"Greater Grand Forks" (officially the Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area) is the name used by some people to designate the twin cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, together with their surrounding areas. The two cities lie directly across from each other on both sides of the Red River of the North, but Grand Forks, with a population of 59,166, is more than five times larger than East Grand Forks, with a population of 9,176. The metropolitan area includes all of the related two counties in the two states: Grand Forks County in North Dakota and Polk County in Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 104,362, and in 2021 estimates placed the total population at 103,462. The metropolitan area is also sometimes called "The Forks." Several years ago local promoters attempted to "brand" the metropolitan area as "The Grand Cities." This name has not found widespread use in the area, although several buildings and organizations now bear the "Grand Cities" title. Occasionally, the city of Grand Forks uses the nickname "The Sunflake City." Communities Places with more than 50,000 inhabitants Grand Forks, ND (Principal city) Places with 5,000 to 10,000 inhabitants Crookston, MN East Grand Forks, MN Places with 1,000 to 5,000 inhabitants Fosston, MN Grand Forks Air Force Base Larimore, ND Thompson, ND Places with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants Beltrami, MN Climax, MN Emerado, ND Erskine, MN Fertile, MN Fisher, MN Gilby, ND Gully, MN Inkster, ND Lengby, MN Manvel, ND McIntosh, MN Mentor, MN Niagara, ND Nielsville, MN Northwood, ND Reynolds, ND Trail, MN Winger, MN Unincorporated places Arvilla, ND Bygland, MN Calspur, ND Kelly, ND Mallory, MN Mekinock, ND Merrifield, ND North Grand Forks, ND Ojata, ND Oakville, ND Powell, ND Demographics According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, the population of the Greater Grand Forks metro area was 97,260, of which 50.9% were male and 49.1% were female. Age Under 5 years: 6.3% 5–9 years: 5.5% 10–14 years: 6.1% 15–19 years: 9.6% 20–24 years: 13.3% 25–34 years: 12.7% 35–44 years: 11.3% 45–54 years: 13.6% 55–59 years: 5.4% 60–64 years: 4.2% 65–74 years: 5.6% 75–84 years: 4.5% 85 years and over: 2.0% Median age: 31.8 years Race According to the same survey, the racial composition was as follows: White: 92.5% (Non-Hispanic Whites: 90.8%) Black or African American: 1.3% American Indian: 2.4% Asian: 0.8% Native Hawaiian and