North Dakota

Grand Forks

73,170
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Grand Forks

Grand Forks, North Dakota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 6,248. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 73,170.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Grand Forks AFB Minuteman ICBM Field (321st Missile Wing — deactivated), and 71 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202073,170
201066,861
200066,109
199070,683
198066,100
197061,102
196048,677
195039,443
194034,518
193031,956
192028,795
191027,888
190024,459
189018,357
18806,248
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Grand Forks

Military engagements that took place in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Grand Forks AFB Minuteman ICBM Field (321st Missile Wing — deactivated)
1964

Historic places in Grand Forks

National Register of Historic Places listings in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Roller Office Supply
Grand Forks
Kelly, J. Nelson, House
Grand Forks
Iddings Block
Grand Forks
Ost Valle Bridge
Thompson
Wright Block
Grand Forks
Clifford, George B., House
Grand Forks
Funseth, Carlott, Round Barn
Kempton
Larimore City Hall
Larimore
U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
Grand Forks
Sorlie Memorial Bridge
Grand Forks
Administration Building for the City of Grand Forks at the Grand Forks Airport
Grand Forks
St. Michael's Parochial School
Grand Forks
Dakota Block
Grand Forks
United Lutheran Church
Grand Forks
Dinnie Apartments
Grand Forks
North Dakota Mill and Elevator
Grand Forks
Beare, Harriet and Thomas, House
Grand Forks
Hariman Sanatorium
Grand Forks
Metropolitan Opera House
Grand Forks
Blome, R. S., Granitoid Pavement in Grand Forks
Grand Forks
Grand Forks Mercantile Building 1898
Grand Forks
Grand Forks Near Southside Historic District
Grand Forks
Grand Forks Near Southside Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Grand Forks
Washington School
Grand Forks
Browse all North Dakotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Dakota

Explore census history and historic records for more North Dakota counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Grand Forks County, North Dakota

This page charts the census history of Grand Forks County, North Dakota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Grand Forks

When does Grand Forks first appear in the US census?
Grand Forks, North Dakota first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 6,248.
What is the population of Grand Forks?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Grand Forks had a recorded population of 73,170.
Were any battles fought in Grand Forks?
1 documented military engagement took place in Grand Forks, including Grand Forks AFB Minuteman ICBM Field (321st Missile Wing — deactivated).
How many historic places are in Grand Forks?
71 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
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