East Grand Forks, Minnesota: Border City on the Red River

East Grand Forks is a city in Minnesota, located on the state's western border along the Red River of the North.

Geographic Context

• County: Polk County
• Coordinates: 47.93°N, 97.02°W
• River boundary: Red River forms MN/ND state line
• Twin city: Grand Forks, North Dakota (directly across the river)
• Metro population: ~100,000 combined

Key Features

• Part of Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
• Major flood history (1997 catastrophic flood → extensive flood protection system)
• University of North Dakota (across river) dominates regional economy
• Air Force Base (Grand Forks AFB) nearby
• Agriculture: sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, soybeans

Transportation

• US-2 / US-81 / I-29 corridor
• Three vehicle bridges + pedestrian bridge connect to Grand Forks
• Grand Forks International Airport (GFK) serves both cities

Name Clarification

"East" distinguishes it from Grand Forks, ND. Both named for the forking of the Red River and Red Lake River.