Minot came into existence in 1886, after the railroad laid track through the area. A tent town sprang up overnight, as if by "magic", making the city known as the Magic City, and in the next five months, the population increased to over 5,000, further bolstering the nickname. 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, ornithologist and friend of Hill. Its Arikara name is "niwaharít sahaáhkat"; its Hidatsa name is "dibiarugareesh" ("Plum Coulee").