Fargo, North Dakota has a current population of around 105,500 inhabitants and serves as the seat for Cass County. The city of Fargo is considered part of the Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area, that services a population of about 209,000 people. The Statistical Area includes Moorhead, Minnesota, adjacent West Fargo, within the state of North Dakota and Dilworth, Minnesota.
Fargo is a key economic center for the regions of southeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. The key economic industries of Fargo include: retail, education, health care, and manufacturing.
The site of the existing Fargo was a popular stopping point for steamboats coming down the Red River. Founded during 1871, it was originally referred to as "Centralia." Its later name, "Fargo," honored William Fargo who served as director of Northern Pacific Railway and founded the Wells Fargo Express Company. The Railway brought success to the town, that was referred to as the "Gateway to the West".
Agriculture was until more recently, a major economic industry in the City of Fargo. Nowadays, the city of Fargo is more heavily dependent upon manufacturing, food processing, technology, retail, education and healthcare. The most significant companies within the City of Fargo comprise Innovis Health, Sanford Health, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Microsoft, Case New Holland and Swanson Health products. North Dakota State University is located in Fargo and is the biggest provider of public sector jobs. Fargo is considered by Forbes Magazine to be the 7th best small city in the nation for establishing a business or starting a career.
The City of Fargo supports cultural arts and with three are universities, they host and produce many theatrical productions and events, which are stages by Ursa major productions, Theater 'B', Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater, Tin Roof Theater Company, Music Theater Fargo Moorhead and more. Musical events are never in short supply, thanks to the Fargo-Moorhead Opera, the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and the Jazz Arts Group. The Fargo-Moorhead Ballet company produces dance events.
Film festivals and first-run movies can be seen at a 1926 Art Deco movie house, called the Fargo Theater, whilst at the Fargodome residents and visitors enjoy concerts, Broadway musicals, sports, dance, and other public spectacles. A main local festival is the Winter Carnival, that has been held in Fargo since 1928.