Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/23490
History Minot was founded in 1886 where the Great Northern Railway’s construction crew set up winter camp. As if by magic, a tent town formed practically overnight and grew to a population of 5,000 in the next five months—giving us our best known nickname, “The Magic City.” During the Prohibition era, some people called Minot “Little Chicago” (We’ve always known how to have fun!), but today our reputation is different from those bootlegging days. In 2010, Forbes ranked Minot as #12 on its list of “The Best Small Cities to Raise a Family.” Fun Facts Minot is the hometown of Hollywood A-list actor, Josh Duhamel. Nearly a century ago, it was also home to horror actor, Boris Karloff. The state’s record smallmouth bass (6 lb. 13 oz.) was caught in 2007 at Lake Darling near Minot. Roosevelt Park Zoo is North Dakota’s oldest zoo, established in 1920. The Minot Air Force Base just north of the Minot has personnel from all over the world. Its motto is, “Only the Best Come North.” Minot celebrates North America’s largest Scandinavian festival, Norsk Høstfest, every fall. National farm supply retailer, Tractor Supply Company (TSC), began with its first of 430 stores here in 1938. In 1991, a 230-year-old house from Norway was dismantled, shipped to Minot and reassembled in Scandinavian Heritage Park where you can view it today. 3