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Fargo

Fargo is the largest city in and the of Cass County, located on the western bank of the , directly across from . With a 2025 population estimate of approximately 138,000 for the city proper and 270,000 in the Fargo-Moorhead , it functions as a key regional center for commerce, education, healthcare, and culture in the . Fargo is home to , a major public research institution with 11,954 students as of fall 2025. The economy of the region is diverse, with major employers including and , and a median household income of $75,523 for the metro area (2023). "Fargo" may also refer to other places, people, and works listed in the sections below.

Places

United States

In the , several places are named Fargo, often in honor of William G. Fargo, the 19th-century businessman and co-founder of & Company. Fargo, Arkansas, is a small town in northern Monroe County, situated along U.S. Highway 49 north of Interstate 40. Fargo, California, was a small unincorporated community in Fresno County, located near the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks; it is now a . Fargo, Georgia, is a in Clinch County in the southeastern part of the state, near the . Fargo, North Dakota, is the largest in the state and a major regional hub for commerce, education, and transportation in the , located in Cass County along the . Fargo, Oklahoma, is a town in Ellis County in the northwestern part of the state. Fargo station is the serving the city of , and the surrounding Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area; it is the second-busiest station in the state and accommodates the long-distance route.

Arts, entertainment, and media

Films

Several films have been titled Fargo, spanning different genres and eras, primarily within American cinema with one notable . The 1952 film Fargo is an American Western directed by Lewis D. Collins, starring as rancher Bill Martin who returns to to avenge his brother's death in a amid a between ranchers and barbed-wire advocates. It was produced by Vincent M. Fennelly and features supporting performances by and , with principal photography at Iverson Ranch in . The most prominent entry is the 1996 Fargo, a critically acclaimed crime comedy-drama written, produced, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, starring as pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson investigating a gone wrong in snowy . The film received widespread praise for its blend of , moral themes, and Midwestern setting, earning seven Award nominations and wins for (McDormand), Best Original , and Best Film Editing. It holds an 8.1/10 rating on from over 768,000 users and a 94% approval on based on 109 reviews. This film later served as the basis for an anthology television series adaptation. A 2003 unaired titled Fargo, directed by and starring as Marge Gunderson, attempted to extend the 1996 story but was not developed into a full series. The pilot was produced in 1997 but aired once in 2003.

The Fargo is an American anthology crime drama created by for the network, premiering on , 2014. It draws inspiration from the 1996 film of the same name, adapting its themes of Midwestern crime and into self-contained seasonal stories. Each season features an original narrative set primarily in the , blending elements of , , and , with recurring motifs like ordinary people entangled in extraordinary violence. As of 2025, the series has aired five seasons, with Hawley serving as , writer, and director for key episodes across all installments. As of November 2025, a sixth season is in , with filming set to begin in 2025. Season 1 (2014) follows a car salesman and a whose paths cross in a web of and deceit; subsequent seasons explore new ensembles, including a 1979 crime saga in season 2 (2015), a 2010 salesman unraveling in season 3 (2017), a 1950 plot in season 4 (2020), and a 2019 domestic crisis in season 5 (2023). The show's critical acclaim stems from its sharp writing, atmospheric cinematography capturing snowy rural landscapes, and standout performances, earning multiple , including Outstanding in 2014 and 2015. Fargo has been renewed through its fifth season, with production under Hawley's 26 Keys banner, and remains available for streaming on . Its format allows for thematic exploration of American moral ambiguity, often incorporating historical or cultural references to the region, while maintaining loose connections via recurring characters like the criminal organization represented by "Lorraine Lyon."

Music

In music, "Fargo" refers to several standalone albums and songs that share the title, often evoking Midwestern American imagery or serving as personal artistic statements, distinct from film or television tie-ins. One prominent example is the self-titled album Fargo by country singer Donna Fargo, released in 1980 on Warner Bros. Records. The LP features 10 tracks of traditional country music, including "Seeing Is Believing" and "Love Will Find A Way," produced by Prima-Donna Entertainment Corporation and focusing on themes of romance, regret, and emotional resilience typical of the genre. Fargo, whose stage name was adopted in 1966 upon moving to Phoenix, Arizona, drew from her experiences in the music industry to craft this collection, marking a later phase in her career after earlier hits like "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A." A notable song titled "Fargo" appears on Thad Cockrell's 2024 album The Kid, released independently. This Americana track, the sixth on the record, paints a poignant picture of life in the flat, open landscapes of , with lyrics reflecting isolation and longing, such as watching a loved one depart across endless plains. Cockrell, known for his soulful songwriting, uses the song to explore personal vulnerability and the vastness of Midwestern existence, without direct ties to cinematic narratives.

Video games

No video games titled Fargo have been developed or released. The name is primarily associated with other media, such as the 1996 Coen brothers film, but no interactive titles in the video game medium exist under this name.

Military

Ships

The USS Fargo (CL-106) was the lead ship of the Fargo-class light cruisers in the United States Navy, named after the city of Fargo, North Dakota. Built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey, she was laid down on 23 August 1943, launched on 25 February 1945, and commissioned on 9 December 1945 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard under the command of Captain Wyatt Craig. Following her shakedown cruise in , , from 24 January to 13 March 1946, USS Fargo participated in a goodwill tour of ports in , Trinidad, , and between 15 April and 31 May 1946. She then deployed to the from June to September 1946, where she supported operations during the Trieste crisis on 29 June 1946, visiting ports in , , , , , and ; additional Mediterranean tours followed in 1947 and 1949. In March to May 1948, she conducted operations in the , including stops at and . Decommissioned on 14 February 1950, she was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at , stricken from the on 1 March 1970, and sold for scrap on 18 August 1971.

Installations

Fargo Air National Guard Base, located adjacent to in , functioned as a critical installation for continental air defense during the mid-20th century. Established on January 16, 1947, as the home of the Air National Guard's 119th Wing, the base assumed an air defense role in January 1953 following the unit's return from active duty during the . Equipped with fighter-interceptor aircraft including the F-94 Starfire (1954–1958), F-89 Scorpion (1958–1966), and F-102 Delta Dagger (1966–1969), the installation provided rapid response capabilities to detect and intercept potential bomber threats as part of the Air Defense Command network. This mission emphasized , integrating with regional general surveillance sites to monitor airspace over the northern plains. The base's operational focus on air defense peaked in the and , with the 119th Wing reorganizing under the Air Defense structure in spring 1956 and maintaining continuous alert status. Personnel conducted regular training and exercises, such as a major Air Defense Command operation in August 1969, to ensure readiness against Soviet incursions. By the late , evolving threats led to a gradual shift away from dedicated interceptor roles, though the installation remained active in broader functions. As of 2025, the base supports remotely piloted aircraft operations with the MQ-9 Reaper and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The site's contributions underscored North Dakota's strategic importance in the continental defense system during the era.

Other uses

People

William G. Fargo (May 20, 1818 – August 3, 1881) was an businessman renowned for his pioneering role in the express shipping and banking industries during the . Born in , as the eldest of 12 children, he grew up working on the family farm and attending school seasonally before leaving formal education at age 13 to deliver mail on a 43-mile horseback route. By 1841, Fargo had become a freight agent for the Auburn & Syracuse Railroad Company, and two years later, he relocated to , where he continued in similar roles. In 1844, Fargo partnered with and Daniel Dunning to establish Wells & Co., an early express firm focused on transporting goods and valuables. This venture laid the groundwork for larger enterprises; in 1850, he co-founded the Company with Wells and John Butterfield, which specialized in secure freight forwarding and quickly expanded across the . Fargo served as of American Express from 1868 until his death, overseeing its consolidation with the Merchants Union Express Company in 1868. In 1852, amid the , he and Wells launched & Company in to handle express services to the , contracting lines for rapid transport of , documents, and other valuables starting that . As vice and a director of Wells Fargo from its inception until 1881, and briefly as president from 1870 to 1872, Fargo helped integrate the firm with operations like the Overland Mail Company in 1857 and the in 1866, fostering coast-to-coast connectivity. His investments extended to railroads, such as a directorship in the Northern Pacific Railroad, and banking, including as an original stockholder in the North Western National Bank founded in 1872. Fargo also engaged in politics, serving two terms as mayor of from 1862 to 1865, during which he supported efforts by organizing local fundraising and recruitment. He built a notable Italianate mansion in in 1851 and later expanded his estate there between 1868 and 1872. The city of , was named in his honor in recognition of his contributions to transportation and commerce. Fargo died in after a prolonged illness, leaving a legacy as a key architect of America's early express and financial networks.

Transportation

The Fargo Motor Car Company was an manufacturer of trucks, founded in 1913 in , , by members of the Kral family and initially based in the Pilsen neighborhood, where it produced a line of trucks until financial difficulties led to its closure in 1922. The company focused on light- and medium-duty vehicles for urban and rural use, emphasizing durability for delivery and freight applications. In 1928, the Corporation acquired the Fargo nameplate alongside its purchase of Brothers, reviving the brand for a new series of trucks produced in the United States through 1936, primarily as export models after domestic sales ended in 1930. These post-revival Fargo vehicles were often badge-engineered designs, including pickups and panel trucks, with production centered in and totaling several thousand units annually during the early 1930s for international markets. The brand continued production in until 1972 and in some international markets into the 21st century. The brand's name possibly drew indirect inspiration from the legacy of William G. Fargo, the 19th-century banking pioneer and co-founder of , evoking themes of reliable transport across the .

Technology

Fargo is a browser-based outliner developed by in . It allows users to create and organize hierarchical outlines directly in a web browser, with integration for like , and was later open-sourced.

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