West Fargo is a city in
Cass 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, So ...
, United States. It is, as of the
2020 census, the
fifth largest city in the state of
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, So ...
with a population of 38,626,
and it is one of the state's fastest growing cities. West Fargo was founded in 1926. The city is part of the
Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN
Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...
.
Geography
West Fargo is located at (46.871749, −96.894966).
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. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
This
climatic
Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteorological ...
region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
system, West Fargo has a
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 ...
, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.
Demographics
According to the 2008–2012
American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, the ancestry is as follows:
*
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
46.2%
*
Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
* Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
* Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including ...
35.4%
*
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
7.6%
*
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 ...
6.2%
*
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
5.4%
*
French (except Basque) 3.8%
*
American 2.7%
*
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
2.6%
*
Russian
Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including:
*Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
2.5%
*
Czech
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
** Czech cuisine
* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus'
Places
* Czech, ...
2.4%
* Subsaharan
African 2.2%
*
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
1.7%
*
Scottish 1.3%
*
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
1.2%
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 25,830 people, 10,348 households and 6,823 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 10,760 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 93.5%
White
White is the 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 reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 2.0%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 1.0%
Native American, 1.4%
Asian, 0.4% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.8% 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 forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 10,348 households, of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were
married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.1% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.
The median age was 32.6 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.2% were from 45 to 64; and 7.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% 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 14,940 people, 5,771 households and 4,091 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 2,049.2 per square mile (791.3/km). There were 5,968 housing units at an average density of 818.6 per square mile (316.1/km). The racial makeup was 96.40%
White
White is the 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 reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 0.42%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 1.04%
Native American, 0.28%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 0.67% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.16% 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 forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 1.41% of the population.
The top six ancestry groups in the city are
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
(47.9%),
Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
* Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
* Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including ...
(39.7%),
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
(8.3%),
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 ...
(7.2%),
French (5.2%),
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
(4.8%).
There were 5,771 households, of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were
married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.
29.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The
median household income
The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways o ...
was $44,542 and the median family income was $51,765. Males had a median income of $32,105 and females $22,148. 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 ...
was $19,368. About 4.7% of families and 6.3% 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 t ...
, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
Law and government
The City of West Fargo is governed by a Board of City Commissioners, which consists of the President of the Board (Mayor) and four City Commissioners. The current mayor of West Fargo as of 2018 is Bernie Dardis.
City Hall
![West Fargo North Dakota City Hall](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/West_Fargo_North_Dakota_City_Hall.jpg)
Staff
Sharon Schacher retired in 2011 after 35 years as the City of West Fargo's finance director. Tina Fisk replaced Schacher in that year. Two new director positions were created: human resources, which was filled by Carmen Schroeder, and information technology, which was filled by James Anderson, both in 2011. In 2015, Tina Fisk was named city administrator, replacing Jim Brownlee.
Building
City Hall's official ground breaking was held on May 9, 1975, in 2005, City Hall was renovated when the library moved to its new facility. City Hall's most recent renovation concluded in 2016, which brought building inspections and information technology under the same roof and included secure underground police parking. The $19 million renovation added 34,000 square feet to City Hall.
Police Department
The Police Department has grown from three officers in 1968, to 61 sworn officers as of 2018. "The West Fargo Police Department’s Mission is to provide quality service to residents and guests of West Fargo, ensuring a safe community by protecting their constitutional rights in the most professional manner possible." Police officers and other city employees enforce West Fargo city ordinances. Heith Janke is the current, as of 2017, Chief of Police. The previous chief was ousted by the city for inappropriate contact with city companies. The police department's community programs include Citizen Police Academy, Police Explorers Post 281, Night to Unite, Neighborhood Watch Program, TRIAD and
Crime-Free Multi-Housing
The Crime-Free Multi-Housing (CFMH) program is a crime prevention program, which partners property owners, residents, and law-enforcement personnel in an effort to eliminate crime, drugs, and gangs on rental properties.
History
The program be ...
.
Economic Development and Community Services
Business
"The Business Development Department connects new and existing business owners and operators with city officials, helping to pave the way for the growth and expansion that is making West Fargo part of North Dakota’s new economic frontier." Economic Development Director Matthew Marshall "says some of West Fargo’s growth is a reflection of the recent trendiness of the greater Fargo area, which has attracted young workers and families and translated into a low median age that businesses desire." Incentives for businesses include loans (PACE Loan and Flex PACE Loan) as well as "tax incentives for purchasing, leasing, or making improvements to real property located in a North Dakota renaissance zone."
Community
In 2015, West Fargo became a "North Dakota Cares" community. North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple has "pledged $500,000 from his executive budget" to support "service members, veterans, families and survivors."
Public Works
Public Works Department oversees streets, sewer and water, sanitation and forestry for the city. "There are eight (8) existing wells within the City. The total pumping capacity of all wells together is 3,500 gallons per minute (5 million gallons per day)." In 2014, Chris Brungardt, the former assistant director, was appointed as the public works director and The West Fargo City Commission unanimously approved a "contract with Twin Cities based Waste Management to start a no-sort recycling program in the city in April."
Fire Department
West Fargo Fire & Rescue is a combination department led by Chief Dan Fuller, of Danvers MA. The department has 23 career and 45 part-time positions. The dept has two stations and provides "all hazard" services including fire suppression, community risk reduction, basic life support EMS, hazmat, and technical rescue specialties such as water/ice rescue, high angle rope rescue and tactical EMS. Two ladders, three engines, two EMS rescues, a heavy rescue, a Battalion Chief truck, a hazmat trailer, two boats, a grass truck, a
K-9 truck, and seven administrative cars make up the vehicles in the fleet. The command structure includes a career Fire Chief, Office Coordinator, three Deputy Chiefs (Risk Reduction, Operations, Professional Standards), an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, one training chief, two Battalion Chiefs (one career, one PT), one equipment services tech, seven Captains (three career, four PT) as well as a Fire Department Chaplain. The department holds an ISO Class 3 rating.
Parks
The West Fargo Park District maintains 30 parks, bike paths, and facilities that include Scheels Soccer Complex, Veterans Memorial Arena, Rustad Recreation Center and Veterans Memorial Pool. A five-member park board oversees the Park District; Barb Erbstoesser is the executive director. West Fargo Winter Days, an annual event, includes a Silver Snowflake Search, sleigh rides and a chili cookoff.
Public Library
The West Fargo Public Library is located in the Clayton A. Lodoen Center at 215 3rd Street East in West Fargo. The library moved into this facility in 2005. Freda Hatten, the first Librarian of the West Fargo Public Library, retired in 1976. Carissa Hansen has served as Library Director since December 2019, following the retirement of Sandra Hannahs who served from 2007 to 2019. Before that, Miriam Arves had been the library director for 31 years. Beyond the circulation of physical items like books, the West Fargo Public Library offers a wide range of in-person and online services to patrons. In 2020, amid calls for worldwide social distancing due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the West Fargo Public Library translated their popular in-person programs into virtual programs calling this new collection of services "West Fargo Public Library at Home!"
Awards
* In 2013, West Fargo was named City of the Year by the North Dakota League of Cities.
* In 2013, The West Fargo City Commission received the American Public Works Association North Dakota Chapter Project of the Year Award for the city's "Storm Sewer Improvement District numbers 4044, 4046, and 4047".
* In 2014, City Administrator Jim Brownlee was "named North Dakota League of Cities Outstanding City Employee of the Year".
* In 2014, Library Director Sandra Hannahs was named North Dakota Librarian of the Year.
National recognition
*West Fargo has been a Tree City for over 30 years. Tree City USA requirements include "maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day".
*In 2011, West Fargo was recognized as a Playful City USA by
KaBOOM!. "Playful City USA is a national recognition program sponsored by the Humana Foundation, honoring cities and towns that champion efforts to make play a priority through establishing policy initiatives, infrastructure investments and innovative programming".
*In 2015, West Fargo was named one of North Dakota's five safest cities according to The Safewise Report which uses FBI Crime Report data to rank the safest cities
*In 2016, West Fargo Public Library was named North Dakota's Amazing Library by MSN.com
Transportation
West Fargo works with
North Dakota Department of Transportation
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is a part of the government of the U.S. state of North Dakota. NDDOT oversees the state's transportation system. This includes planning both new construction and reconstruction projects on road ...
, Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (Metro COG), and
Fargo Moorhead Metro Area Transit to meet the transportation needs of West Fargo citizens. In addition, The West Fargo Municipal Airport, 6 miles northwest of Fargo, is operated by the West Fargo Airport Authority and has a paved and lighted 3,300 x 50 foot runway.
Education
West Fargo Public Schools
West Fargo Public Schools
West Fargo Public Schools (WFPS) is a public school district in West Fargo, North Dakota, United States. It serves a city population of 35,708. As of the 2019–2020 school year, the district owns and operates one early childhood (kindergarten) ce ...
serves the city of West Fargo, much of southwestern Fargo, the suburb of Reile's Acres, and the communities of Horace and Harwood. Seven West Fargo residents are elected to serve on the school board, these residents govern the school district and serve 4-year terms.
The board voted unanimously on Monday, March 26, to hire Beth Slette, a 25-year veteran of the district and current West Fargo assistant superintendent of elementary education. Slette took over for Dr. David Flowers who had served as superintendent since 2010. Flowers was named the North Dakota Superintendent of the Year by the North Dakota Association of School Administrators in 2012. Holly Ripley, an assistant principal at West Fargo High School, was named the 2016 National Assistant Principal of the Year.
History
The West Fargo School District (then referred to as "School District No. 6 in Cass County") was formed on 9 October 1876. In January 1887, Nina Hall was hired to teach for two months. She was paid $40. "This first school was large enough to handle the pupils of the district until 1910 when it became necessary to build the Fairview School in the western part of the district. The two schools continued to operate until 1923."
In 1922, North School was built, which included two classrooms and a gymnasium.
The following year, Jennie Worman Colby became the first principal. In 1939, a new school building was built for grades 7–12. Today the building, The Clayton A. Lodoen Community Center, houses the West Fargo Community High, Clayton A. Lodoen Kindergarten Center, and West Fargo Public Library.
The City of West Fargo's growth has caused the building of new schools to meet the needs of its students. Aurora Elementary School (located in the Eagle Run development in southern West Fargo) opened for the 2007–2008 school year and Sheyenne 9th Grade Center opened on August 27, 2007 in response to the district's growing enrollment and overcrowding at West Fargo High School (2007 was the first year that freshmen were educated outside the High School since 1993). The Sheyenne 9th Grade Center may serve as a second middle school for West Fargo, as it was decided in March 2009 to be voted on by the public. In January 2015, Superintendent David Flowers presented a 10-year RSP Associates demographics study which "predicts the district will continue to add between 400 and more than 600 students each year".
The school district operates two early childhood schools (Clayton A. Lodoen Kindergarten Center and Osgood Kindergarten Center), ten elementary schools (Aurora Elementary, Eastwood Elementary, Freedom Elementary, Harwood Elementary, Horace Elementary, Independence Elementary, L.E. Berger Elementary, Liberty 5th Grade, South Elementary, and Westside Elementary), two middle schools (Cheney Middle and Liberty Middle) and three high schools (
West Fargo High School
West Fargo High School is a public high school located in West Fargo, North Dakota. It serves about 2,000 students and is a part of the West Fargo Public Schools system. The school colors are green and white and the athletic teams are known as ...
, Sheyenne High, and Community High).
Hulbert Aquatic Facility
In 2016, the school district began construction of an $18.5 million competitive pool facility at the L.E. Berger Elementary School. The facility will include the pool used for the
USA Swimming
USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. It is charged with selecting the United States Olympic Swimming team and any other teams that officially represent the United States, as well as the overal ...
trials for the
2016 Summer Olympics at the
CenturyLink Center Omaha in which
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps II (born June 30, 1985) is an American former competitive swimmer. He is the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals. Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold med ...
and
Ryan Lochte competed. The Omaha pool which was built by Myrtha Pools was dismantled after the competition and moved to West Fargo. It is named for the Hulbert family which donated $1 million for the project.
Technology
Since it began in 2009, West Fargo School's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program has taken top honors in several competitions, including the Technology Student Association State Competition in 2012, the Bison BEST competition in 2009, and students won first place for Best Web Page Design at the 2009 Frontier Trails BEST Regional Robotics Competition
In 2015, "an education partnership" was "launched to help high school students in West Fargo, Fargo and Northern Cass school districts prepare for college and 21st century technical careers." While a business partnership already exists between West Fargo High School and Microsoft, Cass County Career and Technical Education Consortium hopes to expand to industries to include "agricultural science, diesel technology, health science, aviation, information technology and engineering".
A group of Liberty Middle School students won ‘Best of State’ in the 2014–2015, 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 Verizon Innovative App Challenge.
National awards
In 2016, "West Fargo High School teacher Michelle Strand earned the Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching as named by President Barack Obama."
North Dakota State Teacher of the Year Awards
1996 – Marcia Kenyon, Eastwood Elementary School
1998 – Vickie Boutiette, District Reading
2008 – Verna Rasmussen, Westside Elementary School
2013 – Andrea Noonan, Cheney Middle School
2014 – Aaron Knodel, West Fargo High School
2017 – Nanci Dauwen, Sheyenne High School
Churches
Catholic
*Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
*Holy Cross Catholic Church
Lutheran
*Faith Lutheran
*Lutheran Church of the Cross
*St. Andrew Lutheran Church
*Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
*Triumph Lutheran Brethren Church
Methodist
*Flame of Faith United Methodist Church
Presbyterian
*Community Presbyterian Church
Other denominations
*Changing Lives Tabernacle
*Meadow Ridge Bible Chapel
*New Beginnings Assembly of God
*Prairie Heights
*Red River Church
*Shiloh Evangelical Free Church
Businesses
The West Fargo community supports businesses through the city of West Fargo and The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce. The city of West Fargo supports business owners through The West Fargo Economic Development Advisory Committee, West Fargo Economic Development Department and City Assessor's Office. The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce is a bi-state organization representing over 2,000 firms and 94,000 people. The Chamber supports its members through "advocacy, education, and engagement".
Technology companies with West Fargo locations, include:
*Applied Industrial Technologies
*BNG Technologies
*Data Technologies Inc.
*High Point Networks
*Network Center Communications
*Norse Technologies
*Razor Tracking
*Red Chair Solutions
*TrueIT
*Digital Famous Media
Newspapers and magazines
West Fargo news is covered in several newspapers and magazines including:
* ''Area Woman Magazine''
* ''Fargo Forum''
* ''Fargo Monthly''
* ''Prairie Business''
* ''West Fargo Pioneer'' mailed free to every West Fargo resident
Annual events
Annual West Fargo events include:
* Big Iron, an annual event located at the West Fargo Fairgrounds, features farm equipment and over 900 exhibit booths. Over 87,000 attendees took part in the three-day Big Iron in 2013.
* Bonanzaville Pioneer Days includes a parade, food, demonstrations and tours.
-
*
Hamfest
A Hamfest is a convention of amateur radio enthusiasts, often combining a trade show, flea market, and various other activities of interest to amateur radio operators (hams). In the United Kingdom the term rally is more commonly used for amateur ...
an annual event located at the West Fargo Fairgrounds, features presentations and equipment for sale.
* Nite to Unite, hosted by the West Fargo Police Department, is an annual community summer event. Past activities have included Police, Fire, FM Ambulance and Military demonstrations, free food, face painting, mascots and community service display booths.
* Red River Valley Fair includes entertainment, arts and crafts shows, livestock, fireworks and a petting zoo.
* The West Fargo Public Library hosts its Summer Reading Program to encourage reading for children, teens, and adults.
* The West Fargo Shakers holds an annual New Year's Eve Party on December 31, all proceeds benefit the Back Pack Program.
* West Fest, held in September, is a community event for all ages, including a softball tournament, a pancake feed, a parade, and firefighter's ball.
File:West_Fest_Parade_2016_-_West_Fargo_High_School.jpg, West Fest Parade 2016
File:West_Fest_-_Fire_Department_and_Police_Department.jpg, West Fest Parade 2016
Sites of interest
*
Big Iron Farm Show
*
Bonanzaville, USA
Notable people
*
Anthony W. England
Anthony Wayne England (born May 15, 1942), better known as Tony England, is an American, former NASA astronaut. Selected in 1967, England was among a group of astronauts who served as backups during the Apollo and Skylab programs. Like most ot ...
, NASA astronaut
*
Jan Maxwell
Janice Elaine Maxwell (November 20, 1956 – February 11, 2018) was an American stage and television actress. She was a five-time Tony Award nominee and two-time Drama Desk Award winner. In a career spanning over thirty years, Maxwell was one ...
, Broadway actress and five time
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
nominee
*
Tyler Roehl
Tyler Roehl (born January 29, 1986) is an American football coach and former running back. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football for North Dakota State University. In June 2009, he ...
, former running back with the
Seattle Seahawks and
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansi ...
*
Matt Strahm
Matthew Scott Strahm (born November 12, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and Boston Red S ...
,
relief pitcher
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as inclement weat ...
for the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...
*
Alon Wieland
Alon Carl Wieland (April 26, 1935 – January 22, 2022) was an American politician in the state of North Dakota. He was a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, from 2002 to 2014. representing the 13th district. A Republican, he wa ...
, businessman and North Dakota state legislator
References
Further reading
*Bicentennial West Fargo-Riverside History Book Committee. (1977). ''Thru the years to '76''. West Fargo, N.D.: J & M Printing.
*Cushing, N. (2003). ''West Fargo: A work in progress''. Moorhead, Minn.: Dept. of Mass Communications, Minnesota State University Moorhead.
*Dodge, R. (2009). ''Prairie murders: The true story of three murders and the loss of innocence in a small North Dakota town'' (1st ed.). St. Cloud, Minn.: North Star Press of St. Cloud.
*Forness, P. (1994). ''Seasons : Pleasant pastures on the All-Muddy River'' (1st. ed.). Fargo, N.D.: Prairie House.
*Heritage Publications (Hendrum, Minn.). (2003). ''A Century of the Red River Valley Fair''. Hendrum, MN: Heritage Publications.
*Witham, D. (2003). ''Sharing a legacy: The life & times of Donovan C. Witham''. West Fargo, ND?: S.n.
*Witham, D. (2011). ''Always with'em: A life to remember, musings on publishing, politics, and life in a small town''. West Fargo, N.D.: Donovan C. Witham.
External links
City of West Fargo official websiteWest Fargo Public LibraryThe Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce
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Cities in North Dakota
Cities in Cass County, North Dakota
Fargo–Moorhead
Populated places established in 1926