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.
Prior to European settlement, the area where the city is now located was an important Native American gathering and trading site. Early French explorers, including those who were trappers and traders, referred to it as "Les Grandes Fourches" (meaning "The Grand Forks"). By the 1740s, this location had become a significant meeting point for French fur trappers.