My Main Street, Minot, North Dakota
All this week, I celebrate Main Street. Features on the blog will highlight businesses along Main Street, Minot, and will include –
About Minot
Founded: 1886, during the construction of the Great Northern Railway. Minot is also called “Magic City,” commemorating its extraordinary growth in a short time.
The town was named after Henry D. Minot, a railroad investor.
The city was incorporated on June 28, 1887.
Minot is the fourth largest city in the state. 2010 census put us at 40K+ people. In 2012, the Minot Area Development Corporation estimated between 46,000 and 47,000 permanent residents within city limits.
I am proud to say that my son (active duty – Air Force) and my daughter-in-law (Air National Guard) both serve at the Minot Air Force Base.
Climate
Well, y’all have heard me complain about the winters, and don’t get me started on the flood of 2011. But record temps have gone over the 100 mark in the summer. Record lows (I think we saw them last winter) reach into the -50s with a brutal wind chill.
According to Agriculture in the Classroom –
“North Dakota weather can be extreme! The state’s highest temperature reading – 121 degrees – and all-time low reading – 60 below zero – were recorded less than six months apart in the same year, 1936!”
Agriculture
Spring wheat, durum, barley, sunflowers, flaxseed, canola, sugar beets, potatoes, oats, and others. If you ever eat spaghetti, chances are you are eating North Dakota durum.
On four legs
Recent estimates maintain that there are nearly two million head of cattle, over 160,000 pigs, and almost 90,000 sheep in North Dakota. So, thank a farmer.
State flora, fauna
Our State Bird: Western Meadowlark
The Peace Tower at the International Peace Garden
Our State Tree: American Elm
Our State Flower: Wild Prairie Rose
Nickname
Peace Garden State.
Click the link to see more about our beautiful International Peace Garden.
Geographical Center of North America
Rugby, North Dakota, is the geographical center of North America! Bet you didn’t know that. For more info., see Rugby, North Dakota.
Motto
North Dakota’s motto, “Strength from the Soil,” appears on the state’s coat of arms and governor’s flag.
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Opening photo courtesy Old Photos.
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Does your town have special events planned for the 4th of July?
Do you know your state’s motto, tree, flower, and bird?
Karen R. Sanderson 
Sounds like someone is rightly proud of her City and State.
The Peace Tower is beautiful. Our town probably does, but we’ll hang out in our neighborhood. The development has a band playing in one of our parks. Yay! Just walk down to the fun.
I’ve never been in Minot. I love the picture of the picture of the city in the 30-40s?? The town has a whole different look now. Love the Peace Tower. I love farm communities. Wonderful, hardworking families. Such a lovely post and I enjoyed looking at the shops. Can tell you like the city.
I love historic towns! …the Peace Tower is awesome!
Thanks, all. It took me a couple of years to adjust, but I like it fine now. And I’ve made more friends and some great associate-contacts here in Minot. Now that I have an apartment, a regular job, friends…all good. And of course, I’m just a hop and a skip away from the kids and grandkids – love that!
That was a great tour, Karen!
Never been to ND before, but am still hoping to make it to SD next month!! heh heh 😉
Washington:
state flower: rhododendron
bird: goldfinch
tree: I thought it was douglas fir, but I cheated and found out it’s hemlock!
😉
I’m so proud – you looked it up! 🙂 Great times in SD, I’m sure. Have fun! Nope, sorry, I can’t make it this year.
Yah, bummer you can’t meet up at Devil’s Tower -that would be so fun!!
Well, you just never know which one of us will have another adventure that might unexpectedly connect us. 😉
Yeah, I’m disappointed I can’t have a vacation this year. Wish we could meet…someday!
Fascinating. I love learning about Minot. Until I started reading your blogs, it was just a blip way up there on a map to me. Now it’s a fascinating, edgy (re its weather), beautiful, hard, fascinating place. Thanks!
Oh, the weather is “edgy” for sure! It sort of stinks! Winters are brutal, and looooooong.
Karen, I love these glimpses of Main Street! What a great idea… There is something about midwestern cities and towns – they are just magical to me in their simple timelessness. I loved this tour of Minot!
I’ll admit, not too fond of the place after the first winter and then the flood. But I’ve grown to like it. “Magical” – Minot is called “The Magic City!”
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