Minot, North Dakota

Minot is a city in north central North Dakota in an area known as the Drift Prairie region. The city is located on the Souris River (also known as the Mouse River), some 30 km from its southernmost point near Velva. The Souris River divides the city approximately in half, north and south. Minot is the fourth largest city in the state with a population over 37,000 residents. It serves as the county seat of Ward County and the trading center of a large portion of northern North Dakota, southwestern Manitoba, and southeastern Saskatchewan. The median income for a household in the city was $32,218, and the median income for a family was $42,804.

Minot came into existence in 1886, when Jim Hill's Great Northern Railroad ended its push through the state for the winter, after having trouble constructing a trestle across Gassman Coulee. A tent town sprung up over night, as if by "magic", and thus the city came to be known as the Magic City. In the next occurring 5 months, the population increased to over 5,000 residents, further adding to the nicknames validity.

Minot was a typical western boom town in its early years, with its share of vice and lawlessness. During Prohibition the city became known as "Little Chicago", as it was a central hub of Al Capone's liquor smuggling operations. Smugglers used a network of underground tunnels (some of which were previously built for heating or deliveries) to transport and conceal the illicit cargo. Some of the tunnels can still be accessed. In the 1950s, Minot saw the construction of the Minot Air Force Base, an Air Defense Command Base that later became a Strategic Air Command bomber & Minuteman missile base. Not far away, Garrison Dam was built on the Missouri River. In 1969, a severe flood on the Souris River devastated the city. Afterward, the Army Corps of Engineers straightened the path of the river through the city and built several flood control structures.

Important cities in the region for which Minot is the trading center include Bottineau, Garrison, New Town, Rugby, Stanley, and Velva. The closest city to the center of Minot is Burlington, and the city of Surrey is 3 miles to the west of the incorporated city limits of Minot. The unincorporated community of Ruthville lies between Minot and the Minot Air Force Base to the North. To the southeast along US 52, there is the unincorporated community of Logan. The nearest community to the south of Minot is Max, about 40 km away. The near-desolate towns of Drady, and Saron are also nearby.

The city's economy is more robust than other cities of its size due to its large service area. A Coldwell Banker Home Price Comparison Index listed Minot as the most affordable area of 348 markets in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico for homebuyers. Minot's midwestern setting and attitudes sometimes hides its sizable and sometimes flamboyant arts community. Minot has an art museum, a symphony orchestra and a city band, several dance and theatre troupes, a youth/punk concert organization, the AMP, and much more; over 40 organizations claim membership in the Minot Area Council on the Arts, and even more exist.

Nearly 40% of the residents of Minot are of Scandinavian ancestry, and every October since 1977, Minot has been the host to the Norsk Høstfest, North America's largest Scandinavian-American festival. Additionally, the North Dakota State Fair is held annually in Minot. Minot is also home to Minot State University, and home to the Minot SkyRockets of the Continental Basketball Association.