the
Minot micropolitan area, a
micropolitan area that covers
McHenry,
Renville Renville may refer to:
;Places
In the United States:
* Renville, Minnesota
* Renville County, Minnesota
* Renville County, North Dakota
;People
*Joseph Renville
*Gabriel Renville
Gabriel Renville (April 1825 – August 26, 1892), also known a ...
, and Ward counties and had a combined population of 77,546 at the
2020 census.
History
Minot came into existence in 1886, after the railroad laid track through the area. A tent town sprang up overnight, as if by "magic", earning its first nickname, the Magic City, and in the next five months, the population increased to over 5,000, further bolstering the nickname.
The town site was chosen by the railroad to be placed on the land of then-homesteader
Erik Ramstad Erik Reiersen Ramstad (January 17, 1860 – January 21, 1951) was one of the founders of Minot, North Dakota.
Biography
Ramstad was the son of tenant farmer Reier Pedersen and Anne Ellefsdatter. He was born at Køsahaugen in Sigdal in Buskerud, N ...
. Ramstad was convinced to relinquish his claim and became one of the city leaders. The town was named after
Henry D. Minot, a railroad investor,
ornithologist and friend of Hill. Its
Arikara
Arikara (), also known as Sahnish,
''Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.'' (Retrieved Sep 29, 2011) name is ''niwaharít sahaáhkat''; its
Hidatsa name is ''dibiarugareesh'' ("Plum
Coulee").
The city was incorporated on July 16, 1887. The
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad
The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (MStP&SSM) was a Class I railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Midwestern United States. Commonly known since its opening in 1884 as the Soo Line after the phonetic spe ...
(Soo Line) later built a line from
Valley City to Canada. While initially their plan was to cross the
Mouse River at
Burlington, local interests and arguments convinced them otherwise; landholders along the new route donated the right-of-way. They reached Minot in 1893.
On July 22, 1920, a tornado passed over Minot and bore down in a
coulee southeast of town.
The tornado picked up Andy Botz's home and hurled it to the ground, killing his wife, breaking Botz's shoulder, and slightly injuring the two Botz children who were in the house.
Minot and its surrounding area were wide open from 1905 to 1920. The population grew rapidly due to railroad construction and availability of unclaimed land. Nearly complete court records of Ward County and Minot document the prevalence and different types of criminal activity, and offer strong support for the epithet "crime capitol of North Dakota". State attorney general
William Langer helped clean up the town in 1917–1920, but by the time
Prohibition
Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic ...
arrived in the 1920s, Minot had become a center of illegal activities associated with the
High Third district, exacerbated because the city was a supply hub of
Al Capone's liquor smuggling operations. The hotbed of alcohol bootlegging, prostitution, and opium dens that sprang up in the Downtown area soon led people to nickname Minot "Little Chicago". The smugglers used a network of tunnels (some previously built for heating or deliveries) to transport and conceal illicit cargo entering from Canada.
The 1950s saw a large influx of
federal funding into the region, with the construction of
Minot Air Force Base (1956–1957) north of the city, and
Garrison Dam (1947–1953) on the
Missouri River, about south. In 1969, a severe flood on the
Mouse River devastated Minot. Afterward, the
Army Corps of Engineers straightened the river's path through the city and built several flood control structures.
On January 18, 2002, a
severe train derailment west of the city sent a gigantic cloud of
anhydrous ammonia toward Minot and
Burlington. One man died and many of Minot's citizens were sickened and severely injured by the gas, causing one of the worst major chemical accidents of the country.
In early 2006, court cases were heard in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with list of lakes in Minneapolis, thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. ...
,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minne ...
, against
Canadian Pacific Railway, the owner of the derailed train. The anhydrous ammonia spill was the largest such spill in U.S. history.
Eric Klinenberg used the incident in his book ''Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America's Media'' as an example of the failure of mass media, specifically local radio stations, to disseminate information in an emergency.
The
2011 Mouse River flood caused extensive damage throughout the Mouse River Valley. On June 21, 2011,
KXMC-TV reported that a flood of historic proportions was imminent in the Mouse River Valley, largely due to large dam releases upstream. Around 12,000 people were evacuated. On June 26, flooding exceeded previous records when the river crested at above sea level, above the previous record set in 1881. It is estimated that 20% of Minot sustained damage from the flood. This figure includes over 4,100 homes that were in some way affected, 2,376 extensively damaged, and 805 damaged beyond repair. Burlington was also severely damaged during this time.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy
An economy is an area of th ...
, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water.
Neighborhoods
Minot is commonly divided into three major sections:
North Hill, the Mouse River Valley and
South Hill. North Hill is the area roughly north of Eleventh Avenue North and Northwest Avenue. South Hill is a broad area south and west of Valley Street and Fifth Avenue South. West of Sixth Street West, South Hill dips sharply to the southwest. South Hill's limits are less clearly defined than North Hill's. Though the neighborhood levels out past 16th Street South, the name South Hill is generally applied to all areas south up to the city limits. Neighborhoods in the Mouse River Valley include
Bel Air,
Downtown,
Eastwood Park,
Oak Park and
West Minot.
Region
Minot is on the
Drift Prairie of northwestern
North Dakota
North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, S ...
. It is at ,
about north of
Bismarck. The
Mouse River, or Souris River, runs through the city west to east.
Important cities in the region for which Minot is the trading center include
Burlington,
Velva,
Garrison,
Stanley,
Bottineau,
Rugby, and
New Town
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...
.
Minot is almost entirely land; the Mouse River, its oxbow lakes, and a few creeks take up just 0.14% of the city's area.
The elevation of the river at the city center is
above sea level
Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as '' orthometric heights''.
The ...
. The valley sits below the surrounding plains; the elevation at the
Minot International Airport
Minot International Airport is in Ward County, North Dakota, United States, two miles north of the city of Minot, which owns it. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a ''primary commercial service'' ...
on North Hill is . The city has several small horseshoe-shaped oxbow lakes within its limits near the river, created by the Mouse's meandering course.
Grid and address system
The city is laid out on a grid-based street system. Streets run north-south and avenues run east-west. Streets are numbered by their block distance east or west of Main Street. Avenues are numbered north and south of Central Avenue. There are four city quadrants (NW, SW, SE, NE) to designate the location of any address. Main Street addresses are designated North and South. Central Avenue addresses are designated East and West. The grid system carries over into the rural areas of
Ward County, making the county one of only three that do not follow the statewide grid system (the others are
Burleigh County
Burleigh County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 98,458, making it the second-most populous county in North Dakota. Its county seat is Bismarck, the state capital. The county was named f ...
and
Grand Forks County
Grand Forks County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, its population was 73,170, making it the third-most populous county in North Dakota. Its county seat and largest community is Grand Forks.
History
Using ...
).
Mouse River
The
Mouse River divides the city approximately in half, north and south. The valley rises to the plains both north and south of the river. Although there are names for certain features of these hills, such as Anthony Hill on South Hill, there are no general names for these topographical features. The northern rise and the plateau north of it are called North Hill and the southern rise and plateau south of it are called South Hill.
Climate
Minot experiences a
warm-summer humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...
(
Köppen: ''Dwb'') in its marginal zone receiving sufficient precipitation for such category. Like
Central Asia
Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes the former ...
, it exhibits great temperature variation. Summers range from warm to moderately hot, with frequent
thunderstorm activity. Winters are typically bitterly cold and snowy, with high winds and below-freezing temperatures for weeks at a time. Lows below occur on about 39 days during the winter, while temperatures reach on 14 days per summer, and in some years reach . The average annual snowfall total is .
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2020, there were 48,377 people, 20,979 households, and 9,978 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
was . The racial makeup of the city was 85.1%
White
White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 4.2%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 2.3%
Native American, 2.3%
Asian, 0.1%
Pacific Islander, 0.6% from
other races, and 4.3% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or
Latino of any race were 6.3% of the population.
There were 20,979 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were
married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.1% were non-families. Of all households 34.9% were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24.
The median age in the city was 33.8 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 65.5% of residents were aged 19-64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.9% male and 48.1% female.
2010 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2010, there were 40,888 people, 17,863 households, and 9,978 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
was . There were 18,744 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.2%
White
White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 2.3%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 3.2%
Native American, 0.9%
Asian, 0.1%
Pacific Islander, 0.6% from
other races, and 2.7% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or
Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.
There were 17,863 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were
married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.1% were non-families. Of all households 34.9% were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the city was 33.8 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 14% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.2% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2000, there were 36,567 people, 15,520 households, and 9,265 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
was 2,513.1 per square mile (970.4/km
2). There were 16,475 housing units at an average density of 1,132.3 per square mile (437.2/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.18%
White
White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 1.34%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 2.76%
Native American, 0.62%
Asian, 0.07%
Pacific Islander, 0.49% from
other races, and 1.54% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or
Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.
The most populous ancestry groups in the city are
German (40.8%),
Norwegian (32.3%),
Irish (8.7%),
English (5.4%),
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
(4.2%) and
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
(3.2%).
There were 15,520 households, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were
married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. Of all households 32.5% were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household was $32,218, and the median income for a family was $42,804. Males had a median income of $30,283 versus $20,023 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $18,011. About 8.8% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Law and government
The mayor of Minot is Tom Ross. As mayor he chairs the 7-member City Council, but only casts a vote to break a tie. City Manager Harold Stewart handles the city's day-to-day affairs.
Minot uses the
council–manager system of government. Seven councilmen are elected from 7 city wards to four-year terms. Elections are arranged such that one councilman from each ward is elected every even-numbered year. The mayor is elected to a four-year term as well; the last mayoral election was in 2022. All city offices are nonpartisan.
City elections are held in June in
North Dakota
North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, S ...
, along with the state
primary election
Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...
.
Northwest Area Water Supply
The Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) has had disputes with the Canadian government over a plan calling for water to be pumped from
Lake Sakakawea, then to Minot for treatment, and then to large stretches of Northwest North Dakota.
Economy
Largest employers
According to the City's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:
Minot's economy predominantly centers around the
Air Force Base north of town, making the city's economy more robust than other cities of its size due to its large service area.
ING/ReliaStar established a service center in Minot in December 1998.
Minot has seen a significant increase in population and infrastructure investments in the last several years with the expanding drilling (using
hydrofracking
Fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracturing, or hydrofracking) is a well stimulation technique involving the fracturing of bedrock formations by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure injection of "frac ...
) of oil in the
Bakken Formation and
Three Forks Groups. The State of North Dakota has a website detailing daily oil activity.
Education
The
Minot Public Schools system operates ten elementary schools (K–5) in the city: Bel Air, Edison, John Hoeven, Lewis and Clark, Longfellow, McKinley Roosevelt, Perkett, Sunnyside, and Washington. The district also operates Bell Elementary, about five miles southeast of Minot. Jefferson Elementary closed in 2003. The old Washington Elementary building closed in 2007 and the students moved to a new building that was renovated from an old health care center. There are also two elementary schools (K–6) on the
Minot Air Force Base: Dakota and North Plains. The
2011 flood resulted in the relocation of Erik Ramstad Middle School and the closure of Lincoln Elementary, as both buildings were damaged beyond economical repair. Longfellow Elementary was expanded after the flood and children who lived in the Lincoln neighborhood then attended Longfellow Elementary.
There are three middle schools in the system. The two in Minot are grades 6–8: Jim Hill in the south and Erik Ramstad in the north. Memorial Middle School on Minot AFB is named for fallen veterans of the U.S.
armed forces. The school was built in the mid-1960s on the base's northern perimeter. All three middle schools were formerly called "junior high" schools.
The city has one public high school,
Minot High School
Minot High School (MHS) is the public high school in Minot, North Dakota, divided between two main campuses: Magic City (grades 11-12) and Central (grades 9-10). MHS also includes an alternative campus: Souris River Campus.
Athletics
The boys' ...
, divided between two campuses. A few blocks east of
Downtown Minot
Downtown Minot is the central business district of Minot, North Dakota, located south of the Souris River in the Souris Valley. Downtown is the site of the first permanent settlement in Minot in 1886. Downtown is home to many of Minot's cultural ...
is Central Campus (grades 9–10), which occupies the original high school building. On the southwest side of the city is the newer Magic City Campus (grades 11–12), constructed in 1973 just west of Jim Hill Middle School. MPS also operates an
adult learning center and Souris River Campus, an
alternative high school.
In 2021, voters passed a school bond issue to fund renovation of Central Campus in downtown Minot into a third in-town middle school for students in grades 6 to 8. Magic City Campus will be renovated into a four-year high school attended by students in grades 9 to 12. A second four-year high school, Minot North High School, will be in north Minot on the site of the former Cognizant office building, which has been donated to the school district and will be expanded and renovated.
Private schools in Minot include
Bishop Ryan Catholic School
Bishop Ryan Catholic School is a PK–12 private, Roman Catholic, co-educational school in Minot, North Dakota, United States. It was established in 1958 and is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck. It was named for Vincent James R ...
, which offers preschool through grade 12 at a single campus. There is also a
Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
K–12 school,
Our Redeemer's Christian School
Our Redeemer's Christian School is a private Lutheran school in Minot, North Dakota. Founded in 1982, the school serves students in preschool through grade 12 and shares a building with Our Redeemer's Lutheran Brethren Church.
History
Our Redee ...
.
Minot is also home to
Minot State University, the state's third-largest university. MSU's campus is at the base of North Hill, just west of Broadway. A two-year teacher's college when it opened in 1913, Minot State became a university in 1987.
Preschool and daycare
Many of the larger daycare centers and preschools in the Minot area work in collaboration with local church groups. There are also programs such as
Head Start and
preschool
A preschool, also known as nursery school, pre-primary school, or play school or creche, is an educational establishment or learning space offering early childhood education to children before they begin compulsory education at primary scho ...
programs through Minot Public Schools. The in-home daycare providers are state registered and licensed.
Culture
Minot's arts community includes an art museum, a
symphony orchestra, an opera company, a city band, several dance and theater troupes: over 40 organizations claim membership in the Minot Area Council on the Arts.
Nearly 40% of the city's residents are of
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Swe ...
n ancestry, and every October since 1977, Minot has been the host to the
Norsk Høstfest, North America's largest Scandinavian-American festival.
Scandinavian Heritage Park
Scandinavian Heritage Park is a park located in the Upper Brooklyn neighborhood of Minot, North Dakota. Scandinavian Heritage Park features remembrances and replicas from each of the Scandinavian countries: Norway, Sweden and Denmark, as well as ...
is located in Minot. Scandinavian Heritage Park features remembrances and replicas from each of the Scandinavian countries:
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
,
Sweden and
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark
, establishe ...
, as well as
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bo ...
and
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...
.
Recreation
The
Minot Park District
The Minot Park District is the unit of the Minot, North Dakota municipal government responsible for maintaining city parks. The District is managed by a board of five directors elected by city voters to four year terms.
The district also serve ...
operates seventeen parks with various facilities; Corbett Field, home to American Legion, high school and college baseball; Optimist soccer complex; MAYSA ice arena; the Sertoma Complex which has 8 softball fields; Souris Valley Golf Course, and an indoor tennis complex.
The city's largest parks are
Roosevelt Park and
Oak Park.
Roosevelt Park Zoo
The Roosevelt Park Zoo is a zoo in Minot, North Dakota, the oldest zoo in North Dakota. It opened in 1921 and the first animal exhibition featured the American Bison. In 1970, the zoo was separated from the city-owned Roosevelt Park and the G ...
is one of the top zoos in the region. Dogs are allowed in Roosevelt Park, a sign is posted at the entrance confirming this. A "bark park" for dogs opened in the summer of 2005.
The
North Dakota State Fair is held in July annually, in Minot. Nearly all recreation areas however are closed during the long winters. The local high school hockey teams use the ice rink located in the Fair Grounds. The ice rink is also turned into the location of the rodeo.
Apple Grove Golf Course, and
Souris Valley Golf Course are located in Minot.
Sports
*The
Minot Hot Tots
Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the 20 ...
are a
Northwoods League baseball team created in 2022. They play their games at Corbett Field.
*The
Minot Mallards were a
Mandak League baseball team from 1917 to 1997 that played their games at
Corbett Field.
*The Souris Valley Sabre Dogs, an
Expedition League baseball team, played their games at
Corbett Field.
*The
Minot Minotauros
The Minot Minotauros (commonly known as the Tauros) are a Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Based in Minot, North Dakota, the Tauros play their home games at Maysa Arena.
History
The Tauros are M ...
, an
NAHL team, play their games at
Maysa Arena
Maysa Arena is a multi-purpose venue located in Minot, North Dakota. The name Maysa is an acronym for Minot Area Youth Skating Association, a group that proposed the construction of the three-rink arena in the 1990s. The $3.9 million arena on the ...
.
*The Minot Muskies, played one season with the
American West Hockey League
The American West Hockey League (AWHL) was an American Tier III Junior ice hockey league based in Montana and Wyoming. The league was a member of USA Hockey and was founded in 2011. The AWHL merged into the NA3HL in March 2014.
History
The AW ...
and played their games at
All Seasons Arena.
*The Minot Americans were an SJHL hockey club from 1987 to 1994, playing their games primarily at All Seasons Arena.
*The Minot Top Guns were an SJHL hockey club from 1994 to 1997, playing their games primarily at All Seasons Arena.
*Other semi-professional hockey clubs calling Minot home were the Minot Raiders/Rangers (1975–1977) and the Minot Maple Leafs (1985–1986).
*The
Minot Skyrockets, a former
Continental Basketball Association team, played their games at
Minot Municipal Auditorium.
*The
Minot State Beavers play ice hockey at
All Seasons Arena, baseball at
Corbett Field, football at
Herb Parker Stadium and basketball at the
MSU Dome.
*The Mouse River Rollers play roller derby at different locations around the city, including the Maysa Arena.
* Minot is home to several municipal sports venues including the
All Seasons Arena,
Corbett Field,
Maysa Arena
Maysa Arena is a multi-purpose venue located in Minot, North Dakota. The name Maysa is an acronym for Minot Area Youth Skating Association, a group that proposed the construction of the three-rink arena in the 1990s. The $3.9 million arena on the ...
and the
Minot Municipal Auditorium.
Sister cities
Minot maintains a
sister city
A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties.
While there are early examples of inter ...
relationship with the
Norwegian city of
Skien.
Minot is also a sister city of
Moose Jaw,
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a province in western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North ...
, about to the north-west. The cities share many qualities, including their size, location on river valleys, historical origins, and air force bases.
Media
Minot has several media outlets.
KMOT-TV
KMOT (channel 10) is a television station in Minot, North Dakota, United States, affiliated with NBC and Fox. The station is owned by Gray Television, and maintains studios and transmitter facilities at the intersection of 16th Street and 18t ...
,
KXMC-TV and the
Minot Daily News
The ''Minot Daily News'' is an American daily newspaper, printed in downtown
''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, politica ...
report on local news daily. KCJB-AM, KHRT-AM, and
Prairie Public Prairie Public Broadcasting is a community-owned public broadcaster based in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana, with coverage extending into South Dakota, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario. It operates Prairie Public Radio, a radi ...
have some local news content, but no active journalists.
Radio
Minot is served by 15 radio stations (12 FM, three AM).
Bottineau-based
Programmer's Broadcasting owns
KTZU and
KWGO, along with
KBTO of
Bottineau.
Prairie Public Radio operates
KMPR FM 88.9, a community broadcaster based in
Burlington operates a
low-power FM station, and the remainder are nonprofit Christian stations, of which only KHRT is local.
iHeartMedia owns and operates all the commercial stations licensed to Minot itself:
KCJB 910 (classic country & talk),
KRRZ 1390 (classic hits/talk),
KYYX 97.1 (country),
KIZZ 93.7 (Top 40),
KMXA-FM 99.9 (AC), and
KZPR 105.3 (mainstream rock). This concentration of broadcasting in the hands of a single owner has led to criticism.
AM frequencies
* 910
KCJB: "91 Country"
Country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whil ...
/
Talk
* 1320
KHRT
KHRT (1320 AM) is a Christian radio station located in Minot, North Dakota. It is one of two religious stations, along with KHRT-FM, owned and operated in Minot by Faith Broadcasting. KHRT concentrates on a Southern gospel format, and also ai ...
: "K-Heart"
Gospel music
* 1390
KRRZ: "Cars"
Classic hits
* 710
KXMR: "ESPN"
Sports talk
FM Frequencies
* 88.9
KMPR:
Prairie Public Radio
* 91.1 K216EE:
Real Presence Radio
Real Presence Radio is a lay apostolate Catholic talk radio network in the United States, with stations and translators (low power re-broadcasters) in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming covering five states an ...
Christian
* 91.9 K220GC:
Air1 Christian
* 93.7
KIZZ: "Z94"
Top 40
* 94.9
KTZU: "The Zoo"
Classic rock
Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, prim ...
* 97.1
KYYX: "97 Kicks"
Country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whil ...
* 98.1
KOWW-LP
KOWW-LP (98.1 FM, "The Cowlip") is a low-power radio station licensed to Burlington, North Dakota and serves Burlington and Minot, North Dakota. It broadcasts a freeform eclectic music format and its broadcast license is held by Pointe of View ...
: "The Cowlip"
eclectic community broadcaster (
Burlington, North Dakota)
* 99.9
KMXA-FM: "Mix 99.9"
Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet ...
* 100.7
KNDL:
K-Love Christian
* 102.9
KWGO: "W-G-O"
Country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whil ...
* 104.1
KSAF-LP
KSAF-LP (104.1 FM) is a low power radio station licensed to True Light Broadcasting, Inc., a ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Minot, North Dakota.
It airs a Christian radio format.
The station was assigned the KSAF-LP call lette ...
:
LifeTalk Radio Christian
* 105.3
KZPR: "The Fox"
Mainstream Rock
* 106.9
KHRT
KHRT (1320 AM) is a Christian radio station located in Minot, North Dakota. It is one of two religious stations, along with KHRT-FM, owned and operated in Minot by Faith Broadcasting. KHRT concentrates on a Southern gospel format, and also ai ...
: "K-Heart"
Christian
Other stations
Additionally, the following stations are not based in Minot, but generally have a clear signal into town:
*550 AM
KFYR: "K-Fire" from
Bismarck (
News/Talk/Sports)
*710 AM
KXMR:
ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
, also from
Bismarck (
Sports
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...
)
*1410 AM
KDKT: "
Fox Sports Radio 1410" also from
Bismarck (
Sports
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...
)
*101.9 FM
KBTO: "Sunny 101.9" from
Bottineau (
Country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whil ...
)
Television
Minot has six television stations, most of which have
ATSC (digital) transmitters:
*
KSRE (
ATSC RF channel 40);
virtual channels 6.1
PBS, 6.2
PBS World, 6.3
Minnesota Channel, 6.4 Lifelong Learning
*
KMOT (
ATSC RF channel 10);
virtual channels 10.1
NBC, 10.2
Fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelv ...
, 10.3
Me-TV
*
KXMC-TV (
ATSC RF channel 13);
virtual channels 13.1
CBS, 13.3 The CW
*
KMCY (
ATSC RF channel 14);
virtual channels 14.1
ABC
*
KNDM (
ATSC RF channel 24);
virtual channels 24.1
Heroes & Icons
Cable service
Midcontinent Communications provides cable service to the city of Minot and Minot Air Force Base.
Souris River Telecommunications
SRT Communications (formerly Souris River Telecommunications) is the largest telecommunications cooperative in North Dakota, serving over 50,000 people with Internet, Security Alarm and Video Surveillance, and Business Phone Systems and services. ...
provides cable service to other nearby communities.
Print
The principal local newspaper is the ''
Minot Daily News
The ''Minot Daily News'' is an American daily newspaper, printed in downtown
''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, politica ...
'', which publishes six days a week. The Minot Air Force Base also has a weekly newspaper printed
The Northern Sentry It is a free publication published on Fridays by BHG, Inc. out of Garrison, ND available on the MAFB, as well as the surrounding communities and many locations within Minot. The Minot State University student newspaper ''Red & Green'' is published once a week (Thursdays) during the regular school year, but not during the summer months. Morgan Printing produces the ''Lunch Letter'' three days a week on a double-sided leaflet. There is one weekly classified-ad publication, the ''Trading Post'', printed by the ''Minot Daily News''. The ''
Bismarck Tribune'' is available at several outlets in the city, as is ''
The Forum'', to a lesser extent.
Transportation
Railroads
The railroads that built Minot remain, though Great Northern is now part of the
BNSF Railway and the Soo Line is run by the
Canadian Pacific Railway.
Passenger rail transportation is provided on
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. States and nine cities in Canada ...
's ''
Empire Builder'' line, connecting Chicago with Portland and Seattle, which stops at the
Minot Amtrak station. Trains make a 20-minute refueling and crew change stop in Minot. Westbound trains are scheduled to arrive daily at 8:29 am
local time; eastbound trains are scheduled to arrive daily at 9:27 pm.
Highways
Three major U.S. highways run through the city, connecting it to Canada, Montana, and two interstates:
US 2,
US 52, and
US 83.
US 2 runs east-west and is a four-lane divided highway from Minot east to
Grand Forks
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the state of North Dakota (after Fargo and Bismarck) and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 59,166. Grand Forks, along with its twin city o ...
and beyond as well as west to
Williston and into Montana. Minot is midpoint along the North Dakota segment of US 2.
US 83 runs north-south through central Minot as
Broadway. It is a four-lane divided highway from Minot south to
Bismarck and north to
Minot Air Force Base. Just north of the main gate at the base, the road reduces to two lanes and crosses the Canada–US border at
Westhope, ND, where it becomes
Manitoba
, image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg
, map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada
, Label_map = yes
, coordinates =
, capital = Win ...
Highway 83.
US 52 is a two-lane highway that runs southeast-northwest. Southeast from Minot, it follows a slightly circuitous route to
Jamestown. US 52 then merges with
Interstate 94 (I-94) after Jamestown, heading due east to
Fargo Fargo usually refers to:
* Fargo, North Dakota, United States
* ''Fargo'' (1996 film), a crime film by the Coen brothers
* ''Fargo'' (TV series), an American black comedy–crime drama anthology television series
Fargo may also refer to:
Othe ...
. Northwest from Minot, US 52 crosses the Canada–US border at
Portal, ND/North Portal,
SK, where it becomes
Saskatchewan Highway 39.
The
Minot Bypass follows alternate alignments of these roads around the city in its northwest and northeast quadrants, with southwest and southeast bypasses in preliminary planning stages.
Airport
Minot International Airport
Minot International Airport is in Ward County, North Dakota, United States, two miles north of the city of Minot, which owns it. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a ''primary commercial service'' ...
is served by three airlines as well as charters and air taxi service around North Dakota.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc., typically referred to as Delta, is one of the major airlines of the United States and a legacy carrier. One of the world's oldest airlines in operation, Delta is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline, along wi ...
offers up to six daily round trips to
Minneapolis International Airport
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
, offering hundreds of daily connections.
United Airlines offers four daily round trips to its
Denver International Airport hub.
Allegiant Air provides up to four weekly round trips to Las Vegas
McCarran International Airport and up to five weekly round trips to
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
Within the city
Automobiles dominate intracity and local area transport. There is limited fixed-route city transit service (
Minot City Transit
Minot City Transit, is the public transit agency operated in Minot, North Dakota, It operates fixed-route bus routes in the city.
A 1977 built Minot City Transit bus, constructed by the American Motors General Metropolitan and modeled after a Can ...
) on weekdays, and flexible-route rural transit service (
Souris Basin Transportation) on an occasional basis. Local transit services for the elderly and disabled (
Minot Commission on Aging Transit
Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the 20 ...
) meet federal guidelines but have 24-hour advance notice requirements.
Pedestrianism in the city is inhibited by several factors; the sidewalk network is poor in many areas of the city, though improving. Automobile drivers take the right of way at all but the best-marked crosswalks, and major points are often separated by relatively large distances and hill slopes.
Skateboarding is illegal in streets and on sidewalks (though there is a skating area in Roosevelt Park), and
rollerblading is generally disallowed by downtown landowners.
Sites of interest
*
Arlene Theater
The Arlene Theater is the name of a performance theater in Downtown Minot
Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely ...
, a performing arts center, where the Mouse River Players perform
*
Dakota Territory Air Museum is an
aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines. ...
museum near the airport. It contains many war and civilian aircraft.
*
Maysa Arena
Maysa Arena is a multi-purpose venue located in Minot, North Dakota. The name Maysa is an acronym for Minot Area Youth Skating Association, a group that proposed the construction of the three-rink arena in the 1990s. The $3.9 million arena on the ...
, an all-purpose, year-round skating facility operated by the Minot Park District with three sheets of ice under one roof.
*
Scandinavian Heritage Park
Scandinavian Heritage Park is a park located in the Upper Brooklyn neighborhood of Minot, North Dakota. Scandinavian Heritage Park features remembrances and replicas from each of the Scandinavian countries: Norway, Sweden and Denmark, as well as ...
is home to the Minot Visitor's Center, as well as buildings based on the Scandinavian style of architecture, including a Stave Church. The grounds are home to the Minot's Arts in the Park series.
*
Old Soo Depot Transportation Museum, museum and research center in the restored 1912 Soo Line Depot.
*
North Dakota State Fair Center, located on the state fairgrounds, is home to many of the city's largest events, including: The
North Dakota State Fair, the
Norsk Høstfest, the Big One craft show, the KMOT Ag Expo, and the Great Tomato Festival. It also hosts rodeos, and college hockey games.
*
Roosevelt Park and
Zoo
*
Taube Museum of Art
The Taube Museum of Art is an art museum in Downtown Minot, North Dakota
North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bor ...
, located in the 1906 Union National Bank Building, features exhibit space in the Main Gallery and the Lower Gallery, which change every four to six weeks.
See also
*
Minot Why Nots
The Minot Why Nots were a minor league baseball team based in Minot, North Dakota, United States that played in the Northern League Northern League may refer to:
Sport
Baseball
* Northern League (baseball, 1902–71), a name used by several mino ...
References
External links
City of MinotConvention and Visitors BureauMinot history (MSU)
{{Authority control
Cities in North Dakota
Cities in Ward County, North Dakota
County seats in North Dakota
Populated places established in 1886
1886 establishments in Dakota Territory