The first instrument filed for record in the Cass County Office of Register of Deeds (now Cass County Recorder’s Office) was the Fargo town plat on January 2, 1874. The original Townsite of Fargo was platted out of Section Seven by the Northern Pacific Railroad, and it extended from the Red River to what is now South University Drive and from the Northern Pacific tracks south to Fourth Avenue. Squatters located in the area were allowed to purchase the lots on which they were located, and in 1887, the railroad deeded what is now Main Avenue from the Red River to South University Avenue to the city. At that time, it was discovered that several businesses encroached on the street, and they had to be moved.

At the time that the plat was filed, east-west avenues to the south were named Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison. In 1902, the names were changed to numbered avenues by city ordinance. It was not until 1955 that Front Street became Main Avenue. In the very early days, businesses were concentrated along the south side of Main Avenue, across from the Headquarters Hotel and the railroad offices and headquarters.

Island Park was a part of Section Seven, and through the intervention of Jacob Lowell, Jr., and J. B. Power, a land agent for the railroad, the Northern Pacific deeded this area to the city for a park, as it is still being used today. On the north side of the N.P. tracks, to University Avenue, the railroad held only the 200 feet from the center of the tracks which was a part of its original grant. By 1883, the Land Office announced that all land in Cass County was surveyed and could be acquired by purchase only.

Photos and content courtesy of Digital Horizons (North Dakota Histories Collection, ND State Library) and the Cass County Recorder’s Office.