A place is defined by its people. Minot thrives because of 35,000 proud residents. Named after Henry D. Minot, a young entrepreneurial visionary from the east, the town of Minot was conceived in the late 1800s. With the impending arrival of the Great Northern Railroad, the town site was actually selected in November of 1886. Its phenomenal growth led to the early nickname "Magic City." Today, barely one hundred years later, Minot is a vibrant city of 35,000 people, a center of agriculture and trade offering a quality of life proven to be among the finest in the nation. Sixty miles east of Minot is the geographical center of North America. Perhaps it is Minot's proximity to this center point that contributes to its sense of balance and equanimity, fairness and ethics. Minot is centered on the North American continent. The city is served by US Highways 2, 52 and 83. Minot is located 150 miles from the Montana state line, 215 miles from the Minnesota state line, 200 miles from the South Dakota state line, and 55 miles from the Canadian International Boundary. Minot is located in Ward County. Minot has an area of 12.96 square miles within the city. North Dakota has four distinct seasons - spring, summer, fall and winter. The summer season is warm and dry, which provides an excellent environment for many of North Dakota¼s outdoor activities such as golf, fishing, swimming, etc. In the fall the leaves begin to change to beautiful reds and oranges.