Grand Forks, North Dakota Population 2023

61,065

Grand Forks is a city located in Grand Forks County North Dakota. It is also the county seat of Grand Forks County. With a 2023 population of 61,065, it is the 3rd largest city in North Dakota and the 701st largest city in the United States.Grand Forks is currently growing at a rate of 1.05% annually and its population has increased by 3.21% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 59,166 in 2020. Spanning over 28 miles, Grand Forks has a population density of 2,221 people per square mile.

The average household income in Grand Forks is $70,735 with a poverty rate of 20.2%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Grand Forks is 29.4 years, 28.7 years for males, and 30.3 years for females.

Grand Forks is the oldest major city in both North Dakota and South Dakota. The city has a very diverse economy, and it is a cultural center of the region.

Grand Forks Economy

The city’s economy is reliant on multiple industries, including agriculture, education, health care, manufacturing and food processing. The largest employer in Grand Forks is the Altru Health System, which employs over 4,000 people. Other major employers include the Grand Forks Air Force Base, the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks Public Schools, and Valley Memorial Home.

Grand Forks Population Growth

Grand Forks has seen its population rise through the years primarily because of the opportunities offered for education and jobs, as well as a low unemployment rate. The city’s population was over 10,000 by the time of the 1910 census. This number had more than doubled by the 1950 census. The city’s population exhibited growth in the double-digit percentages until the 2000 census, when a drop was recorded. However, the next 10-year census showed that the population had not just rebounded but had exceeded 50,000. The most recent estimates indicate that the population has grown by 8.5% since the 2010 census.

The region that is now Grand Forks was once a trading and meeting spot for Native Americans. Early French explorers came to the area, which they called Les Grandes Fourches (or The Grand Forks) to trade fur during the 18th century. When the 19th century arrived, the trader Alexander Henry created a temporary camp and a few years later, established a permanent post. Hudson’s Bay Company and the American Fur Company operated at this post. Later in the 19th century, the first post office was established, and the city’s name was changed to Grand Forks.

Other cities in the state relied on the railroad, but Grand Forks served as a steamboat port. In 1870, a steamboat froze in the Red River, and the captain claimed a piece of property that would later become the downtown area of Grand Forks.

The community grew quite quickly. The town’s first newspaper went to print in 1875 with another paper beginning just four years later. Grand Forks was incorporated as a city in 1881. Steamboat traffic, immigration and the arrival of the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway led to substantial growth. Most of the original settlers were farmers, but soon professionals and merchants came from Minneapolis and other cities to live in Grand Forks. Toward the end of the 19th century, brick buildings were constructed, including the Hotel Dacotah. The University of North Dakota was also founded around this time.

By the 20th century, the city was a center for transportation, education, health care, culture, and entertainment. New neighborhoods were constructed to keep up with the growing population. The city continued to expand with the addition of the North Dakota Mill and Elevator and Grand Forks Air Force Base, which brought new jobs and new residents to the area.

Toward the end of the 20th century, the suburban areas began to grow. Urban renewal projects were launched within the city limits to develop new schools, commercial centers, and a hospital. However, disaster struck in 1997 when the Red River flooded. The flood and fire were destructive to the city and led to the creation of a flood wall that was completed in 2006.

In recent years, the city has only continued to grow in terms of new developments and the population. This includes the construction of the Ralph Engelstad Arena, the Alerus City, homes, and additional commercial development.

Grand Forks Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Grand Forks was:

  • White: 84.17%
  • Black or African American: 4.06%
  • Asian: 3.34%
  • Two or more races: 3.17%
  • Native American: 2.98%
  • Other race: 1.65%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.64%
The current population of Grand Forks, North Dakota is 61,065 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 59,166.

Grand Forks, North Dakota Population 2023

Population by Race

White

Black or African American

Asian

Two or more races

Native American

Other race

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Grand Forks Population by Race

Grand Forks Population Pyramid 2023

Grand Forks Median Age

29.4

Total

28.7

Male

30.3

Female

Grand Forks Adults

There are 45,384 adults, (7,134 of whom are seniors) in Grand Forks.

Grand Forks Age Dependency

47.9

Age Dependency Ratio

18.7

Old Age Dependency Ratio

29.3

Child Dependency Ratio

Grand Forks Sex Ratio

Female27,02847.76%
Male29,56052.24%

Grand Forks Population by Age

Grand Forks Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

2.83

Average Family Size

2.06

Average Household Size

43.9%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Grand Forks Households and Families

Male

Female

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Grand Forks Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Grand Forks Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

The highest rate of high school graduation is among other race people with a rate of 85.61%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 44.7%.

Grand Forks Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

$42,433

Average Earnings

$48,631

Average Male

$37,872

Average Female

Grand Forks Earnings by Educational Attainment

Grand Forks Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Grand Forks Language

92.47% of Grand Forks residents speak only English, while 7.53% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 2.76% of the population.

Grand Forks Language

Grand Forks Poverty by Race

rate

20.2%

Overall Poverty Rate

18.34%

Male Poverty Rate

17.48%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Grand Forks

The race most likely to be in poverty in Grand Forks is Islander, with 142.86% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Grand Forks is Other, with 15.22% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.33%. Among those working part-time, it was 33.22%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 31.98%.

Grand Forks Poverty

Grand Forks Poverty Rate by Education

Grand Forks Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Grand Forks Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Grand Forks Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

39.0%

Overall Marriage Rate

38.5%

Male Marriage Rate

39.6%

Female Marriage Rate

Grand Forks Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Grand Forks Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

Grand Forks Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Grand Forks Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

3,043

Number of Veterans

2,823

Male Veterans

220

Female Veterans

Grand Forks Veterans by War

Grand Forks Veterans by Age

count

Grand Forks Veterans by Race

Grand Forks Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

13.19%

Veteran Poverty Rate

21.59%

Veteran Disability Rate

Grand Forks Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

72.6%

Labor Force Participation

68.5%

Employment Rate

4.4%

Unemployment Rate

Grand Forks Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Grand Forks Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Grand Forks Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

50.92%

Born in Grand Forks

89.57%

Native Born

6.07%

Foreign Born

4.01%

Non Citizen

2.06%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

89.57% of Grand Forks residents were born in the United States, with 50.92% having been born in North Dakota. 4.01% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Grand Forks Place of Birth

Note: data after 2020 is projected based on recent growth

Grand Forks Population by Year