Page Contents for Minot, North Dakota

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The North Dakota state capital is Bismarck.
The population of Minot is approximately 40,888 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 16,475 (2000), 17863 (2010).
The amount of land area in Minot is 37.6 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Minot is 14.6 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.01 sq kilometers.
The distance from Minot to Washington DC is 1435 miles.
The distance to the North Dakota state capital is 101 miles. (as the crow flies)
Minot is positioned 48.23 degrees north of the equator and 101.29 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Minot elevation is 1,715 feet above sea level.
Minot per capita income is $ 28,007 (2009).
Minot median income is $ 46,463 (2009).
The Minot median home price is $ 127,215 (2009).
Minot average annual precipitation is 7.24 inches peryear.
Minot average annual snowfall is 26.00 inches per year.
The average low temperature is (winter) -2, (summer) 58 degrees F.
The average high temperature is (winter) 15, (summer) 82 degrees F.

Location

only 55 miles from the Canadian border. Minot is 150 miles from Montana, 215 miles from Minnesota and 200 miles from South Dakota. Nearby communities include Burlington, Surrey, Des Lacs, Minot Air Force Base, Sawyer, Deering, Glenburn and Velva.
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Weather

seasonal with warm, dry summers and cold winters. The fall is beautiful with the changing of the leaf colors into beautiful reds and oranges.
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History & History Related Items

In 1886, when the Great Northern Railway had great difficulty in building a trestle across Gassman Coulee, they stopped working for the winter. At this spot, a tent city grew up overnight, just like magic, which is where the town got its nickname of Magic City. Within five months, the population grew to over 5,000 further strengthening the city's nickname of being magic.

The railroad chose the townsite and named it after Henry D. Minot, a friend of railroad owner owner, James J. Hill, but also a famous ornithologist and railroad investor. Incorporation took place on 28 June 1887. The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad later increased their route up to Canada and were convinced by area residents to route it through Minot. The re-route was helped along when the city donated the right of way to the railroad. The growth expanded and many new residents arrived. Along with the expanding population, there also arrived a large amount of criminal activity. From about 1905 until 1920, the area was known as the Crime capital of North Dakota. Things were briefly cleaned up in the 20's, but the enactment of prohibition brought in some of the mob's liquor smuggling operations from Canada.

During the 1950s, Minot Air Force Base was built just north of the city. Also around this same time the Garrison Dam was built on the Missouri River south of Minot.

This history page covers the years of 1920 through 1940. This one covers 1900 - 1920.

See some great old pictures of Minot on this page.
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The founding of Minot

1886

The incorporation of Minot

28 June 1887

Attractions

Dakota Territory Air Museum
100 34th Ave NE
Minot, ND 58703
Phone: 701-852-8500

Norsk Hostfest
Held each year in the fall with lots of things to see and do and attend.

Railroad Museum
1015 S Broadway
Minot, ND 58701-4667
Phone: 701-852-7091

Roosevelt Park Zoo
1219 Burdick Expressway East
P.O. Box 549
Minot, ND 58702
Phone: 701-857-4169

North Dakota State Fair
2005 Burdick Expressway East
P.O. Box 1796
Minot, ND 58702
Phone 701-857-7620
Fax 701-857-7622

Minot Air Force Base

Minot is a sister city with Skien in Norway. They also maintain a sister city relationship with Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, a city in Canada about 300 miles to the northwest.

Scandinavian Heritage Park with replicas or remembrances from each of these Scandinavian countries - Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.

North Dakota State Fair Center
2005 Burdick Expy. E.
P.O. Box 1796
Minot, ND 58701
Phone: 701-857-7620

Minot International Airport
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Economy & Industry

Agriculture remains the largest sector of the area economy. This also includes farming and ranching. Another large portion is Minot Air Force Base with over 10,000 people living or working there. The economic impact of the base on the community is over $ 230 million each year.
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Minot City Government

City of Minot
515 2nd Ave SW
Minot, ND 58701-3739
Phone: 701-857-4750
City Clerk: 701-857-4752

Minot has a council-manager form of government. There are 14 council members from seven city wards. Each serves a four year term. The terms are staggered so that they are elected in different years. The Mayor is also an elected position for a four year term.

Minot Historical Events

June, 2011
Flooding here is considered the worst flooding ever experienced in North Dakota. The Souris River broke the levees around the 21st of June, 2011. Thousands of residents have been evacuated and the National Guard and Airmen from Minot AFB are working in the area with security, monitoring dikes and other tasks. Most homeowners have no flood insurance.

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2010
Minot was named the best place to raise a family in 2010 by Departures Magazine.

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2002, January 18
A damaging train derailment occured just west of Minot on this date, sending a huge cloud of anhydrous ammonia toward Minot and nearby Burlington. One man died and many others were sick and injured by the poisonous gas. It was considered to be one of the worst major chemical accidents in the United States. Many lawsuits were filed and took many years to settle.

Minot Chamber

Minot Area Chamber of Commerce
1020 20th Ave., SW
Minot, North Dakota 58702
Phone: 701-852-6000

Minot Organizations

Minot Area Chamber of Commerce
1020 20th Ave., SW
Minot, North Dakota 58702
Phone: 701-852-6000

Minot Libraries

Minot Public Library
516 2nd Ave SW
Minot, ND 58701-3740
Phone: 701-852-1045

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Northwest Ahec Library
20 Burdick Expy W
Minot, ND 58701-4407
Phone: 701-838-4870

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Ward County Public Library
405 3rd Ave SE
Minot, ND 58701-4020
Phone: 701-852-5388

Minot Schools

Minot Catholic Schools
Bishop Ryan High School
316 11th Ave NW
Minot, ND 58703-2260
Phone: 701-852-4004
Fax: 701-839-4651

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Minot Public Schools
215 2nd St SE
Minot, ND 58701
Phone: 701-857-4400

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Eureka Elementary School
6621 Highway 83 N
Minot, ND 58703-0242
Phone: 701-838-7356

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Nedrose School District 4
6900 Highway 2 E
Minot, ND 58701-9341
Phone: 701-838-5552

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HIGHER EDUCATION

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Minot State University
500 University Avenue West
Minot, North Dakota 58707
Phone: 800-777-0750 Minot

Miscellany

Here is an easy way to remember how to pronounce Minot. "Why not - My-not." Most people pronounce it My-no

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The population of Minot was:
1890 - 575
1900 - 1,277
1910 - 6,188
1920 - 10,476
1930 - 16,099
1940 - 16,577
1950 - 22,032
1960 - 30,987
1970 - 32,290
1980 - 32,843
1990 - 34,544
2000 - 36,567
2010 - 40,888

Population Density:
2000 - 2,513.1 persons per square mile

Median age:
2000 - 35 years

Number of Housing Units:
1990 - 15,040
2000 - 16,475

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Median Household Income:
2000 - $ 32,218
2009 - $ 46,463

Per Capita Income:
2000 - $ 18,011
2009 - $ 28,007

Median House Value:
2000 - $ 74,900
2009 - $ 127,215

The area code for Minot is 701. The city is located in the Central Time zone. Minot participates in daylight savings.