History The city of Thief River Falls began as a lumber mill serving all of northern Minnesota but later found prosperity as a hub for wheat shipping on the Great Northern and Soo Line Railroads. The city’s name derives from two sources, Thief River being a translation of the Ojibwa and Dakota name of the river which runs through the city, and Falls being added to the name when the construction of a dam created a small waterfall. Over 20 parks and recreational facilities offer a host of year-round outdoor recreational activities in the immediately surrounding area. In the winter, locals especially enjoy playing and watching hockey in the world class Ralph Engelstad Arena. Thief River Falls is a highly active community. Annual highlights include the Triathlon, Model Railroad Show, and Olde World Christmas Faire. It has also attracted international entertainment like the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats and the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. An entrepreneurial spirit thrives in Thief River Falls. The two largest area employers, Arctic Cat and Digi-Key, were both conceived by local residents, and Thief River Falls remains their center of operations as they continue to expand.
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
