Mandan's history dates back to 1879 when Michael Lang opened the first grocery store. Lang was an alderman in Mandan and part owner of the Mandan Pioneer newspaper. Later that decade, the city became a railroad town, with Northern Pacific as its largest employer. Today, the town's economy is based on agriculture, but it has also grown to include manufacturing, software development, and professional services.
The city's commercial district was completed by the late 1880s, with several buildings exhibiting the styles of the era. By 1884, the city had become the seat of Morton County. Commercial buildings from this era are all wire-faced brick, a style that was popular in the mid-19th century. The downtown's most notable building is the Mandan Police and Fire Station, built in an Art Moderne style. The Kennelly Block is the oldest commercial building in the city, standing at 111 Second Avenue N.W.
The city grew steadily in the late 1880s and early 1890s, when the town was still an emerging boomtown. One-story brick business buildings lined Main Street, and the city's center of commerce was further east along Main. Later, the business district had solidified between Second Avenue NE and Fifth Avenue NW. The population of Mandan was estimated to be 24,206 by the 2020 census.
In terms of livability, Mandan scores high in the area, with a score of 69 out of 100. The city's high marks include amenities and weather, while the low scores pertain to education and crime. However, you must check out the individual categories to make an informed decision on where to settle in Mandan. The livability score also includes the costs of living, weather, education, housing, and other vital metrics.