1897 Map of Fargo

About this map

The Red River of the North winds through the heart of this late-19th-century landscape, serving as the border between North Dakota and Minnesota. This era saw the rapid expansion of the Red River Valley as a premier agricultural and transportation hub, anchored by the growing sister cities of Fargo and Moorhead. The map reveals a dense network of iron rails facilitating this growth, including the Northern Pacific R. R. and the Great Northern R. R.. Small railway stops and rural townships like Kragnes, Glyndon, and Kurtz (Elmer Sta.) punctuate the grid, many serving as vital grain collection points. The survey also captures the courses of the Sheyenne River and Buffalo River, highlighting the natural drainage systems that supported the region's productive soil before the further modernization of the 20th century.