Facts-at-a-Glance



GRAND FORKS HONORS
Business
  • Lowest taxes for a manufacturing & food processing facility (EDC, GF Region, 2004)
  • Lowest Worker's Compensation Insurance costs in the nation (EDC 2004)
  • Ranked 28th overall in nation for Best Small Metro in Business & Career (Forbes, 2006)
  • Ranked 12th in income growth for Best Small Metros in the Nation (Forbes, 2005)
  • Ranked 30th overall in nation for Best Small Metro in Business & Career (Forbes, 2005)
  • Cirrus Design plans expansion that could create more than 350 new jobs in the next three years
  • Ranked 80th in "The Best Places for Doing Business in America 2005" for both big & small cities and 30th for small metros
Education
  • GF Public Schools Ranked 14th out of 362 school systems studied in top metros of the U.S. overall for public schools (Atlas & Guide 2006 issue of Expansion Management Magazine)
  • UND ranked 14th out of 375 schools in nation for Entrepreneurial Undergraduate Campuses - ranked above Stanford University (Forbes & Princeton Review)
  • Shanghai-ND joint business management initiative (College of Business & Public Administration) recognized by the Institute of International Education (Dimensions)
  • GF Public School District awarded 2000 Exemplary Career Guidance & Counseling Program (U.S. Department of Education)
  • GF Public School District finalist for 2002 National School of Character Designation Award (Dept. of Education & Character Education Dept.)
  • GF Public School District named to list of Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America (National School Boards Association)
Quality of Life
  • North Dakota ranked 11th “Most Livable State” & 1st “Safest State” (Manhattan Institute for Policy Review)
  • North Dakota ranked 50th as the percentage of people spending 30% or more household income on mortgage-indicating low mortgage/home ownership cost
  • One of the Top 100 Communities for Young People (America’s Promise Top 100 Communities for Young People competition, September 2005)
  • North Dakota ranked 5th top state for children (Annie E. Casey Foundation, “Kids Count Data Book”, July, 2005)
  • Grand Forks ranked 12th out of 117 cities for the most secure small cities in the country (The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, July, 2005)
  • 4 star community in 5th annual Quality of Life Quotient rating (Expansion Management)
  • 6th Best Small City in the nation for relocating a family (Primary Relocation)
  • Ranked 10th on Sperling’s Best Places in 2004 (Sperling’s Best Places)
  • Ranked 108th out of 117 least stressful small metro areas-117 is the least stressful (Sperling’s Best Places, 2004)
  • Ranked 2nd least expensive city to own & maintain a car (Runzheimer Int.)
  • In top 10 list of cheapest cities for car insurance (Runzheimer Int.)
Facilities
  • Altru Health Systems ranked top 3.5% in the nation (EDC, 2004)
  • Altru Health Systems recipient of J.D. Power and Associates “Distinguished Hospital for Service Excellence” (Altru)
  • The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program awarded to Altru’s Diabetes Center,2004
  • Holiday Inn recognized as one of ’85 innovations’ that change the way we live (Forbes, 2003)
  • Alerus Center is largest event center between Minneapolis and Seattle (CVB)
  • Grand Forks Corporate Center recipient of 2001 American Institute of Architects Design Award and 2000 Mayor’s Barrier Free Design (JLG architects)
  • Kings Walk recipient of Am. Institute of Architects Design Award (ND American Institute of Architects)
  • Historic renovation of GF Metropolitan Opera House featured project on HGTV’s “Restore America With Bob Vila” (JLG Architects)
  • Grand Forks Air Traffic Control Tower honored for safely handling one million operations without error (Federal Aviation Administration)
  • GFK one of top 50 busiest airports in U.S. (FAA)
  • Downtown Grand Forks Historic District nominated to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
GFAFB
  • UND and GFAFB new home to McDonnell Douglas DC-8 jet that serves as one of the 'airborne laboratories’ of NASA
  • 2005 recipient of Air Mobility Command Outstanding Community Support Award-Abilene Trophy
  • 1st place in Model Facility Demonstration (2001 White House Closing the Circle Award Winners)
  • 1999 Non-Industrial Recycling Award (Cross Talk)
  • Winner of 2002 General Thomas D. White Environmental Award in category of Pollution Prevention (AFCEE)
  • In the top 10 list for Best Commute (Airforce Times, 2004)
Media
  • 1998 Pulitzer Gold Medal awarded to Grand Forks Herald for Meritorious Public Service
  • 1999 Top 10 Sports Section-GF Herald (AP Sports Editors)
  • Photo staff finalist in 1998 Pulitzer competition-GF Herald


CLIMATE



POPULATION
2009 Grand Forks Population Estimate
(2009) Census Data Center Estimate
2009 Building Permits (New Dwellings)
2009 Demolition Permits (Dwellings)
2009 Net Additional Dwellings (Total)
2009 Vacancy Rate		55,691
NA
257 units
5 units
252 units
4.95%

(Additional Dwelling Units x Average Household Size) - Vacancy Rate = 2009 Additional Population (252 units x 2.31) - 4.95% = 553 People
2008 Grand Forks Population Estimate
(2008) Census Data Center Estimate
2008 Building Permits (New Dwellings)
2008 Demolition Permits (Dwellings)
2008 Net Additional Dwellings (Total)
2008 Vacancy Rate		55,138
51,313
264 units
8 units
256 units
4.95%

(Additional Dwelling Units x Average Household Size) - Vacancy Rate = 2008 Additional Population (256 units x 2.31) - 4.95% = 562 People
2007 Grand Forks Population Estimate
(2007) Census Data Center Estimate
2007 Building Permits (New Dwellings)
2007 Demolition Permits (Dwellings)
2007 Net Additional Dwellings (Total)
2007 Vacancy Rate		54,576
51,740
230 units
6 units
224 units
4.68%

(Additional Dwelling Units x Average Household Size) - Vacancy Rate = 2007 Additional Population (224 units x 2.31) - 4.68% = 493 People
2006 Grand Forks Population Estimate
(2006) Census Data Center Estimate
2006 Building Permits (New Dwellings)
2006 Demolition Permits (Dwellings)
2006 Net Additional Dwellings (Total)
2006 Vacancy Rate		54,083
50,372
402 units
3 units
399 units
7.5%

(Additional Dwelling Units x Average Household Size) - Vacancy Rate = 2006 Additional Population (399 units x 2.31) - 7.5% = 853 People
2005 Grand Forks Population Estimate
(2005) Census Data Center Estimate
2005 Building Permits (New Dwellings)
2005 Demolition Permits (Dwellings)
2005 Net Additional Dwellings (Total)
2005 Vacancy Rate		53,230
50,372
491 units
6 units
485 units
6.3%

(Additional Dwelling Units x Average Household Size) - Vacancy Rate = 2005 Additional Population (485 units x 2.31) - 6.3% = 1,062 People
2004 Grand Forks Population Estimate
(2004) Census Data Center Estimate
2004 Building Permits (New Dwellings)
2004 Demolition Permits (Dwellings)
2004 Net Additional Dwellings (Total)
2004 Vacancy Rate		52,168
50,081
451 units
5 units
446 units
2.64%

(Additional Dwelling Units x Average Household Size) - Vacancy Rate = 2004 Additional Population (446 units x 2.31) - 2.64% = 990 People



CITY FLAG
City Flag Facts
  • After a design contest and a city-wide vote, the City Council adopted this flag on December 5, 1994.
  • Represents the spirit of the city and the region:
  • White background of flag represents the fresh, clean air and open environment
  • Blue water that splits along the bottom of the flag represents the river forks and its role as the foundation of our community
  • Green riverbanks stand for life and future growth along the river
  • Red feather recognizes Native American heritage
  • Yellow abstract stalk represents our reliance on agriculture
  • The date, 1870, represents when the area was named "Grand Forks", supposedly by the first Postmaster, Sanford C. Cady (More history)


Geography
  • City limits outer boundary including airport - 20.36 sq. miles
  • City limits outer boundary w/o airport - 17.91 sq. miles
  • Average elevation - 830-832 ft. above sea level




City of Grand Forks
255 N 4th Street * Grand Forks, ND 58203 * Phone (701) 746-INFO