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Minot, ND

F

French Rage

NICKERSON HAS [CENSORED]
So a friend of my girlfriend is an Air Force psychologist and recently got her first posting, and it's for Minot, ND. Is anyone here familiar with that city or its surrounding area and have any advice for what there is of note around there, what's good, what's bad, where to go, what to avoid, etc.?
 
Re: Minot, ND

French Rage said:
So a friend of my girlfriend is an Air Force psychologist and recently got her first posting, and it's for Minot, ND. Is anyone here familiar with that city or its surrounding area and have any advice for what there is of note around there, what's good, what's bad, where to go, what to avoid, etc.?
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Sorry, no specific information from me. However, when I was in the AF, I recall people posted to Minot were eligible for "remote" pay. That may give you an inkling.
 
Re: Minot, ND

Wow, that's so far out in the middle of nowhere that people from Grand Forks think it's in the middle of nowhere.
 
Re: Minot, ND

French Rage said:
So a friend of my girlfriend is an Air Force psychologist and recently got her first posting, and it's for Minot, ND. Is anyone here familiar with that city or its surrounding area and have any advice for what there is of note around there, what's good, what's bad, where to go, what to avoid, etc.?
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Ooh, my condolences to your gf's friend. I grew up in ND, so I actually requested a reassignment to Minot (from SW Idaho, so not much difference). There was a long pause on the phone before the personnel guy said, "So, you want to go to Minot?" That may be the first and last such request they've ever gotten. :D

Anyway, it is what you make of it, and the nice thing about the AF is there are others in the same situation, and usually there are social activities on the base to make up for the lack of a downtown scene. I could likely answer specific questions if she has them. Where is she from originally?

Old Pio said:
Sorry, no specific information from me. However, when I was in the AF, I recall people posted to Minot were eligible for "remote" pay. That may give you an inkling.
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While this probably should be the case, it is not true.

jmh said:
Wow, that's so far out in the middle of nowhere that people from Grand Forks think it's in the middle of nowhere.
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As someone who's lived in both places I can say that this IS true.:D
 
Re: Minot, ND

Why not Minot?

Oh, we don't have time to get into the reasons.

This is the base where they lost the nuke a few years back, and the base where the lady pilot got punished for having an affair with a married subordinate that started up a big political furor, too.

From the people I know in ND, it's the least attractive part of the state. If not for the base, there wouldn't be much more than the occasional farm for miles and miles and tens of miles on end.
 
Re: Minot, ND

Never made it further west in North Dakota than Jamestown. Never wanted to either... I've heard it called Mindrot and their college is the Beavers.
 
Re: Minot, ND

St. Clown said:
Why not Minot?

Oh, we don't have time to get into the reasons.
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Never heard that one before...we always said: "Why not Minot?" "Freezin's the reason!" Winter sucks, of course. Summer can be nice, but it only lasts for 3-4 months. Level of suckiness also depends on what she likes to do for fun...Canada's not far away! ;)

From the people I know in ND, it's the least attractive part of the state. If not for the base, there wouldn't be much more than the occasional farm for miles and miles and tens of miles on end.
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Yes, there is hardly any doubt that the town would not exist without the base there (pop. is roughly 37,000 & base personnel = 3,200 military & 420 civilian).
 
Re: Minot, ND

Based on the responses thus far, I understand why they are sending a psychologist.
 
Re: Minot, ND

You know how people make fun of North Dakota for not having trees? In truth there are trees in the Red River Valley (Grand Forks, Fargo)...out west by Minot...not so much.

Get in contact with FightingSioux23...he is from there.
 
Re: Minot, ND

omahasioux1 said:
Hunting and fishing is great. But booze is the answer.:D
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This ^

I've spent a fair amount of time all over North Dakota and although it's far from cosmopolitan the people are some of the finest you'll ever meet.
 
Re: Minot, ND

I believe there is a very highly regarded golf course out there, ranked nationally. If she's into that.

Edit: Actually its not that close to Minot, its further west, deeper into BFE
 
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Re: Minot, ND

omahasioux1 said:
Hunting and fishing is great. But booze is the answer.:D
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I asked a coworker who was stationed in Minot. His response in full was, "I hope she likes to drink until she passes out." This from a guy who liked Newfoundland.

It doesn't sound very nice.
 
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Re: Minot, ND

My wife recalls a midwinter childhood overnight stop in Minot, where the Holiday Inn had an indoor pool with a waterslide. Don't know if that's still there, but if it is, it bodes well as your winter entertainment option.

I'm not surprised that psychologists are in such demand there. Sounds grim.
 
Re: Minot, ND

Look.... everyplace is what you make of it.

If you think or "know" it is going to suck, then it will. If you think or "know" otherwise, it will be that.

In the case of Minot, that's 200% the case.

It's not really out in the middle of nowhere. I like to say it is the NW corner of a square of civilization North Dakota. The other corners are Bismark (SW), Fargo (SE), and Grand Forks (NE).

If you don't live in or near one of those four corners, congrats. You live in the middle of nowhere.

Of the four "corners," though, Minot is the smallest. Definitely a small town feel (especially if you are moving from a big city or metropolitan area).

The people are nice. The drive there SUCKS even if it is easy.

I love ND and want to move back from Omaha, but yeah, Minot is a "love it or hate it" type environment.

And people do drink heavily there.
 
Re: Minot, ND

Nice Post, RW77.

Minot AFB is 10 miles N of town, on a desolate flat prairie. The city sits astride a fairly deep river valley, making for some GREAT biking hills. All of the little valleys running down into the river valley also make for some nice secluded spots for High School keggers. Down in the valley, there are 2 city parks, lots of trees, 2 golf courses (one private), maybe more now.

Only 1 public HS - 2 campuses. grades 9-10 go to the older (remodeled) downtown campus, 11-12 go to the newer (1974 - i was in the first graduating class) campus.

College town - Minot State University is there. (The Beavers)

In July, the State Fair comes to town for about a week and a half.

In October, the biggest Scandanavian festival in the country is on (Hostfest) for 5 days.
 
Re: Minot, ND

I grew up in a small town 80 miles NE of Minot (Bottineau)....truly BFE, but considered close to Minot in North Dakota terms. What Bottineau does have though is Lake Metigoshe. A nice area, somewhat similar to northern Minnesota, wooded, rolling hills, and a nice lake. So if she likes boating, waterskiing, swimming, camping, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, etc., this place is worth the drive.
 
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