Today

Unlike many of small towns in North Dakota, Larimore has maintained a relatively stable population for the last forty years. Its close proximity to employment opportunities in Grand Forks

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...

 and at the Grand Forks Air Force Base

Grand Forks Air Force Base

Grand Forks Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located north of Emerado, North Dakota and approximately west of Grand Forks, North Dakota...

 have led the town to become an attractive choice for commuters desiring lower housing costs and a small-town environment. Although new housing construction has been fairly stagnant during the last fifteen years, a number of new homes have been built throughout the town in the last several years where lots have been available. A larger number of homes have been constructed outside of the city near Larimore Dam and along the Turtle River, north and east of the town. Many of these homes are far larger and more expensive than those being built within the city limits.

In rural Larimore, population density is higher east of the town than towards the west. Although the area has lost farming households throughout many decades, many farms have been turned into horse ranches, hobby farms, or simply homesteads for commuters who wish to have more area than they would otherwise have in town.

Although Larimore has maintained its residential base, it has faced more difficult challenges in regards to its commercial establishments. Like numerous small communities throughout the Great Plains, the 1980s were a devastating time for local main street businesses. Downturns in the farm economy and increased shopping options in larger, nearby cities such as Grand Forks, led to many store closures in Larimore that included everything from a farm implement dealer to a grocery store. The business district has since "bottomed out" and many of the once abandoned buildings have either been renovated for other uses or demolished and replaced with new structures. Abandoned lots and empty, deteriorating buildings still dot much of the downtown area of Larimore.

Sites of interest

• Turtle River State Park - one of the largest state parks in eastern North Dakota
• Larimore Dam - a recreational area along a reservoir on the Turtle River
  Turtle River (North Dakota)
  .The Turtle River is a tributary of the Red River of the North in northeastern North Dakota in the United States. It flows for almost its entire length in Grand Forks County...
  
  . Attractions include a beach, fishing, camping, and swimming.
• Myra Arboretum
  Myra Arboretum
  Myra Arboretum , also called Larimore Arboretum, is located on the south branch of the Turtle River in Larimore, North Dakota.The Arboretum contains over 500 trees.-External links:*...