Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 8,410 people, 3,619 households, and 2,091 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,760.0 people per square mile (679.3/km²). There were 3,931 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile (317.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.555% White, 0.27% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.63% of the population.
There were 3,619 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,759, and the median income for a family was $40,908. Males had a median income of $30,332 versus $20,785 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,489. About 8.0% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
According to the ethnic heritage section of the 2000 Federal Census, 50 percent of Thief River Falls residents identify themselves as Norwegian-American, making Thief River Falls one of the most ethnically concentrated towns in the nation.
. South of Thief River Falls is a casino, 7 Clans Casino
, which also contains a hotel and indoor water park. Thief River Falls is home to the electronic parts distributor Digi-Key
, one of the largest employers in the area, and was the birthplace of the vaunted Steiger Tractor, produced from 1958 to the late 1980s.
at its confluence with the Thief River
. The name of the river is a loose translation of the Ojibwe phrase, Gimood-akiwi ziibi, literally, the "Stolen-land river" or "Thieving Land river," which originated when a band of Dakota Indians occupied a secret encampment along the river, hence "stealing" the land, before being discovered and routed by the neighboring Ojibwe. In the Treaty of Old Crossing
of 1863, the Moose Dung's Indian Reservation was established on the west bank of the Thief River, at its confluence with Red Lake River. This Indian Reservation was dissolved in 1904 and their population incorporated as part of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa.
Thief River Falls marked the limit of navigation on the Red Lake River
. The eponymous town site was established in 1887 and later incorporated as a city in 1896. Thief River Falls first developed as a lumber milling town. It is located in a major agriculture area because of the rich soil left by ancient, Glacial Lake Agassiz
. The Great Northern and the Soo Line
railroads brought prosperity when Thief River Falls became a center for shipping wheat.
, who was raised in Thief River Falls, built an $11.5 million hockey arena for the high school hockey team. The arena is called Ralph Engelstad Arena
, the same name as the $100 million hockey arena in Grand Forks
, North Dakota
. Thief River Falls is also home to Northland Community and Technical College (NCTC), which also has a campus in East Grand Forks
, Minnesota. The college has experienced steady growth in enrollment in the past decade.
Thief River Falls Northwest Medical Center is a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) with 25 beds; has non-governmental, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) status; and is the area's community hospital. It houses an inpatient and outpatient mental health unit, encompasses a free-standing 15-bed group home for mentally ill persons and a free-standing 10-bed treatment center for emotionally disturbed children, has doctors on site in the Emergency Room 24/7, and is the only hospital in the community of Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
It is staffed by over 300 employees, making it one of the largest employers in the area. It is governed by an eight-member board of directors.
Sanford Health Thief River Falls offers medical services that include laboratory, surgery, family physicians, and a women's health center.
. The daily newspapers Grand Forks Herald
and Star Tribune
are also available. Most local television stations that can be received in TRF are based in Grand Forks or Fargo
. Thief River Falls is home to several radio stations, and several radio stations from Grand Forks, North Dakota
can also be received. KBRR-TV 10 is licensed to Thief River Falls but the signal originates from Fargo, North Dakota.
Signals that reach Thief River Falls:
north of the city.
. Other trails lead to Greenbush
, Warren
, and Red Lake Falls
, to name a few.
from the east, southeast and the Thief River
from the north. The proximity to forests and shipping made Thief River Falls ideal for logging. In the late 19th century the Great Northern Railway was built, and in 1904, the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (“Soo Line”) passed through on its route from Saint Paul to Winnipeg
. Branches were later built to Drake, North Dakota
and Duluth, Minnesota
. The Minnesota Northwestern Electric Railway
, an electric powered passenger train, ran from Thief River Falls to Goodridge
between 1914 and 1940.
Today, the river and rails still power the local economy with tourism and shipping. Canadian Pacific Railway
and Minnesota Northern Railroad
now occupy tracks through town. To this day, Soo Line engine 1024 rests outside city hall (formerly the Soo Line Depot).
On Tuesday, August 21, 2007, the Empress Express (Canadian Pacific 2816
) spent the night in front of the historic Soo Line depot in Thief River Falls. Thief River Falls Radio reported that the classic steam engine was built in 1930, and the 45 ticketed passengers were to leave for Glenwood
, Minnesota
on Wednesday morning.
founder Edgar Hetteen who left Polaris in 1960 and started Polar Manufacturing in Thief River Falls. Shortly after changing name to Arctic Enterprises, the new company produced snowmobiles. Arctic Cat purchased several boat manufacturers including Spirit Marine which produced the first Wetbike
in 1978. A few snowless winters in the early 1980s bankrupted the 20-year-old company, which closed their facilities by 1982. In 1984, Arctic Cat was reborn under a new company name, Arctco, which was changed to Arctic Cat
in 1996.
Dr. George Harding Mayer-Oakes was born near Stoke-on-Trent, England, a large industrial city about the size of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN. put together. At the early age of fifteen he became an apprentice teacher and remained so for four years. He then studied at the Wedgewood Technical Institute at Burslem, England. For several years he served as assistant master at the Royal Schools in Windsor Great Park, the "back yard" of Windsor Castle.
This school to which the Kings' employees sent their children to be trained, was in the very center of Windsor Great Park owned by King Edward VII, who often entertained royal guests there, including the Kaiser of Germany. Pheasants and deer were very numerous here but only the king's party was allowed to hunt them. It was looking out of his class windows at this great park forest where Mr. Mayer-Oakes acquired his interest in nature study. From this, and from his natural interest in science, he chose to teach biology and chemistry. When he was first asked to teach nature study in England he didn't know "a maple tree from a buttercup", but decided he could learn it along with his classes.
In the year 1911, Dr. Mayer-Oakes came to America where he attended Valparaiso University, Indiana, and acquired his Bachelor od Arts degree. He received his Master of Science degree in 1927 at the University of North Dakota, where he also received his Doctor of Education degree in 1936. After he had been the superintendent at various schools in North Dakota and Minnesota he came to our city in the year 1929.
Dr. Mayer-Oakes' parents were just as opposed as the captain was surprised when he enlisted in the British army back in 1904. At that time it was a rarity to see a man of his position in the army. In his three years of military service he rose from the rank of private to that of a sergeant and had the distinction of being the youngest certified sergeant in the entire British army. The captain who laughed when Mr. Mayer-Oakes said he enlisted "to fight the Germans" died doing that very thing when his entire company was annihilated in the World War a few years later.
’s work, Thief River, premiered in 2000 at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
in Waterford, Connecticut
. It subsequently ran Off-Broadway
in New York in June 2001 to mixed reviews, and later had a longer run in San Francisco. The Wall Street Journal called it "an old fashioned gay love story - one where love is upstaged by shame, secrecy and social defiance." It is the story of Gil and Ray, who at age 17 were secret lovers in what one reviewer called "a small homophobic Minnesota town in the '40s"--presumably Thief River Falls. The plot portrays a love between these two men that spans 53 years. As stated by another reviewer, "The play attempted to show what it would be like to be a gay man in a small town in the late '40s, when two men kissing would have been a revolutionary act." The play most recently ran in Chicago in early 2007, where it was called "the definitive work capturing the homosexual experience in the rural American Midwest over the last 50 years.". The specific Minnesota connection of the play is unstated, but playwright Blessing grew up in the Twin Cities area and attended Minnetonka High School before leaving for Reed College in Oregon in the late 1960s.
hosted the Thief River Falls games, one of which was broadcast on sports network, ESPN
.
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,410 people, 3,619 households, and 2,091 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,760.0 people per square mile (679.3/km²). There were 3,931 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile (317.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.555% White, 0.27% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.63% of the population.
There were 3,619 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.84.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,759, and the median income for a family was $40,908. Males had a median income of $30,332 versus $20,785 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,489. About 8.0% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
According to the ethnic heritage section of the 2000 Federal Census, 50 percent of Thief River Falls residents identify themselves as Norwegian-American, making Thief River Falls one of the most ethnically concentrated towns in the nation.
Economy
The town is the home of snowmobile manufacturer Arctic CatArctic Cat
Arctic Cat is a North American manufacturer of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. The company was formed in 1960 and is based in Thief River Falls, MN. Many of Arctic Cat's vehicles are used today and can be accessorized to perform almost any job an outdoors-man might need...
. South of Thief River Falls is a casino, 7 Clans Casino
Seven Clans Casino Thief River Falls
Seven Clans Casino Hotel & Indoor Waterpark is a tribally owned casino situated near Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Built in the early 90s, the casino was called River Road Casino...
, which also contains a hotel and indoor water park. Thief River Falls is home to the electronic parts distributor Digi-Key
Digi-Key
Digi-Key is the fourth largest electronic component distributor in North America and a broad-line distributor of board level components. It ranks as the 8th largest electronic component distributor in the world. Ronald Stordahl founded the company in 1972 and its name was derived from the digital...
, one of the largest employers in the area, and was the birthplace of the vaunted Steiger Tractor, produced from 1958 to the late 1980s.
History
Thief River Falls takes its name from a geographic feature, the falls of the Red Lake RiverRed Lake River
The Red Lake River is a river located in northwestern Minnesota. The river begins on the western side of the Lower Red Lake and flows westward. After passing through Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, and Crookston, the river merges with the Red River of the North in East Grand Forks. The total...
at its confluence with the Thief River
Thief River
The Thief River is a tributary of the Red Lake River in northwestern Minnesota in the United States. Via the Red Lake River, the Red River of the North, Lake Winnipeg and the Nelson River, it is part of the watershed of Hudson Bay.-Course:...
. The name of the river is a loose translation of the Ojibwe phrase, Gimood-akiwi ziibi, literally, the "Stolen-land river" or "Thieving Land river," which originated when a band of Dakota Indians occupied a secret encampment along the river, hence "stealing" the land, before being discovered and routed by the neighboring Ojibwe. In the Treaty of Old Crossing
Treaty of Old Crossing
By the Treaty of Old Crossing and the Treaty of Old Crossing , the Pembina and Red Lake bands of the Ojibwe, then known as Chippewa Indians, purportedly ceded to the United States all of their rights to the Red River Valley...
of 1863, the Moose Dung's Indian Reservation was established on the west bank of the Thief River, at its confluence with Red Lake River. This Indian Reservation was dissolved in 1904 and their population incorporated as part of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa.
Thief River Falls marked the limit of navigation on the Red Lake River
Red Lake River
The Red Lake River is a river located in northwestern Minnesota. The river begins on the western side of the Lower Red Lake and flows westward. After passing through Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, and Crookston, the river merges with the Red River of the North in East Grand Forks. The total...
. The eponymous town site was established in 1887 and later incorporated as a city in 1896. Thief River Falls first developed as a lumber milling town. It is located in a major agriculture area because of the rich soil left by ancient, Glacial Lake Agassiz
Lake Agassiz
Lake Agassiz was an immense glacial lake located in the center of North America. Fed by glacial runoff at the end of the last glacial period, its area was larger than all of the modern Great Lakes combined, and it held more water than contained by all lakes in the world today.-Conception:First...
. The Great Northern and the Soo Line
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad
The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad was a Class I railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Midwest U.S. Commonly known as the Soo Line after the phonetic spelling of Sault, it was merged with several other major CP subsidiaries on January 1, 1961 to form the...
railroads brought prosperity when Thief River Falls became a center for shipping wheat.
Education
Thief River Falls is home to a public school district operating a high school (Lincoln High School), middle school (Franklin Middle School), and elementary school (Challenger Elementary School). Benefactor Ralph EngelstadRalph Engelstad
Ralph Engelstad was the multi-millionaire owner of the Imperial Palace casino-hotels in Las Vegas and in Biloxi, Mississippi and the Klondike Hotel & Casino...
, who was raised in Thief River Falls, built an $11.5 million hockey arena for the high school hockey team. The arena is called Ralph Engelstad Arena
Ralph Engelstad Arena (Minnesota)
Ralph Engelstad Arena is an indoor arena located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It is used primarily for ice sports, such as hockey, and was built by Ralph Engelstad....
, the same name as the $100 million hockey arena 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...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. Thief River Falls is also home to Northland Community and Technical College (NCTC), which also has a campus in East Grand Forks
East Grand Forks, Minnesota
-K-12:The East Grand Forks School District enrolls over 1,000 students and operates two elementary schools , Central Middle School, and East Grand Forks Senior High School. There are also two private Christian schools. Sacred Heart School is a Roman Catholic elementary, middle, and high school...
, Minnesota. The college has experienced steady growth in enrollment in the past decade.
Healthcare
Sanford HealthSanford Health-MeritCare
Sanford Health is a non-profit, integrated health care delivery system, with its headquarters based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with additional offices in Fargo, North Dakota. It was formed on with the merger of Sanford Health, based out of Sioux Falls and MeritCare Health System, based out of...
Thief River Falls Northwest Medical Center is a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) with 25 beds; has non-governmental, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) status; and is the area's community hospital. It houses an inpatient and outpatient mental health unit, encompasses a free-standing 15-bed group home for mentally ill persons and a free-standing 10-bed treatment center for emotionally disturbed children, has doctors on site in the Emergency Room 24/7, and is the only hospital in the community of Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
It is staffed by over 300 employees, making it one of the largest employers in the area. It is governed by an eight-member board of directors.
Sanford Health Thief River Falls offers medical services that include laboratory, surgery, family physicians, and a women's health center.
Media
The local newspaper is the weekly Thief River Falls TimesThief River Falls Times
The Thief River Falls Times is a weekly news publication based in Thief River Falls, MN, in which the paper is the civic reporter designated to act in the public interest.-History:...
. The daily newspapers Grand Forks Herald
Grand Forks Herald
The Grand Forks Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper, begun in 1879, published in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It is the primary daily paper for northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Its average daily circulation is 34,763 on Sundays and 31,524 on weekdays...
and Star Tribune
Star Tribune
The Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The...
are also available. Most local television stations that can be received in TRF are based in Grand Forks or Fargo
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
. Thief River Falls is home to several radio stations, and several radio stations from Grand Forks, North Dakota
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...
can also be received. KBRR-TV 10 is licensed to Thief River Falls but the signal originates from Fargo, North Dakota.
Local radio stations
Licensed to Thief River Falls:- KTRFKTRFKTRF is a radio station in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The station is part of the Minnesota News/Farm Network. KTRF reports local news, sports, weather, community information and obituaries...
1230 AM (News/TalkTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
) - KKAQ 1460 AM (Country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, primarily rebroadcasts KKDQ FM) - K202BK 88.3 FM KUND translator (North Dakota Public RadioNorth Dakota Public RadioPrairie Public is the public radio network for the state of North Dakota. It is a service of Prairie Public Broadcasting, in partnership with in association with North Dakota State University in Fargo and the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks...
) - KSRQKSRQKSRQ is a 24,000-watt public radio station operated by Northland Community & Technical College at one point programmed a Triple A format. The station serves the Thief River Falls, Minnesota area with rimshot coverage in Grand Forks, North Dakota...
90.1 FM "Pioneer 90.1" (NCTC College radioCampus radioCampus radio is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider community in which the radio station is based...
/Independent Public RadioIndependent Public RadioIndependent Public Radio is a public radio network in Minnesota. It is the second-largest public radio organization in the state, after Minnesota Public Radio...
) - KQMNKQMNKQMN is a radio station licensed to Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and serving the Grand Forks area. The station is owned by Minnesota Public Radio , and airs MPR's "Classical Music Network", originating from KSJN in Minneapolis/St. Paul....
91.5 FM (Minnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
classical music) - KKDQ 99.3 FM "North Country" (Country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
) - KNTNKNTNKNTN is a radio station licensed to Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and serving the Grand Forks area. The station is owned by Minnesota Public Radio , and airs MPR's "News and Information" network, originating from KNOW in Minneapolis/St. Paul....
102.7 FM (Minnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
news) - K300AS 107.9 FM "Your Q FM" (translator of KKEQKKEQKKEQ, "Your Q FM") is a Christian radio station based in Fosston, Minnesota with additional studios in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Q FM's primary format is contemporary Christian music, though it also airs Bible-based talk and teaching programming....
107.1 of FosstonFosston, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,575 people, 681 households, and 379 families residing in the city. The population density was 969.1 people per square mile . There were 739 housing units at an average density of 454.7 per square mile...
)
Signals that reach Thief River Falls:
- KKXLKKXL-FMKKXL-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 format serving the Grand Forks, North Dakota area. It first began broadcasting in the 1970s as KKDQ. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications.-History:...
92.9 FM "XL93" (Top 40/CHRContemporary hit radioContemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
), based in Grand ForksGrand Forks, North DakotaGrand 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...
, North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S.... - KZGF 94.7 FM "Z94.7" (Top 40/CHRContemporary hit radioContemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
), based in Grand Forks, ND - KQHTKQHTKQHT is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to Crookston, Minnesota, it serves the Grand Forks, North Dakota metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1985...
96.1 FM "The Fox" (Classic hitsClassic hitsClassic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
) based in Grand Forks - KYCKKYCKKYCK is a radio station broadcasting a country format. Licensed to Crookston, Minnesota, it serves the Grand Forks, North Dakota metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1979 under the call sign KDWZ. The station is currently owned by Leighton Broadcasting.-History:KYCK signed on in...
97.1 FM (Country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
) based in Grand Forks, ND. - KSNRKSNRKSNR is a radio station broadcasting a country format. Licensed to Fisher, Minnesota, it serves the Grand Forks, North Dakota and Thief River Falls, Minnesota areas. It first began broadcasting in 1983...
100.3 FM "Cat Country" (Country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
) based in Grand Forks - KZLTKZLT-FMKZLT-FM is a radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary format. Licensed to East Grand Forks, Minnesota, it serves the Grand Forks, North Dakota metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1979 under the call sign KRAD-FM...
104.3 FM "Lite Rock 104.3" (Adult Contemporary), based in Grand Forks - KKEQKKEQKKEQ, "Your Q FM") is a Christian radio station based in Fosston, Minnesota with additional studios in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Q FM's primary format is contemporary Christian music, though it also airs Bible-based talk and teaching programming....
107.1 FM "Your Q FM" (Contemporary Christian musicContemporary Christian musicContemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
), based in Fosston, MNFosston, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,575 people, 681 households, and 379 families residing in the city. The population density was 969.1 people per square mile . There were 739 housing units at an average density of 454.7 per square mile...
(also heard on K300AS 107.9 FM translator) - KJKJKJKJKJKJ is an American radio station serving Grand Forks, North Dakota. It first began broadcasting in 1985. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications and the station's broadcast license is held by Citicasters Licenses, L.P.-Programming:KJKJ broadcasting an active rock music...
107.5 FM "KJ108" (Active rockActive rockActive rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
), based in Grand ForksGrand Forks, North DakotaGrand 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...
, North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S.... - KROX 1260 (News/TalkTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
), based in Crookston, MNCrookston, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 8,192 people, 3,078 households, and 1,819 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,658.8 people per square mile . There were 3,382 housing units at an average density of 684.8 per square mile...
LaBree Avenue
Since the city's foundation in 1896, LaBree Avenue has been a cornerstone of community life. Many of the businesses that were born in Thief River Falls were started on LaBree. The city's Chamber of Commerce holds an annual "Crazy Dayz", which is a "bargain day" of sorts on LaBree. Also, each fall, the city closes the street and hosts the "Great American Block Party", during which vendors line the street and live music is performed.Thief River Golf Club
Thief River Falls is home to an 18-hole golf course situated along the Thief RiverThief River
The Thief River is a tributary of the Red Lake River in northwestern Minnesota in the United States. Via the Red Lake River, the Red River of the North, Lake Winnipeg and the Nelson River, it is part of the watershed of Hudson Bay.-Course:...
north of the city.
Snowmobiling
The city is along several regional snowmobile trails reaching northern Minnesota, including the Wapiti Trail, which leads to Fourtown and GryglaGrygla, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 228 people, 115 households, and 57 families residing in the city. The population density was 363.8 people per square mile . There were 128 housing units at an average density of 204.2 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.25% White, 0.88%...
. Other trails lead to Greenbush
Greenbush, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 784 people, 317 households, and 194 families residing in the city. The population density was 534.6 people per square mile . There were 348 housing units at an average density of 237.3 per square mile...
, Warren
Warren, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,678 people, 699 households, and 432 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,174.1 people per square mile . There were 785 housing units at an average density of 549.3 per square mile...
, and Red Lake Falls
Red Lake Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,590 people, 608 households, and 380 families residing in the city. The population density was 749.7 people per square mile . There were 652 housing units at an average density of 307.4 per square mile...
, to name a few.
River Walk
The TRF River Walk lines the rivers from one end of town to the other. The river walk connects several parks including the dam, Red Robe Park, and the Northland Woods.Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village
The Pennington County Historical Society, which was organized in the 1930s, is responsible for maintaining the Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village. Officially opened in 1976, the museum and village provide a living history of Thief River Falls. Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village, named after a local Norwegian immigrant, consists of 19 buildings with over 25,000 individual items on display. Buildings include seven late 19th century log houses; a Swedish Lutheran church, built in 1916; two railroad building depots and two cabooses; a one-room schoolhouse dating back to 1908; five original stores (including a blacksmith shop, general store, and beauty and barber shops); a restored two-story home; a large farm and an auto machinery building; and a museum.Industry
Thief River Falls (and surrounding region) has been home to major industry including snowmobiles, farm machinery, and global electronics distribution. Thief River Falls was home to the headquarters of the Cycle Detection Warning System up until its shutdown on April 13, 2009.Rivers and rails
Thief River Falls is situated on the junction of two rivers, Red Lake RiverRed Lake River
The Red Lake River is a river located in northwestern Minnesota. The river begins on the western side of the Lower Red Lake and flows westward. After passing through Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, and Crookston, the river merges with the Red River of the North in East Grand Forks. The total...
from the east, southeast and the Thief River
Thief River
The Thief River is a tributary of the Red Lake River in northwestern Minnesota in the United States. Via the Red Lake River, the Red River of the North, Lake Winnipeg and the Nelson River, it is part of the watershed of Hudson Bay.-Course:...
from the north. The proximity to forests and shipping made Thief River Falls ideal for logging. In the late 19th century the Great Northern Railway was built, and in 1904, the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (“Soo Line”) passed through on its route from Saint Paul to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. Branches were later built to Drake, North Dakota
Drake, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 322 people, 164 households, and 94 families residing in the city. The population density was 163.1 people per square mile . There were 201 housing units at an average density of 101.8 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White...
and Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
. The Minnesota Northwestern Electric Railway
Minnesota Northwestern Electric Railway
The Minnesota Northwestern Electric Railway was an interurban gasoline-electric railway which operated passenger and freight service between Thief River Falls, Minnesota and Goodridge, Minnesota, operating from 1914 to 1940. The railway also served Silverton Township and Mavie. There were several...
, an electric powered passenger train, ran from Thief River Falls to Goodridge
Goodridge, Minnesota
"Goodridge" redirects here. For the Massachusetts court case, see Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.Goodridge is a small city in Pennington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 132 at the 2010 census...
between 1914 and 1940.
Today, the river and rails still power the local economy with tourism and shipping. Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
and Minnesota Northern Railroad
Minnesota Northern Railroad
The Minnesota Northern Railroad is a Class III shortline railroad that operates over of track in northwestern Minnesota. The railroad is co-owned by KBN Incorporated and Independent Locomotive Service and is headquartered in Crookston, Minnesota....
now occupy tracks through town. To this day, Soo Line engine 1024 rests outside city hall (formerly the Soo Line Depot).
On Tuesday, August 21, 2007, the Empress Express (Canadian Pacific 2816
Canadian Pacific 2816
Canadian Pacific 2816, named the Empress, is a 4-6-4 H1b Hudson used by the Canadian Pacific Railway in occasional excursion service. The 2816 is the only non-streamlined H1 Hudson remaining .-First career:Locomotive 2816 was one of ten H1b-class Canadian Pacific 2816, named the Empress, is a 4-6-4...
) spent the night in front of the historic Soo Line depot in Thief River Falls. Thief River Falls Radio reported that the classic steam engine was built in 1930, and the 45 ticketed passengers were to leave for Glenwood
Glenwood, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,594 people, 1,131 households, and 629 families residing in the city. The population density was 466.0 people per square mile . There were 1,202 housing units at an average density of 215.9 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
on Wednesday morning.
Snowmobiles
Arctic Cat, Inc. can trace its roots to former Polaris IndustriesPolaris Industries
Polaris Industries is a manufacturer of snowmobiles, ATV, and neighborhood electric vehicles. Polaris is based in Medina, Minnesota, USA. The company also manufactures motorcycles through its Victory Motorcycles subsidiary and through the Indian Motorcycle subsidiary which it purchased in April...
founder Edgar Hetteen who left Polaris in 1960 and started Polar Manufacturing in Thief River Falls. Shortly after changing name to Arctic Enterprises, the new company produced snowmobiles. Arctic Cat purchased several boat manufacturers including Spirit Marine which produced the first Wetbike
Wetbike
A WetBike is a planing water motor cycle that is often described as cross between a motorcycle and a jet ski.The original Wetbike was introduced in 1978 by Spirit Marine, a subsidiary of Arctic Enterprises . The Wetbike is challenging to ride, because it does require a good deal of balance...
in 1978. A few snowless winters in the early 1980s bankrupted the 20-year-old company, which closed their facilities by 1982. In 1984, Arctic Cat was reborn under a new company name, Arctco, which was changed to Arctic Cat
Arctic Cat
Arctic Cat is a North American manufacturer of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. The company was formed in 1960 and is based in Thief River Falls, MN. Many of Arctic Cat's vehicles are used today and can be accessorized to perform almost any job an outdoors-man might need...
in 1996.
Digi-Key Corporation
Digi-Key is a privately held global electronics distributor based in Thief River Falls. The company started in 1972 with Dr. Ronald A. Stordahl's interest in ham radio, which led him to assemble and sell digital electronic keyer kits for sending radiotelegraph code for ham radio operators. This device was called the Digi-Key. Digi-Key has distributed parts literally "around the world", as parts from Digi-Key now orbit Earth in satellites.Tractors
Steiger Tractors were invented by Douglas and Maurice Steiger from Thief River Falls during the 1950s. The brothers built their first tractor the winter of 1957-58 after seeing a need to cover their ground more efficiently. After designing and building the tractors on their farm for six years, the brothers opened a production facility in Fargo, North Dakota. A new plant built in 1974 could produce a new tractor every 18 minutes. Steiger produced many models of tractor with the main feature being the horsepower. Ford chose Steiger to manufacture the Ford tractors of the late 1970s and early 80s. As the farm economy slumped in the late 80s, Steiger had trouble selling tractors. Steiger filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1986, and was soon after sold to Tenneco, parent company of J. I. Case. Case IH continued to produce and sell Steiger tractors while introducing its own lines of 4wd tractors. Case still produces Steiger tractors out of the Fargo facility.Notable residents
(Article from Lincoln High School Newspaper: “Youngest Sergeant in the British Army”)Dr. George Harding Mayer-Oakes was born near Stoke-on-Trent, England, a large industrial city about the size of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN. put together. At the early age of fifteen he became an apprentice teacher and remained so for four years. He then studied at the Wedgewood Technical Institute at Burslem, England. For several years he served as assistant master at the Royal Schools in Windsor Great Park, the "back yard" of Windsor Castle.
This school to which the Kings' employees sent their children to be trained, was in the very center of Windsor Great Park owned by King Edward VII, who often entertained royal guests there, including the Kaiser of Germany. Pheasants and deer were very numerous here but only the king's party was allowed to hunt them. It was looking out of his class windows at this great park forest where Mr. Mayer-Oakes acquired his interest in nature study. From this, and from his natural interest in science, he chose to teach biology and chemistry. When he was first asked to teach nature study in England he didn't know "a maple tree from a buttercup", but decided he could learn it along with his classes.
In the year 1911, Dr. Mayer-Oakes came to America where he attended Valparaiso University, Indiana, and acquired his Bachelor od Arts degree. He received his Master of Science degree in 1927 at the University of North Dakota, where he also received his Doctor of Education degree in 1936. After he had been the superintendent at various schools in North Dakota and Minnesota he came to our city in the year 1929.
Dr. Mayer-Oakes' parents were just as opposed as the captain was surprised when he enlisted in the British army back in 1904. At that time it was a rarity to see a man of his position in the army. In his three years of military service he rose from the rank of private to that of a sergeant and had the distinction of being the youngest certified sergeant in the entire British army. The captain who laughed when Mr. Mayer-Oakes said he enlisted "to fight the Germans" died doing that very thing when his entire company was annihilated in the World War a few years later.
- Ralph EngelstadRalph EngelstadRalph Engelstad was the multi-millionaire owner of the Imperial Palace casino-hotels in Las Vegas and in Biloxi, Mississippi and the Klondike Hotel & Casino...
was born in Thief River Falls on January 28, 1930 and was the owner of the Imperial Palace (hotel and casino) in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas metropolitan areaThe Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
. Englestad donated funds to build the Ralph Engelstad Arena (Minnesota)Ralph Engelstad Arena (Minnesota)Ralph Engelstad Arena is an indoor arena located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It is used primarily for ice sports, such as hockey, and was built by Ralph Engelstad....
in Thief River Falls in 2003. - Gary PaulsenGary PaulsenGary James Paulsen is an American writer who writes many young adult coming of age stories about the wilderness. He is the author of more than 200 books , 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for young adults and teens.-Biography:Gary Paulsen was born in...
, noted author of such classics as Hatchet, grew up in Thief River Falls. - Tim BerglandTim BerglandTimothy Daniel Bergland is a retired American ice hockey player.Selected by the Washington Capitals in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, he did not make it onto the Capitals' roster until the 1989–90 season when his defensive play helped guide the Capitals to their first-ever semifinals appearance.Left...
is a retired pro ice hockey player who played for the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bergland also captained the Minnesota Gophers hockey team and participated in the 1995 IIHF World Championships. - Wyatt SmithWyatt SmithWyatt Smith is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently a free agent. He most recently played center with ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.-Playing career:...
is an NHL player currently of the Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. - Brynn Hartman was born Vicki Omdahl in Thief River Falls on April 11, 1958. Brynn performed minor acting roles on television and film including North and 3rd Rock from the Sun3rd Rock from the Sun3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
. Brynn married actor Phil HartmanPhil HartmanPhilip Edward "Phil" Hartman was a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and graphic artist. Born in Brantford, Ontario, Hartman and his family moved to the United States when he was 10...
. In the early 1990s, she can be seen in the opening credit sequence of Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
having dinner with Phil (back to the camera). In 1998, Brynn killed Phil in his sleep with three shots from a handgun after an argument, then shot and killed herself. - Bill CarlsonBill CarlsonBill Carlson was an American journalist and longtime television anchor at WCCO in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carlson was born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota and grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota...
was a longtime noon news anchor for CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
owned WCCO-TVWCCO-TVWCCO-TV, is the CBS owned and operated television station that serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. Its transmitter is at the Telefarm complex in Shoreview, Minnesota.- History :...
in MinneapolisMinneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Bill Carlson was born in Thief River Falls but was raised in St. Paul, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Carlson joined WCCO Radio in 1951. He died Feb. 29, 2008, of prostate and liver cancer. - Wayne NordhagenWayne NordhagenWayne Oren Nordhagen is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. He played eight seasons in the majors for the Chicago White Sox , Toronto Blue Jays , Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs .Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1968, Nordhagen played in 502 games in his eight...
was a professional baseball player drafted by the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in 1968. He spent parts of eight seasons playing in the major leagues. He also played in the Senior Professional Baseball AssociationSenior Professional Baseball AssociationThe Senior Professional Baseball Association was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over . The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72 game schedule...
in 1989. - Agnes IsraelsonAgnes IsraelsonAgnes Israelson was the first woman in Minnesota to serve as a city mayor.In the October 29, 1953 issue of the Thief River Falls Times, the paper reported that Mrs. Israelson had beaten Harry Simonson, who had been seeking a fourth term as mayor of Thief River Falls, 1,204 to 978.-References:...
was the first woman in Minnesota to serve as a city mayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
.
Thief River, the play
The celebrated American playwright Lee BlessingLee Blessing
-Biography:Blessing's best-known play is A Walk in the Woods, which depicts the developing relationship between two arms limitation negotiators, one Russian and one American, over years of negotiation...
’s work, Thief River, premiered in 2000 at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
The Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut is a 501 not-for-profit theater company founded in 1964 by George C. White. The O'Neill is the recipient of the . The O'Neill is home to the National Theater Institute , and several major theater conferences including the...
in Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Waterford, Ireland. The population was 19,152 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place .-Geography:...
. It subsequently ran Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
in New York in June 2001 to mixed reviews, and later had a longer run in San Francisco. The Wall Street Journal called it "an old fashioned gay love story - one where love is upstaged by shame, secrecy and social defiance." It is the story of Gil and Ray, who at age 17 were secret lovers in what one reviewer called "a small homophobic Minnesota town in the '40s"--presumably Thief River Falls. The plot portrays a love between these two men that spans 53 years. As stated by another reviewer, "The play attempted to show what it would be like to be a gay man in a small town in the late '40s, when two men kissing would have been a revolutionary act." The play most recently ran in Chicago in early 2007, where it was called "the definitive work capturing the homosexual experience in the rural American Midwest over the last 50 years.". The specific Minnesota connection of the play is unstated, but playwright Blessing grew up in the Twin Cities area and attended Minnetonka High School before leaving for Reed College in Oregon in the late 1960s.
2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
Thief River Falls, along with Grand Forks, North Dakota, hosted the 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships between December 25, 2004 and January 4, 2005. The Ralph Engelstad ArenaRalph Engelstad Arena (Minnesota)
Ralph Engelstad Arena is an indoor arena located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It is used primarily for ice sports, such as hockey, and was built by Ralph Engelstad....
hosted the Thief River Falls games, one of which was broadcast on sports network, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
External links
- Visit Thief River Falls
- Thief River Falls official website
- Thief River Falls School District
- Northland Community and Technical College
- MeritCare Thief River Falls Northwest Medical Center and Clinic
- Thief River Falls Public Library
- Thief River Falls Times
- Thief River Falls Radio
- Steiger Tractor
- Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village
- Ralph Engelstad Arena Thief River Falls