Greater Grand Forks

Greater Grand Forks
The Grand Cities
The Forks
Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
Aerial View of Downtown Grand Forks (2006)
Nickname: 
The Sunflake City
Interactive Map of Grand Forks, ND–MN MSA
Country United States
State North Dakota
Minnesota
Largest cityGrand Forks, ND
Other citiesCrookston, MN, East Grand Forks, MN, Fosston, MN, Larimore, ND, Thompson, ND
Area
  Total
3,407.352 sq mi (8,825.00 km2)
Highest elevation
840 feet at Grand Forks Airport ft (256 meters m)
Lowest elevation
779 feet at Red River of the North ft (237 meters m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
104,362
  Estimate 
(2024)
104,184
  Rank356th in the U.S.
  Density30.588/sq mi (11.810/km2)
Time zoneUTC–6 (Central (CST))
  Summer (DST)UTC–5 (CDT)
Area codes218 and 701
Websitevisitgrandforks.com

The Greater Grand Forks (officially the Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan statistical area), as defined by the Census Bureau as comprising all of Grand Forks County in North Dakota and Polk County in Minnesota, anchored by the twin cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 104,362 and was estimated to be 104,184 in 2024.

The metropolitan area is also sometimes called The Forks. Several years ago, local promoters attempted to "brand" the metropolitan area as The Grand Cities. This name has not found widespread use in the area, although several buildings and organizations now bear the "Grand Cities" title. Occasionally, the city of Grand Forks uses the nickname "The Sunflake City."