Minot, ND. November 2016 in HD!!
Minot came into existence in 1886, when James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway ended its push through the state for the winter, after having difficulty constructing a trestle across Gassman Coulee. It was the end of the railway's line, so whenever a train came into the town and the stop was announced, the conductor would call out Minot, this is Minot, North Dakota, prepare to meet your doom. A tent town sprang up overnight, as if by magic, thus the city came to be known as the Magic City, and in the next five months, the population increased to over 5,000 residents, further adding to the nickname's validity.[citation needed]
The town site was chosen by the railroad to be placed on the land of then-homesteader Erik Ramstad. Ramstad was convinced to relinquish his claim, and became one of the city leaders.
The town was named after Henry D. Minot, a railroad investor, an ornithologist and friend of Hill. Its Arikara name is niwaharít sahaáhkat [niWAharít sAhaáhkAt, niWAharít shaáhkAt];[9] its Hidatsa name is dibiarugareesh, (Plum Coulee).[10]
The city was incorporated on June 28, 1887.
The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (Soo Line) later built a line from Valley City up to Canada. While initially their plan was to cross the Souris River at Burlington, local interests and arguments convinced them otherwise; landholders along the new route donated the right-of-way. They reached Minot in 1893.
Minot and its surrounding area were wide open throughout 1905-20. Population grew rapidly due to railroad construction and availability of unclaimed land. Nearly complete court records of Ward County and Minot document the prevalence and different types of criminal activity, and offer strong support for the dubious title of crime capitol of North Dakota. State attorney general William Langer helped clean up the town in 1917-1920, but by the time Prohibition had arrived in the 1920s the city had become a center of illegal activities associated with the High Third district, which were exacerbated due to the city being a supply hub of Al Capone's liquor smuggling operations. The hotbed of alcohol bootlegging, prostitution, and opium dens that sprang up in the Downtown area soon led people to give Minot the nickname Little Chicago. The Smugglers used a network of underground tunnels (some of which were previously built for heating or deliveries) to transport and conceal the illicit cargo entering from Canada.[11]
Driving Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada
Oakbank is a small community in Manitoba, Canada located about 15 km east of the provincial capital Winnipeg, in the Rural Municipality of Springfield. It has a population of about 4,600 persons and serves as a dormitory town or bedroom community for Winnipeg, as a majority of the residents work in Winnipeg. Oakbank's rapid population growth is representative of small towns in the Winnipeg Capital Region, as two new housing developments are being expanded in the town.
From Wikipedia.
Hwy 2, riding into the town of Claresholm, southern Alberta.
At times the weather seems to be clearing up, then it becomes hazy and overcast again. Here I am approaching the town of Claresholm from its northern end one mid morning in August of 2015. We then ride through Claresholm to its southern side, as we continue along on Highway 2 towards Lethbridge..
Music: Michael Tiernan (Better Life)
Destination Development: Rossland and the Highway 3 Corridor
The Destination Development Program facilitates collaboration to guide the long-term growth of tourism experiences and revenues, and provides strategic direction to the tourism industry to enhance the quality of the visitor experience by ensuring tourism services, amenities and practices are exceptional.
Rossland’s Mayor Kathy Moore and other local business champions share how tourism along Highway 3 is taking on increasing importance to local communities along that corridor.