Prior to settlement by Europeans, the area where the city now sits (at the forks of the Red River and Red Lake River) had been an important meeting and trading point for Native Americans. Early French explorers, fur trappers, and traders called the area "Les Grandes Fourches" (meaning "The Grand Forks"). By the 1740s, Les Grandes Fourches was an important rendezvous point for French fur trappers.
Before being settled by Europeans, the region where the city is now situated (at the confluence of the Red River and Red Lake River) served as a significant gathering and trading site for Native Americans. Early French explorers, trappers, and traders referred to the area as "Les Grandes Fourches" (meaning "The Grand Forks"). By the 1740s, Les Grandes Fourches had become an essential meeting point for French fur trappers.