Grand Forks is the third‐largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. Historically dependent on local agriculture, the city's economy now encompasses higher education, defense, health care, manufacturing, food processing, and scientific research. Grand Forks is served by Grand Forks International Airport and Grand Forks Air Force Base, while the city's University of North Dakota is the oldest institution of higher education in the state.

According to an economic outlook report released in December, the probability of North Dakota entering a recession early in 2009 was slightly greater than 50‐50. Unemployment rates in Grand Forks are much lower than the rest of the U.S. North Dakota has been rated the safest state in the union for six years in a row, while Minnesota is the 40th safest state with only 27 violent crimes per 10,000 people, half the national average. Of 320 metropolitan areas ranked, Grand Forks and East Grand Forks were ranked number 20 of the safest metropolitan areas in the nation.