Modern-day Fargo became a popular stopping point for steamboats on the Red River between the 1870s and 1880s. Fargo was known initially as "Centralia" but was renamed Fargo after the director of the Northern Pacific Railway and the founder of Wells Fargo Express Company, William Fargo. The city then became known as the "Gateway to the West" after the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad, ensuring greater access to the world and new growth prospects. Fargo gained cultural fame in the 1880s and became the "divorce capital" of the Midwest," a reputation built on its lenient divorce laws. The 1890s was also a decade of growth for the city. It established the North Dakota Agricultural College in 1890, and when a fire destroyed a large part of downtown in 1893, the city set about rebuilding. Contractors quickly repaired the fire damage, erecting 31 blocks, over 246 buildings, and a water system within one year of the fire. In 1905, the city became home to the Pence Automobile Company, which created a boom in the city's automobile industry. Then, in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt visited Fargo on Labor Day to lay the cornerstone of the college's new library. A crowd of over 30,000 people welcomed him. Then, Fargo experienced an economic boom after World War II and also after a destructive F5 tornado in 1957 that destroyed a large area in the north end of the town. Growth in the city was further stimulated by the construction of the I-29 and I-94 Interstates. These Interstates promoted additional retail growth as businesspeople constructed the West Acres Shopping Center in 1972 near their intersection. Fargo is the home of the North Dakota State University (NDSU), known as North Dakota Agricultural College, until 1960. The university has become a major research university that is a massive contributor to the city's identity and economy. NDSU's Bison Football also plays an integral part in the city's culture. Fargo was ranked as one of the most livable cities throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s by Money magazine. This recognition followed the city having some of the lowest unemployment rates among MSAs in the United States. But, this was not the only reason. Fargo also had a low crime rate and affordable housing, giving it enormous appeal to those wanting to make a new life in this town.

The city of Fargo, North Dakota, offers a range of activities and attractions, such as the following:

Red River Zoo: This zoo has been open to the public since 1999 and houses amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles, and mammals. Over 22 acres in size, the zoo has many conservation accolades and specializes in native wildlife and exotic species.

Fargo Air Museum: Opened in 2001, this museum is spread across two hangars and is home to aircraft from throughout the ages.