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Geography of Minot, North Dakota facts for kids

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The geography of Minot, North Dakota is all about where Minot is located and what its natural features are like. It's a city in the state of North Dakota, and its surroundings play a big role in how the city looks and feels.

Where is Minot Located?

Minot is found in the middle part of northern North Dakota. It sits in a flat area called the Drift Prairie. This region was shaped by ancient glaciers.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Minot covers about 14.6 square miles (37.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.14%, is water, like the Souris River and its small lakes.

The city center is about 1,556 feet (474 meters) above sea level. However, the land around the river is lower than the plains nearby. For example, the Minot International Airport on "North Hill" is higher, at 1,716 feet (523 meters).

Minot is built along the Souris River, which is also known as the Mouse River. This river flows northwest and eventually joins the Assiniboine River. From there, its waters travel all the way to Hudson Bay in Canada!

How Far is Minot from Other Places?

Minot is quite a distance from other major cities.

Closer to Minot, you'll find smaller towns. Burlington is to the west, and Surrey is to the east. The small community of Ruthville is located between Minot and Minot AFB to the north. To the southeast, there's Logan. The town of Max is over 25 miles (40 km) to the south.

Minot is an important center for many nearby towns. These include Bottineau, Garrison, New Town, Rugby, Stanley, and Velva.

Communities Near Minot

Here are some communities that are considered part of the "Greater Minot" area:

How Minot's Streets Are Organized

Minot uses a simple grid system for its streets. This makes it easy to find your way around!

  • Streets run north and south.
  • Avenues run east and west.

Streets are numbered based on how far they are from Main Street. Avenues are numbered based on how far they are from Central Avenue.

  • If an address is south of Central Avenue, it's called "South." If it's north, it's "North."
  • If an address is east of Main Street, it's called "East." If it's west, it's "West."

This system creates four main areas in the city: Northwest (NW), Southwest (SW), Southeast (SE), and Northeast (NE).

Main Roads in Minot

Knowing the major streets helps you navigate Minot.

North-South Roads

  • 16th Street West
  • 6th and 8th Streets West
  • Broadway (US 83)
  • 3rd Street East
  • Valley Street (Business US 52)
  • Hiawatha Street

East-West Roads

  • 21st Avenue North
  • University Avenue
  • 4th, 3rd, 5th, Railway Avenue
  • The Quentin N. Burdick Expressway (Business US 2/52)
  • 11th Avenue South
  • 20th Avenue South
  • 32nd Avenue South

Minot's Main Areas

The Souris River (Mouse River) flows right through the middle of Minot, dividing the city into northern and southern halves.

  • The flat land around the river is called The Valley.
  • The land rises up on both sides of the river. The northern rise and the plateau above it are known as North Hill.
  • The southern rise and the plateau above it are called South Hill.

Shopping Areas in Minot

Minot has several places where you can go shopping and find businesses.

  • Broadway is a main road that runs north and south, and it's a big commercial area.
  • Downtown Minot is the city's central business district. It's generally located around Broadway, 3rd Street East, Central Avenue, and Burdick Expressway.
  • Southwest Minot has a large shopping area along 16th Street SW. Here you'll find places like Dakota Square Mall, Wal-Mart, and many other stores.
  • The Arrowhead Mall is at Central Avenue and 16th Street West.
  • Oak Park Center is nearby, along 4th Avenue NW.
  • Town and Country Center is located at Broadway and 11th Avenue SW.

Minot's Neighborhoods

Minot has many different neighborhoods, often with unique characteristics.

  • Bel Air is a nice residential area north of 4th Avenue NW and west of 16th Street NW. It even has its own elementary school.
  • Eastwood Park is a historic neighborhood southwest of Roosevelt Park and north of Burdick Expressway.
  • Terracita Vallejo is actually just outside the city limits, west of the US 83 bypass.
  • Green Acres is a neighborhood off 16th Street SW, close to the Dakota Square Mall and other shops. It has a neighborhood park.
  • Southwest Knolls is one of Minot's older, wealthier neighborhoods, especially along 8th, 9th, and 10th Streets South on South Hill.
  • Stonebridge Farms is a newer, upscale suburban neighborhood in the northeast part of the city, north of the airport.
  • Ridgedale Heights is a rural subdivision located outside Minot's city limits, just north of Stonebridge Farms.
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