List of mayors of Grand Forks, North Dakota facts for kids
Grand Forks, North Dakota, has a long history of leaders. These leaders are called mayors. A mayor is like the main boss of a city. They help make important decisions. They work to make the city a great place to live for everyone. This article lists the people who have served as mayor. It also shows when they were in charge.
Grand Forks City Leaders
The city of Grand Forks has had many different leaders over the years. These leaders help guide the city. They make sure things run smoothly. They also work on plans for the future.
Early Mayors
Grand Forks first started having mayors in 1881. These early leaders helped shape the growing city. They made important choices about how the city would develop. They set the stage for Grand Forks to become what it is today.
| Term | Mayor |
|---|---|
| 1881–1882 | Col. W.H. Brown |
| 1882–1884 | M.L. McCormack |
| 1885 | J.S. Eshelman |
| 1886–1887 | D.M. Holmes |
| 1888–1889 | Alexander Griggs |
| 1889–1893 | H.L. Whithed |
| 1894–1896 | W.J. Anderson |
| 1896–1904 | John Dinnie |
| 1904–1908 | George Duis |
| 1908–1910 | Dr. John Taylor |
| 1910–1914 | M.F. Murray |
| 1914–1918 | James A. Dinnie |
| 1918–1920 | Dr. Henry Wheeler |
The City Commission Era
In 1920, Grand Forks changed how it was governed. Instead of a single mayor, the city used a "City Commission" system. In this system, a group of people, called commissioners, led the city together. One person was chosen as the "President of City Commissioners." They acted as the main leader during this time.
| Term | Mayor |
|---|---|
| 1920 | Grand Forks converts to City Commission style of government |
| 1920–1926 | Henry O'Keefe Jr. (President of City Commissioners) |
| 1926–1934 | John Hulteng (President of City Commissioners) |
| 1934–1940 | E.A. Fladland (President of City Commissioners) |
Return to the Mayor System
In 1944, Grand Forks decided to go back to having a mayor. This meant the city once again had one main leader. This leader worked with a group of aldermen. Aldermen are like city council members. They help make laws and decisions for the city.
| Term | Mayor |
|---|---|
| 1940–1944 | T.H.H. Thoreson |
| 1944 | Return of Mayor/Alderman System |
| 1944–1952 | Harold Boe |
| 1952–1960 | Oscar Lunseth |
| 1960–1964 | Nelson Youngs |
| 1964–1972 | Hugo Magnuson |
| 1972–1980 | C.P. O'Neill |
| 1980–1988 | H.C. Bud Wessman |
| 1988–1996 | Michael Polovitz |
| 1996–2000 | Patricia Owens |
| 2000–2020 | Michael R. Brown |
| 2020–present | Brandon Bochenski |
