Minot is a city located in north central North Dakota, United States. It is the home of an Air Force base located approximately 15 miles (24 km) north of the city. The city is the county seat of Ward County and is a trading center for a large portion of northern North Dakota, southwestern Manitoba, and southeastern Saskatchewan. Founded in 1886 during the construction of the Great Northern Railway, Minot is also known as "Magic City", commemorating its remarkable growth in size over a short time.
Minot came into existence in 1886, when James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway ended its push through the state for the winter, after having difficulty constructing a trestle across Gassman Coulee. It was the end of the railway's line, so whenever a train came into the town and the stop was announced, the conductor would call out "Minot, this is Minot, North Dakota, prepare to meet your doom". A tent town sprang up overnight, as if by "magic", thus the city came to be known as the Magic City, and in the next five months, the population increased to over 5,000 residents, further adding to the nickname's validity. The town was named after Henry D. Minot, a railroad investor, an ornithologist and friend of Hill.
On January 18, 2002, a severe train derailment west of the city sent a gigantic cloud of anhydrous ammonia toward Minot, and Burlington. One man died and many of Minot's citizens were sickened and severely injured by the noxious gas, causing one of the worst major chemical accidents of the country. In early 2006, court cases were heard in Minneapolis, Minnesota, against Canadian Pacific Railway, the owner of the derailed train. Several cases have been settled and many others are pending. The anhydrous ammonia spill was the largest such spill in U.S. history.
We took the opportunity to visit Roosevelt Park which is named after Theodore Roosevelt who came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883.
There are a number of Canada Geese who enjoy swimming in these algae ponds which run along side the park.
It is a county of wide open spaces and very interesting skies.
The sun is still shining at 9.40 pm in the evening.
The sunsets are beautiful.
Next stop is Bismarck Nth Dakota.
Cheers, Beverley and Ross
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