Fargo garners top 10 listings for college town atmosphere, food festival
FARGO – The largest city in North Dakota, straddling the border with Minnesota, continues to gain national credentials and notoriety for its livability.By: Forum staff reports, INFORUM
FARGO – The largest city in North Dakota, straddling the border with Minnesota, continues to gain national credentials and notoriety for its livability.
Fargo made two top 10 lists from Livability.com, which aims to discover America’s best places to live.
The city, in the website’s rankings for 2011, placed 10th on the list of best college towns and sixth for best food festivals.
Best College Towns
About this list, the Livability.com website says:
“A good college town stimulates young minds. It offers a touch of the familiar while encouraging exploration and fosters a sense of pride. And even if you’re not taking classes, there’s just something about being near a campus that gets in your blood. You can’t help but become intertwined in the history, the pageantry and the excitement that a college creates.
This list isn’t a ranking of schools. It’s not a roundup of party places either.
Livability.com’s Top 10 College Towns are cities where academic endeavors extend beyond the campus and energize the community. These places have become economic epicenters, artistic hubs, cultural cornerstones and entertainment meccas. They give the student great places to learn, grow and play, while at the same time giving residents the benefits that come with being near a vibrant educational institution. In a nutshell, they’ve got a lot of offer whether you’re after a degree, a new career or a place to settle down.”
In the website’s description for Fargo, it lists the population (although it gives a total including Cass and Clay counties), three colleges (North Dakota State University, Rasmussen College and Masters Baptist College), the city’s “cool factors,” and its benefits.
The website says Fargo’s cool factors are The Hub, Celebrity Walk of Fame, skiing and sledding, while listing affordable housing, low unemployment rate and jobs after you graduate as its benefits.
In addition, Livability.com had this to say about Fargo:
“In a city made famous by cold weather and the Cohen brothers, college-goers are quickly warming up to the idea of going to school here. Home to multiple campuses, Fargo has earned the reputation of a bona fide college town, but that’s only half the attraction.
“With a low unemployment rate and plenty of entertainment options, Fargo is fast becoming a location destination of choice.”
Here’s the list of best college towns this year:
10 – Fargo
9 – Oxford, Miss.
8 – Louisville, Kent.
7 – College Station, Texas
6 – Auburn, Ala.
5 – Ann Arbor, Mich.
4 – Madison, Wis.
3 – Athens, Ga.
2 – Burlington, Vermont
1 – Boulder, Colo.
Top 10 Food Festivals
Fargo also made the list for the nation’s best food festivals, notching the spot as sixth best place.
About the list, Livability.com says:
“Songs are written about it. Stories revolve around it. What better thing to celebrate than food? And what better way to celebrate than a community-wide festival, bringing together favorite foods and local culture?
“Turns out, the saying is true, ‘You are what you eat.’ Communities can be defined by their food. Whether it’s comfort food from the heart of the South or a chili kick from Colorado, food can turn a small town into a tourist destination or earn a big city high praise. And that, friends, is cause for celebration.
From the weird and wacky RC and Moonpie Festival to the elegant Oregon Truffle Festival, we’ve scoured the country to give you a taste of some of the best food fests in the most livable cities. So go on, dig in.”
Here’s what the website had to say about Fargo’s annual Ribfest:
“If you want ribs done right, head to Fargo for the annual Happy Harry’s RibFest. With an array of ribs and barbecue from restaurants all over the country, a riblet fest, and ‘lip-smackin’ lunch, you’re sure to leave this ‘fest satisfied. National bands take the stage to entertain and Games Galore run throughout the day.”
Here’s the list for Top 10 Food Festivals:
10 – Newark, Ohio
9 – Eugene, Ore.
8 – Provo, Utah
7 – Muskogee, Okla.
6 – Fargo
5 – Shelbyville, Tenn.
4 – Lexington, N.C.
3 – Tupelo, Miss.
2 – Pueblo, Colo.
1 – Knoxville, Tenn.
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