Grand Forks, North Dakota Population 2023

58,460

Grand Forks is a city located in Grand Forks County North Dakota. Grand Forks has a 2023 population of 58,460. It is also the county seat of Grand Forks County.Grand Forks is currently declining at a rate of -0.27% annually and its population has decreased by -0.82% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 58,942 in 2020.

The average household income in Grand Forks is $74,949 with a poverty rate of 17.89%. 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, 28.9 years for males, and 30.2 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: 82.99%
  • Black or African American: 4.47%
  • Two or more races: 4%
  • Asian: 3.45%
  • Native American: 2.85%
  • Other race: 1.7%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.55%
Land Area (mi²)
27.5 sq mi
Density (mi²)
2,126.60/sq mi
Growth Rate
-0.27% (-160)
Growth Since 2020
-0.82% (-482)
The current population of Grand Forks, North Dakota is 58,460 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 58,942.

Grand Forks, North Dakota Population 2023

Population by Race

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White

Black or African American

Two or more races

Asian

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

28.9

Male

30.2

Female

Grand Forks Adults

There are 46,963 adults, (7,443 of whom are seniors) in Grand Forks.

Grand Forks Age Dependency

49

Age Dependency Ratio

18.8

Old Age Dependency Ratio

30.1

Child Dependency Ratio

Grand Forks Sex Ratio

Female28,31448.1%
Male30,55351.9%

Grand Forks Population by Age

Grand Forks Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

2.96

Average Family Size

2.15

Average Household Size

43.7%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Grand Forks Households and Families

Male

Female

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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

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 78.62%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 44.42%.

Grand Forks Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$44,323

Average Earnings

$50,927

Average Male

$38,942

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

91.63% of Grand Forks residents speak only English, while 8.37% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 3.06% of the population.

Grand Forks Language

Grand Forks Poverty by Race

rate

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17.89%

Overall Poverty Rate

16.72%

Male Poverty Rate

19.14%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Grand Forks

The race most likely to be in poverty in Grand Forks is Islander, with 202.5% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Grand Forks is Other, with 13.42% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.09%. Among those working part-time, it was 31.88%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 30.47%.

Grand Forks Poverty

rate

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Grand Forks Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Grand Forks Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Grand Forks Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

Grand Forks Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

36.7%

Overall Marriage Rate

37.0%

Male Marriage Rate

36.4%

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

2,881

Number of Veterans

2,673

Male Veterans

208

Female Veterans

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Grand Forks Veterans by War

count

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Grand Forks Veterans by Age

count

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Grand Forks Veterans by Race

Grand Forks Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

12.36%

Veteran Poverty Rate

22.25%

Veteran Disability Rate

Grand Forks Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

71.8%

Labor Force Participation

67.9%

Employment Rate

4.1%

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

55.74%

Born in Grand Forks

98.68%

Native Born

7.44%

Foreign Born

4.92%

Non Citizen

2.52%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

98.68% of Grand Forks residents were born in the United States, with 55.74% having been born in North Dakota. 4.92% 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 2021 is projected based on recent change

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Grand Forks Population by Year