• Newspaper
  • Community

  • History

    The Fergus Falls Daily Journal has been published in Fergus Falls since 1873.

    Mission

    To provide informative, interesting and timely information for Fergus Falls and surrounding areas.

    Circulation

    Published daily for afternoon delivery, 7,200 circulation

    Internet presence

    www.fergusfallsjournal.com

    Community involvement

    Employees of the Daily Journal are active in the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce, Fergus Falls Rotary Club, Noon Kiwanis Club, Otter Risers Kiwanis Club, local churches and support the United Way and its mission.

    The Daily Journal’s mission is to product quality community journalism while serving our readers and bending over backward to meet the needs of our advertisers. Our workplace is one where people care about the newspaper’s role in the community.

    Awards

    The Daily Journal has won a number of state press awards including recognition by the Associated Press for design.

  • Market

    Market is mainly driven by agriculture, recreation industry and retail services. The retail trade area includes approximately 100,000 people making Fergus Falls a regional center for shopping, education, recreation, medical treatment, and entertainment. Today Fergus Falls is a community of approximately 13,000 residents.

    Geographic location

    Fergus Falls is located in West Central Minnesota near the fertile Red River Valley. Rich rolling farmland, wooded hills, and over 1,000 lakes combine to make both agriculture and tourism valued industries in Otter Tail County.

    Population

    Fergus Falls – 13,471

    Otter Tail County – 57,159

    History

    In 1870, George B. Wright purchased the town site for just over $100.00. He built a dam on the river to power a sawmill. From that time on, the building in Fergus Falls was limited only by the ability of the mill to furnish lumber. Along the way he encountered an Indian family who told him of a location where there was a big falls or rapids. Ater locating the rapids, Whitford staked out a town site at the big falls and named it Fergus Falls in honor of his employer. On March 1, 1872, Fergus Falls was chartered as an official village of the State of Minnesota and the County Seat of Otter Tail County.

    Climate

    Fergus Falls experiences all four seasons. The coldest month is January with a mean daily max of 16 F and a mean daily min of 3 F. The hottest month is July with the mean daily max of 82 F and a mean daily min 60.

    Major employers

    Agriculture is the leading industry of the county, with health care as a major component of Fergus Falls. Between Lake Region Healthcare Corporation, the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center, the Fergus Falls Medical Group, three nursing homes and assisted living facilities, more than 1,600 people are employed in the community. Otter Tail Power Corporation, an electric utility, has its corporate headquarters in Fergus Falls.

    Education

    Fergus Falls is home to Public School Disrtict #544, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Lutheran Brethen Schools. In addition, higher education courses can be taken at Fergus Falls Community College.

    Culture

    Many honors have been bestowed on our community during recent years including Tree City USA. Fergus Falls can be called a City of Parks also as it contains 22 parks covering more than 550 acres. We also have a scenic five-block walking path along the Otter Tail River near downtown Fergus Falls.

    Recreation

    Five lakes lie within the city limits and over 1,000 lakes are less than one hour’s driving time away. The clear lakes in Otter Tail County provide opportunities for fishing, swimming, and water sports. In addition, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are popular activities in the winter months.

    Area information

    Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce
    www.fergusfalls.com