Back in 1886, when railway workers laying the Great Northern Railroad tracks across North Dakota needed a place for their winter quarters, they stopped by a river and set up enough tents to be considered a small town. Because the tents seemed to magically appear, someone decided to call the place the "Magic City." Today, the tents are gone but the town remains, now officially named Minot, North Dakota, and still referred to by many as Magic City.
The visitors and convention center's Web site for Minot displays the catchy tagline: "Why not Minot?" Well, some might find Minot's climate a bit challenging temperatures here range from minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter upwards to 105 degrees in the summer's but for many, this fourth-largest (population 37,000) town in North Dakota is a prime example of wholesome Midwestern living. Minot Air Force Base, home to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Space Wing of the Strategic Air Command, gives the town a solid economic base; surveys have shown that real estate here is among the most affordable in the nation.
Minot is a center for arts and crafts; visitors may enjoy the art museum, symphony orchestra, or catching a performance from one of local area theatre and dance groups. Additionally, there are several museums, and a zoo.
