1895 Map of Fargo

About this map

The Red River of the North serves as the central artery and state boundary in this late nineteenth-century survey, dividing the developing hub of Fargo, North Dakota, from Moorhead, Minnesota. The landscape is defined by the heavy presence of competing rail lines, including the Northern Pacific (Main Line) and the Great Northern, which facilitated the rapid growth of agricultural prairie settlements. Beyond the primary cities, numerous smaller stations and communities punctuate the grid, such as Kurtz (Elmer Sta.) and Wild Rice. The intricate meandering of the Wild Rice River and Sheyenne River across the flat river valley illustrates the hydrological complexity of the Red River Basin. This document captures the transition of the region into a major grain-shipping corridor, with township divisions like Kragness and Holy Cross reflecting the early political organization of the Red River Valley.