Phoenix International^® is the 8th largest private employer in Fargo, North Dakota's largest city. Fargo's metropolitan area, which includes neighboring Moorhead, Minnesota, and West Fargo, N.D., has a combined population in excess of 172,000 making it the largest metropolitan area between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Spokane, Washington.

The quality of life in Fargo is considered among the best in the nation. Cost of living is lower than average, and crime rates are exceptionally low. In fact, North Dakota had the lowest crime rate in the nation last year, according to the Morgan Quinto Press Crime State Rankings.

Over the past decade, the Fargo-Moorhead community, as it is commonly known, has earned prominent placement in a number of national surveys and studies. Zero Population Growth, for example, ranked Fargo fifth among 140 comparably sized communities as a great place for kids, based on community life, economics, education, environment, health, population change and public safety (August 2001), and Money Magazine has placed us in the top 20% of "Best Places to Live" in America for seven years running.

Academics play a vital role in the Fargo-Moorhead economy-and in the lives of our citizens. Three major colleges/universities call Fargo-Moorhead home, including North Dakota State University, Minnesota State University - Moorhead and Concordia College. Northwest Technical College also provides two-year courses of study in a number of fields. The Fargo-area school systems strive to challenge students, and the results speak for themselves: Cass County (of which Fargo is the seat) boasts a graduation rate of 95.4% and the nation's lowest high-school dropout rate, at 4.6%. Extracurricular educational opportunities, such as the nationally recognized summer programs at the Trollwood Performing Arts School, provide yet another avenue for students to explore. Fargo-Moorhead's population is growing at a rate of about 1.5-2% each year, and job growth is nearly double the national average. Unemployment is also extremely low (see chart below), and healthcare is strong, with three major health systems (MeritCare and Dakota Clinic/Innovis Health) and a higher-than-average number of physicians per capita.

Despite its reputation for cold weather, Fargo-Moorhead's weather is temperate much of the year. Average temperatures range from 82-degree highs in July to 0-degree lows in February. Summers provide an opportunity to enjoy the community's more than 100 public parks, 22 golf courses and 40 miles of biking and walking paths. The annual Red River Valley Fair is always a treat, as is a trip to the Red River Zoo or The Children's Museum at Yunker Farm. Since Minnesota's lake country is just 40 miles away, fishing, waterskiing and other summertime activities are popular here as well. Fall is hunting season, and winter provides the opportunity for ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and more.

For those who prefer spectator sports, Fargo-Moorhead is home to a minor league baseball team (F-M Redhawks) and league-leading collegiate teams. For the non-sports-enthusiast, a Civic Opera, community theater and symphony orchestra provide opportunities for spectators and participants alike.

In addition, Fargo enjoys its own FARGODOME, a multi-purpose facility which hosts concerts, sporting events, family shows, trade shows, and many other events.

To learn more about Fargo-Moorhead and the surrounding area, visit our Fargo Informational Links page.