La Quinta Inn & Suites Grand Forks

Our Hotel

The Grand Forks, ND and the neighboring city of East Grand Forks, MN come together to form the Greater Grand Forks area; also known as the Grand Cities. Appropriately named, Grand Forks is located at the fork of Red River and Red Lake River.  

Historically, before the Europeans settled the area, the Grand Forks area was a Native American meeting and trading post and was called Les Grandes Fourches by French explorers and the fur trading community. Alexander Griggs, a steamboat captain who's boat froze in the Red River during a voyage, founded this border city in 1870. With no other choice, Griggs and his crew setup camp in the area. The first Grand Forks United States post office was established the same year. 5 years later, the community was platted and in 1881 incorporated  

The Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railway helped foster rapid growth between 1880 and 1887. This growth contnued on throughout the 1900's with further development south and west of downtown; and the addition of the Grand Forks Air Force Base, which was a major boost to the job market and population.

Grand Forks is the home of the historical University of North Dakota - the oldest institution in North Dakota; established in 1883, 6 years before North Dakota became an official state independent of the Dakota Territory. The various departments attract hundreds of visitors to the Grand Forks area with the many events held throughout each year.