West Fargo is a city in Cass County, North Dakota in the United States. In July 2008, its population was estimated at 23,708, and is the state of North Dakota's fastest growing major city. The city is usually considered to be a suburb of nearby Fargo. West Fargo was founded in 1926.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 mi² (18.9 km²). 7.3 mi² (18.9 km²) of it is land and 0.14% of it is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,940 people, 5,771 households, and 4,091 families residing in the city, however the current population of West Fargo is estimated at over 26,000 residents. The population density was 791.3/km² (2,049.2/mi²). There were 5,968 housing units at an average density of 316.1/km² (818.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.40% White, 0.42% African American, 1.04% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.
There were 5,771 households out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,542, and the median income for a family was $51,765. Males had a median income of $32,105 versus $22,148 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,368. About 4.7% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The city of West Fargo is served by West Fargo Public Schools. The system operates the West Fargo Kindergarten Center, Eastwood Elementary School, L. E. Berger Elementary School, South Elementary School, Westside Elementary School, Cheney Middle School, and West Fargo High School. Another school, Aurora Elementary School opened for the 2007-2008 school year. Aurora is located in the Eagle Run development in southern West Fargo. Sheyenne 9th Grade Center, opened August 27, 2007 as a response to the district's growing enrollment and overcrowding at West Fargo High School. 2007 marks the first year the freshmen have been educated outside the High School since 1993. The Sheyenne 9th Grade Center may serve as a second middle school for West Fargo in the next two years, as it was decided in March 2009 to be voted on by the public. A second High School would then be built. This referendum was voted down by a narrow margin, forcing the school board to revise the plans before reintroducing it to the public.
The West Fargo School District also serves much of southwestern Fargo, the suburb of Reile's Acres, and the communities of Horace and Harwood, giving both towns their own elementary schools (Horace Elementary and Harwood Elementary).
West Fargo Public Library utilizes Web 2.0 technologies on its website, these include blogs and photos.
