Grand Forks, North Dakota

Founded on June 15, 1870, the city of Grand Forks received its name based on the city’s location at the forks of the Red River and Red Lake River. Grand Forks is the third largest city in North Dakota and county seat of Grand Forks County. Alexander Griggs, the “Father of Grand Forks”, was forced to camp on the land after his steamboat froze in the Red River. In 1875, Griggs platted the community and on February 22, 1881, Grand Forks was officially incorporated.

The Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railway arrived by the late 19th century and the Grand Forks’ community experienced rapid growth. The University of North Dakota was established and was soon viewed as the premier state institution to be given to a community, even more so than the state capital. UND is the oldest university in the state and is known for its School of Aerospace Sciences which trains airplane pilots from around the world. The 1920s brought the beginning of what would become a Grand Forks mainstay, the North Dakota Milling Company. The North Dakota Mill facilities include seven milling units, a terminal elevator, and a packing warehouse to prepare bagged products for shipment. Grand Forks’ economy received another boost in the 1950s, when Grand Forks Air Force Base was constructed. Today, Grand Forks AFB is the host unit for the 319th Air Base Wing assigned to the Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force. The University of North Dakota and Grand Forks Air Force Base are among the city’s top employers, as well as Altru Health System and Hugo’s Stores.

Grand Forks’ military and manufacturing related jobsites, as well as construction sites, have known asbestos exposure risks. The use of asbestos containing materials was prevalent at these and other sites, especially from the 1930s to 1970s. If you were exposed to asbestos in Grand Forks, you may benefit from seeking the advice of an asbestos lawyer.

Jobsites in Grand Forks where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Grand Forks, ND have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.