Driving long distances can be dangerous and you need to take regular breaks to prevent driver's fatigue. This is especially important in a landscape where roads are straight and the landscape doesn't have many features, such as in the Dakotas. Luckily there are many great towns where you can stop over and recharge your batteries. In some you may even want to spend a few days. One such a community is Wahpeton.
Located in the southeastern corner of North Dakota and about 47 miles south of Fargo, the small city is the Richland County seat. It lies at the spot where the Otter Tail and Boix de Sioux Rivers flow into one another. This confluence is the start of the Red River of the North. This river flows north into Canada and forms the border between North Dakota and Minnesota. On the opposite bank lies the city of Breckenridge, Minnesota.
The city got its name from the first people who lived here, the Wakhpetonwan Dakota people. The first European settler moved in in 1869 and when the railroad came to town in 1872, the little village quickly became a bustling town. The rivers that meet here also provided many economic opportunities and flatboat building was a specialty in the communities on both banks of the Red River.
Today agriculture is a major industry, as is manufacturing. The early German, Bohemian and Scandinavian settlers were the ancestors of many of the city's white inhabitants. However, there are also people of Native American, African American and Hispanic descent. The small city is currently home to almost 8,000 people.
The history of the local Native American population as well as those early pioneers of European descent is told at the Richland County Historical Museum. A tragic event from 1897 is commemorated in the Riverside Cemetery. A group of circus performers were putting up the circus tent when lightning struck and killed some of them. Today circus performers still hold memorial services at the Circus Monument erected in their memory. At Abercrombie, several miles north of town, is the historic Fort Abercrombie. To see how a bonanza farm operates, head west to the Bagg Bonanza Farm.
The sister cities on the Red River are home to an unusual golf course, the Boix de Sioux Golf Course. It's the only one that lies in two different states, North Dakota and neighboring Minnesota. Close by is Chahinkapa Park, which offers sports and camping facilities. It's also home to the very popular Chahinkapa Zoo. Another popular sight is located in the vicinity of City Hall. It's called Wahpper and it's a statue of a huge catfish.
There is plenty to do in the countryside and towns nearby too. Hankinson, for instance, has a casino where you can try and hit the jackpot. Outdoor pursuits such as hunting and camping are popular and the lakes and rivers offer fantastic bird-watching and fishing. During the cold months, rent a snowmobile and go exploring.
As a county seat, the small city offers plenty of good shopping and dining. Accommodation ranges from camp grounds and cabins to motels and lodges. Therefore there is no excuse not to stop over for a few nights and enjoy this part of North Dakota.
Located in the southeastern corner of North Dakota and about 47 miles south of Fargo, the small city is the Richland County seat. It lies at the spot where the Otter Tail and Boix de Sioux Rivers flow into one another. This confluence is the start of the Red River of the North. This river flows north into Canada and forms the border between North Dakota and Minnesota. On the opposite bank lies the city of Breckenridge, Minnesota.
The city got its name from the first people who lived here, the Wakhpetonwan Dakota people. The first European settler moved in in 1869 and when the railroad came to town in 1872, the little village quickly became a bustling town. The rivers that meet here also provided many economic opportunities and flatboat building was a specialty in the communities on both banks of the Red River.
Today agriculture is a major industry, as is manufacturing. The early German, Bohemian and Scandinavian settlers were the ancestors of many of the city's white inhabitants. However, there are also people of Native American, African American and Hispanic descent. The small city is currently home to almost 8,000 people.
The history of the local Native American population as well as those early pioneers of European descent is told at the Richland County Historical Museum. A tragic event from 1897 is commemorated in the Riverside Cemetery. A group of circus performers were putting up the circus tent when lightning struck and killed some of them. Today circus performers still hold memorial services at the Circus Monument erected in their memory. At Abercrombie, several miles north of town, is the historic Fort Abercrombie. To see how a bonanza farm operates, head west to the Bagg Bonanza Farm.
The sister cities on the Red River are home to an unusual golf course, the Boix de Sioux Golf Course. It's the only one that lies in two different states, North Dakota and neighboring Minnesota. Close by is Chahinkapa Park, which offers sports and camping facilities. It's also home to the very popular Chahinkapa Zoo. Another popular sight is located in the vicinity of City Hall. It's called Wahpper and it's a statue of a huge catfish.
There is plenty to do in the countryside and towns nearby too. Hankinson, for instance, has a casino where you can try and hit the jackpot. Outdoor pursuits such as hunting and camping are popular and the lakes and rivers offer fantastic bird-watching and fishing. During the cold months, rent a snowmobile and go exploring.
As a county seat, the small city offers plenty of good shopping and dining. Accommodation ranges from camp grounds and cabins to motels and lodges. Therefore there is no excuse not to stop over for a few nights and enjoy this part of North Dakota.
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