West Fargo is a city in Cass County, North Dakota, United States. It is, as of the 2020 census, the fifth most populous city in the state of North Dakota with a population of 38,626, and it is one of the state's fastest growing cities. The city is part of the Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

West Fargo began as a whistle stop called "Sheyenne Crossing" on the Northern Pacific Railway, named for the nearby Sheyenne River.

A post office operated from 1874 to 1885.

The settlement was renamed "Haggartville", and then "Haggart", after the owner of the land, John E. Haggart, a businessman who served as postmaster, U.S. marshall, and first sheriff of Cass County. Settlers began arriving in the area, and in 1876 the first school was built, School District No. 6.

Equity Co-op Packing Company was formed by a group of farmer, and the Equity Packing Plant—a meat processing plant—was erected in the settlement in 1919. Twenty-four homes were built, as well as a hotel, restaurant, and general store. The Equity company fell into bankruptcy in 1922, and was sold to Armour and Company in 1925, when the settlement's name was changed to "Village of West Fargo". The settlement was a major agricultural processor during the 1930s, and most of the residents were meat packinghouse workers; teams at West Fargo High School continue to be called the "packers". The plant utilized an assembly line to process meat, and its motto stated it used "every part of the animal except the squeal." The plant also produced fertilizer, adhesives, and soap. The meat packing era ended in West Fargo when the Armour plant closed in 1960.

In 1989, the cities of West Fargo and Riverside merged.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.417 square miles (42.52 km²), of which 16.175 square miles (41.89 km²) is land and 0.242 square miles (0.63 km²) is water.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, West Fargo has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1940	707	—
1950	1,632	130.8%
1960	3,328	103.9%
1970	5,161	55.1%
1980	10,099	95.7%
1990	12,287	21.7%
2000	14,940	21.6%
2010	25,830	72.9%
2020	38,626	49.5%
2023 (est.)	40,400	56.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

2020 census

West Fargo Racial Composition
Race	Number	Percent
White (NH)	32,687	84.6%
Black or African American (NH)	1,779	4.6%
Native American (NH)	415	1.1%
Asian (NH)	850	2.2%
Pacific Islander (NH)	5	0.0%
Some Other Race (NH)	79	0.2%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	1,616	4.2%
Hispanic or Latino	1,195	3.1%
Total	38,626	100.0%

As of the 2020 census, there were 38,626 people, 15,271 households, and 9,905 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,404.7 inhabitants per square mile (928.5/km²). There were 16,058 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 85.6% White, 4.7% African American, 1.2% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other races and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population. 27.4% of residents were under the age of 18, 8.2% were under 5 years of age, and 10.5% were 65 and older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 25,830 people, 10,348 households and 6,823 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,789.0 inhabitants per square mile (690.7/km²). There were 10,760 housing units at an average density of 745.2 per square mile (287.7/km²). The racial makeup was 93.5% White, 2.0% African American, 1.0% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

According to the 2008–2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, the ancestry is as follows:

German 46.2%
Norwegian 35.4%
Irish 7.6%
Swedish 6.2%
English 5.4%
French (except Basque) 3.8%
American 2.7%
Polish 2.6%
Russian 2.5%
Czech 2.4%
Subsaharan African 2.2%
Italian 1.7%
Scottish 1.3%
Danish 1.2%

There were 10,348 households, of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.1% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age was 32.6 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.2% were from 45 to 64; and 7.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

Economy

Businesses

Technology companies with West Fargo locations include:

Applied Industrial Technologies
BNG Technologies
Data Technologies Inc.
High Point Networks
Network Center Communications
Norse Technologies
Razor Tracking
Red Chair Solutions
TrueIT
Digital Famous Media

Arts and culture

West Fest Parade

West Fargo Public Library

Museums

Bonanzaville, USA – is a village made up of many historic buildings from the region. It includes a church, school building, and log cabins. It is named after the historic bonanza farms of the area.

Annual events

Big Iron Farm Show, an annual event located at the West Fargo Fairgrounds, features farm equipment and over 900 exhibit booths. Over 87,000 attendees took part in the three-day Big Iron in 2013.
Bonanzaville Pioneer Days includes a parade, food, demonstrations and tours.
Hamfest, an annual event located at the West Fargo Fairgrounds, features presentations and equipment for sale.
Nite to Unite, hosted by the West Fargo Police Department, is an annual community summer event. Past activities have included police, fire, ambulance and military demonstrations.
Red River Valley Fair includes entertainment, arts and crafts shows, livestock, fireworks and a petting zoo.
West Fest, held in September, includes a softball tournament, pancake feed, parade, and firefighter's ball.

Public library

The West Fargo Public Library is located in the Clayton A. Lodoen Center. The library moved into this facility in 2005.

Park and recreation

The West Fargo Park District maintains 30 parks, bike paths, and facilities that include Scheels Soccer Complex, Veterans Memorial Arena, Rustad Recreation Center and Veterans Memorial Pool.

Education

West Fargo Sports Arena, part of West Fargo Public Schools.

West Fargo Public Schools serves the city of West Fargo, much of southwestern Fargo, the suburb of Reile's Acres, and the communities of Horace and Harwood.

The school district operates two early childhood schools (Clayton A. Lodoen Kindergarten Center and Osgood Kindergarten Center), ten elementary schools (Aurora Elementary, Eastwood Elementary, Freedom Elementary, Harwood Elementary, Horace Elementary, Independence Elementary, L.E. Berger Elementary, Liberty 5th Grade, South Elementary, and Westside Elementary), two middle schools (Cheney Middle and Liberty Middle) and three high schools (West Fargo High School, Sheyenne High, and Community High).

In 2016, the school district began construction of an $18.5 million competitive pool facility at the L.E. Berger Elementary School.

In 2016, West Fargo High School teacher Michelle Strand earned the Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Media

Newspapers and magazines

West Fargo news is covered in several newspapers and magazines including:

Area Woman Magazine
Fargo Forum
Fargo Monthly
Prairie Business
West Fargo Pioneer mailed free to every West Fargo resident

Infrastructure

West Fargo Fire Department, Main Station

Transportation

West Fargo works with North Dakota Department of Transportation, Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (Metro COG), and Fargo Moorhead Metro Area Transit to meet the transportation needs of West Fargo citizens.

West Fargo Municipal Airport is 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Fargo.

Police

The Police Department has grown from three officers in 1968, to 78 sworn officers as of 2023.

Public works

Public Works Department oversees streets, sewer and water, sanitation and forestry for the city. "There are eight (8) existing wells within the City. The total pumping capacity of all wells together is 3,500 gallons per minute (5 million gallons per day)."

Fire Department

West Fargo Fire and Rescue has 23 career and 45 part-time positions. The department has two stations and provides "all hazard" services including fire suppression, community risk reduction, basic life support EMS, hazmat, and technical rescue specialties such as water/ice rescue, high angle rope rescue and tactical EMS.

Notable people

Anthony W. England, NASA astronaut
Bryce Haugeberg, racing driver
Jan Maxwell, Broadway actress and five time Tony Award nominee
Tyler Roehl, former running back with the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings
Matt Strahm, Major League Baseball pitcher
Alon Wieland, businessman and North Dakota state legislator

West Fargo, North Dakota facts for kids

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