Editing Fargo, North Dakota (section)

===Early history===
Historically part of [[Sioux]] ([[Dakota people|Dakota]]) territory, the area that is present-day Fargo was an early stopping point for [[steamboat]]s traversing the [[Red River of the North|Red River]] during the 1870s and 1880s. The city was originally named "Centralia", but was later renamed "Fargo" after [[Northern Pacific Railway]] director and [[Wells Fargo Express Company]] founder [[William Fargo]] (1818–1881).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fargo is Founded {{!}} Fargo History |url=https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/fargo-founded |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112200153/https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/fargo-founded |archive-date=November 12, 2022 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |website=library.ndsu.edu}}</ref> During the initial settlement of Fargo, there developed two cities: one (unofficially) called "Fargo on the Prairie" and the other "Fargo in the Timber". "Fargo on the Prairie" was known for being well run by Northern Pacific engineers, while "Fargo in the Timber" remained mostly lawless and full of apparently "desperate and reckless characters", according to [[The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead]]. Eventually, "Fargo in the Timber" would see its demise after a crackdown by federal authorities, and the modern Fargo would develop out of "Fargo on the Prairie".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crossing the Red River: Fargo Begins {{!}} Fargo History |url=https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/crossing-red-river-fargo-begins |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629020520/https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/crossing-red-river-fargo-begins |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |website=library.ndsu.edu |publisher=[[North Dakota State University]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kerzman |first=Kristopher |date=January 7, 2016 |title=Throwback Thursday: Fargo in the Timber home to the 'reckless,' 'lawless' |url=https://www.inforum.com/newsmd/throwback-thursday-fargo-in-the-timber-home-to-the-reckless-lawless |access-date=August 11, 2023 |website=InForum |publisher=[[The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead]] |language=en}}</ref> The area started to flourish after the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad and the city became known as the "Gateway to the West."

During the 1880s, Fargo became the "divorce capital" of the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] because of lenient divorce laws.<ref>Riley, G (1991). Divorce: An American Tradition. Oxford University Press</ref> A major fire struck the city on June 7, 1893, destroying 31 blocks of downtown Fargo, but the city was immediately rebuilt with new buildings made of brick, new streets, and a water system. More than 246 new buildings were built within one year. There were several rumors concerning the cause of the fire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/fire-1893|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705072024/http://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content%2Ffire-1893|title=Fire of 1893 &#124; Fargo History|archive-date=July 5, 2015|website=library.ndsu.edu}}</ref>

The North Dakota Agricultural College was founded in 1890 as [[North Dakota]]'s [[land-grant university]], becoming first accredited by the [[North Central Association]] in 1915. In 1960, NDAC became known as [[North Dakota State University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History and Traditions {{!}} North Dakota State University |url=https://www.ndsu.edu/history_traditions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320041104/https://www.ndsu.edu/history_traditions |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |access-date=August 11, 2023 |website=www.ndsu.edu}}</ref>