Fargo, ND hasn’t always been known as Fargo. In fact, when it spent some time known as “Centralia” and the location was almost further down the Red River.
(Fargo’s First Frame Building – Photo from NDSU Archives)
John Hallberg from the NDSU Archives knows a lot of about the founding, growth and rich history of Fargo, ND. He joins Amy Iler and JJ Gordon to discuss some of these facts that helped shape the city known around the globe. For example, we know that the railroad is the reason we are here – but did you know that originally the location was almost much further downstream? Concerns over flooding lead to the choice of land where Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead now stand.
(Tents of the Northern Pacific Railroad Build Crew – Photo from NDSU Archives)
Another interesting piece of information is that fact that North Dakota and Fargo specifically was once know as the “divorce capital of the world.” To get a divorce you simply needed to declare residency, a short 90 day requirement, and then it getting a divorce was as easy as signing on the dotted line. For awhile, Fargo was known as the “10 Minute Divorce” because the train made a 10 minute stop in Fargo – which allowed a passenger to rent a hotel room, leave a bag there and start their residency requirements. 3 months later, they returned and filled out the paperwork. Get it? A 10 minute divorce! The amount of traffic and temporary residents meant a boom in hotels, restaurants, theaters and even an opera house!
Enjoy the podcast and head over to the
NDSU ARCHIVES WEBSITE
for a deeper look into how Fargo, ND became the city we know today!
Listen to the other FARGO FRIDAY segments:
Fargo, North Dakota Meets Fargo, Georgia
Fargo, North Dakota Meets Fargo, Oklahoma
Fargo, North Dakota Meets Fargo, Arkansas
KFGO Podcast –
Fargo, ND Meet Fargo, TX
(Amy Iler & JJ Gordon are talk-show hosts at 790 AM KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. “It Takes 2 with Amy & JJ” can be heard weekdays 11am-2pm. Check out the show page on
FACEBOOK.
Follow Amy on Twitter
@AmyKFGO
. Follow JJ on Twitter
@JJGodon701
.)
