 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(August 2010) |
The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Fargo, North Dakota.
| | This article needs additional citations for verification .(August 2010) |
The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Fargo, North Dakota.
| Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Buchli |  | Jun 20, 1945 | United States Marine aviator; NASA astronaut; flew on four Space Shuttle missions | Graduated from Fargo Central High School | ||
| Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Edlund |  | Dec 6, 1940 | Multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects artist for Star Wars , The Empire Strikes Back , Raiders of the Lost Ark , Return of the Jedi , and Ghostbusters | Born in Fargo | ||
| CariDee English |  | Sep 23, 1984 | Winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7 | Born in Fargo | ||
| William H. Gass |  | Jul 30, 1924 | Dec 6, 2017 | Writer | Born in Fargo | |
| Chuck Klosterman |  | Jun 5, 1972 | Author and journalist ( Spin , Esquire , ESPN) | Lived in Fargo | ||
| James Lileks | Aug 9, 1958 | Writer, journalist, and blogger | Born in Fargo | |||
| Audra Mari | Jan 8, 1994 | Model, television host, and beauty pageant titleholder | Attended Davies High School in Fargo | [1] | ||
| Carey McWilliams | Jul 5, 1973 | Blind marksman and author | Born in Fargo | |||
| Amber Preston | Stand-up comedian | Born in Fargo; 1996 graduate of West Fargo High School [2] | ||||
| Adam Quesnell | Stand-up comedian | Lived in Fargo | ||||
| Kristin Rudrüd | May 23, 1955 | Actress, known for starring in the films Fargo and Pleasantville | Born in Fargo | |||
| Roxana Saberi |  | Apr 26, 1977 | Journalist, 1997 Miss North Dakota | Worked at KVLY-TV | ||
| Ed Schultz |  | Jan 27, 1954 | Jul 5, 2018 | Host of The Ed Show, a weekday news talk program, and The Ed Schultz Show, a talk radio show | Worked at KTHI-TV, WDAY-TV, and KFGO in Fargo | [3] |
| Ari Shapiro |  | Sep 30, 1978 | Reporter (NPR) | Born in Fargo | ||
| Jon L. Wanzek |  | May 10, 1964 | Film producer | Lives in Fargo | ||
| Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Blenders | Vocal quartet | ||||||
| Virginia Bruce |  | Sep 29, 1910 | Feb 24, 1982 | Singer and actress, starred in such films as Born to Dance and The Great Ziegfeld | Grew up in Fargo | ||
| Shannon Curfman | Jul 31, 1985 | Blues guitarist and singer | Born in Fargo | ||||
| Dakota Dave Hull | Apr 19, 1950 | Acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and music historian | Born in Fargo | [4] | |||
| Jonny Lang |  | Jan 29, 1981 | Blues guitarist and singer | Born in Fargo | |||
| Peter Schickele |  | Jul 17, 1935 | Jan 16, 2024 | Musical composer (alter ego of PDQ Bach) | |||
| Frank Scott | Jul 21, 1921 | Oct 5, 1995 | Musician and arranger with the Lawrence Welk orchestra | Born in Fargo | |||
| Bobby Vee |  | Apr 30, 1943 | Oct 24, 2016 | 1960s era pop music singer | Born in Fargo |
| Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Arnold | Mar 15, 1996 | Tight end for the New Orleans Saints 2017–2019, Arizona Cardinals 2019–2020, Carolina Panthers 2021–2021, Jacksonville Jaguars 2021-2022, Philadelphia Eagles 2023-2023; free agent 2023-present | Played football at Shanley High School in Fargo | |||
| Henry Luke Bolley | Feb 1, 1865 | Nov 9, 1956 | First North Dakota State University football coach; plant pathologist | Lived and died in Fargo | ||
| Jim Brandt | May 19, 1929 | NFL and CFL player | Born in Fargo | |||
| Joe Burrow |  | Dec 10, 1996 | Quarterback for the LSU, 2019 Heisman Trophy winner, 2019–2020 College Football National Champion, NFL Pick No.1, quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals | Attended Centennial Elementary School while his father was on the coaching staff for the NDSU Bison | [5] | |
| Chris Coste |  | Feb 4, 1973 | Major League Baseball catcher | Born in Fargo | ||
| Kyle Emanuel |  | Aug 16, 1991 | NFL linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers 2015–2019 | Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo, host of NDSU Bison Football Pregame Show on KVLY-TV | ||
| Paul Gaustad |  | Feb 3, 1982 | Center for the Nashville Predators | Born in Fargo | ||
| Andy Heck | Jan 1, 1967 | Offensive line coach and player for the Kansas City Chiefs | Born in Fargo | |||
| Gary Larsen |  | Mar 13, 1942 | Defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings' Purple People Eaters | Born in Fargo | ||
| Roger Maris |  | Sep 10, 1934 | Dec 14, 1985 | Outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals; American League Most Valuable Player in 1960 and 1961 | Raised in Fargo and graduate of Shanley High School | |
| Connor McGovern |  | Apr 27, 1993 | Center for the Denver Broncos 2016–2019, center for the New York Jets 2020–present | Played football at Shanley High School in Fargo | ||
| John Noah | Nov 21, 1927 | Sep 3, 2015 | Silver medalist at the 1952 Winter Olympics | Lived and died in Fargo | ||
| Donny Schatz |  | Aug 10, 1977 | Driver for the World of Outlaws | |||
| Easton Stick | Sep 15, 1995 | Quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, No.166 overall NFL draft pick | Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo | |||
| Erik Swanson | Sep 4, 1993 | Relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, formerly played for the Seattle Mariners | ||||
| William Turner |  | Oct 17, 1991 | NFL guard who is a free agent | Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo | ||
| Carson Wentz |  | Dec 30, 1992 | Quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, No.2 overall NFL draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl Champion (LII) | Played football at North Dakota State University in Fargo | ||
| Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Burgum | | Aug 1, 1956 | 33rd governor of North Dakota (2016–present); candidate for president in 2024 | Graduate of North Dakota State University, lived in Fargo | ||
| Ronald N. Davies | Dec 11, 1904 | Apr 18, 1996 | Federal judge for the district of North Dakota (1955–1985) | Lived and died in Fargo | ||
| Leo Ferdinand Dworschak | Apr 6, 1900 | Nov 5, 1976 | Roman Catholic bishop of Fargo | |||
| Aloisius Joseph Muench |  | Feb 18, 1889 | Feb 15, 1962 | Roman Catholic bishop of Fargo | ||
| Ilhan Omar | | Oct 4, 1982 | US congresswoman from Minnesota | Graduated North Dakota State University | ||
| Collin Peterson |  | Jun 29, 1944 | US congressman from Minnesota | Born in Fargo | ||
| Ed Schafer |  | Aug 8, 1946 | 30th governor of North Dakota (1992–2000), 29th United States Secretary of Agriculture under George W. Bush | Lives in Fargo | ||
| George A. Sinner | May 29, 1928 | Mar 9, 2018 | 29th governor of North Dakota (1985–1992) | Born in Fargo | ||
| Burleigh F. Spalding |  | Dec 3, 1853 | Mar 17, 1934 | US congressman | Lived and died in Fargo | |
| Evan S. Tyler | Mar 22, 1843 | Aug 24, 1923 | North Dakota state congressman | Lived and died in Fargo | ||
North Dakota is a landlocked U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south, and Montana to the west. North Dakota is part of the Great Plains region, characterized by broad prairies, steppe, temperate savanna, badlands, and farmland. North Dakota is the 19th largest state, but with a population of less than 780,000, it is the 4th least populous and 4th most sparsely populated. The state capital is Bismarck while the most populous city is Fargo, which accounts for nearly a fifth of the state's population; both cities are among the fastest-growing in the U.S., although half of all residents live in rural areas.
Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of North Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 184,525. Cass County is the most populous county in North Dakota, accounting for nearly 24% of the state's population. The county seat is Fargo, the state's most populous city. The county is named for George Washington Cass, president of the Northern Pacific Railway from 1872 to 1875. It is the only Cass County in the United States that is not named after Lewis Cass.
Fargo is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, North Dakota, United States. According to the 2020 census, its population was 125,990, making it the most populous city in the state and the 216th most populous city in the United States. Fargo, along with its twin city of Moorhead, Minnesota, and the adjacent cities of West Fargo, North Dakota and Dilworth, Minnesota, form the core of the Fargo–Moorhead, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The MSA had a population of 248,591 in 2020.
Fargo is a 1996 black comedy crime film written, directed, produced and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen. Frances McDormand stars as Marge Gunderson, a pregnant Minnesota police chief investigating a triple homicide that takes place after a desperate car salesman hires two criminals to kidnap his wife in order to extort a hefty ransom from her wealthy father. The film was an American and British co-production.
Hector International Airport is a civil-military public airport three miles (5 km) northwest of Fargo, in Cass County, North Dakota, United States. The busiest airport in North Dakota, it is owned by the City of Fargo Municipal Airport Authority. Fargo Air National Guard Base is located adjacent to the airport.
North Dakota State University is a public land-grant research university in Fargo, North Dakota. It was founded as North Dakota Agricultural College in 1890 as the state's land-grant university. As of 2021, NDSU offers 94 undergraduate majors, 146 undergraduate degree programs, 5 undergraduate certificate programs, 84 undergraduate minors, 87 master's degree programs, 51 doctoral degree programs of study, and 210 graduate certificate programs. It is classified among "R1-Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity".
Mark Andrews was an American politician from the state of North Dakota. He was a member of the Republican Party who served in both chambers of the United States Congress, the United States House of Representatives from 1963 to 1981 and the United States Senate from 1981 to 1987.
The Diocese of Fargo is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in eastern North Dakota in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
The Nickel Trophy is presented to the winner of the currently annual football game between the rival University of North Dakota (UND) Fighting Hawks and the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison. The two universities are approximately 76 miles apart on the eastern border of North Dakota. The two schools suspended play in 2003 and resumed play in 2015. In the entire history of the rivalry, the game has never been contested anywhere beside Grand Forks or Fargo.
Drew Howard Wrigley is an American attorney, lawyer, and politician from North Dakota. Wrigley currently serves as the attorney general of North Dakota after being appointed to the position by Governor Doug Burgum following the death of Wayne Stenehjem. Wrigley had previously declared his candidacy for the office in early January 2022. Wrigley was elected to a four-year term in November 2022, garnering 71% of the vote. Wrigley previously served as the United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota from 2001 to 2009 and again from 2019 to 2021, appointed by President George W. Bush and Donald Trump, respectively. Between his terms as United States attorney, Wrigley served as the 37th lieutenant governor of North Dakota from 2010 to 2016.
Fargo is an American black comedy crime drama television series created and primarily written by Noah Hawley. It is based on the 1996 film of the same name, which was written and directed by the Coen brothers, and takes place in the American Midwest, primarily Minnesota, within the same continuity as the film. The Coens were impressed by Hawley's script and agreed to be named as executive producers. The series premiered on April 15, 2014, on FX, and follows an anthology format, with each season set in a different era and location, with a different story and mostly new characters and cast, although there is minor overlap. Each season is heavily influenced by various Coen brothers films, with each containing numerous references to them.
The state of North Dakota has improved in its treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents in the late 1990s and into the 21st Century, when the LGBT community began to openly establish events, organizations and outlets for fellow LGBT residents and allies, and increase in political and community awareness.
Douglas James Burgum is an American businessman and politician serving since 2016 as the 33rd governor of North Dakota. He is among the wealthiest governors in the U.S., with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion. A member of the Republican Party, Burgum was a candidate in the 2024 United States presidential election.
The 2018 United States Senate election in North Dakota took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of North Dakota, concurrently with other elections to the U.S. Senate, as well as other federal, state and local elections in North Dakota.
Austen Schauer is an American politician. He is a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from District 13. He is a member of the Republican Party. He currently lives in West Fargo, North Dakota. He is married to Angela Tracy, who he had 3 children with.
Thomas Beadle is an American politician from the state of North Dakota. A Republican, he is the North Dakota State Treasurer. Beadle was previously a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives.
The 2024 North Dakota gubernatorial election will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the governor of North Dakota, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election, as well as various other federal, state, and local elections. Primary elections will take place on June 11, 2024.
Cordell Volson is an American football guard for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State.
Cody Mauch is an American football guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State.
