Out of where the handclasp's a littler stronger / Out where the smile dwells a little longer / That's where the West begins. -- From "Out Where the West Begins" by Arthur Chapman (the line "Where the West begins," was adopted by Mandan, North Dakota, as its city motto.)
This city of about 19,000 people, according to the 2010 U
Out of where the handclasp's a littler stronger / Out where the smile dwells a little longer / That's where the West begins. -- From "Out Where the West Begins" by Arthur Chapman (the line "Where the West begins," was adopted by Mandan, North Dakota, as its city motto.)
This city of about 19,000 people, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, lies on the east bank of the Missouri River in the south central part of the state. Mandan prides itself on its small-town Western persona "where a man makes friends without half trying," and on its railroad past and its regional commerce, agribusiness, energy-related and oil-refining present. It's also just across the river from Bismarck, the state capital.
You can find pretty much anything you're looking for in Mandan, from a studio apartment for rent to a ranch home just out of town where you'll have plenty of room to roam. The sixth-largest city in North Dakota is proud of its growth, with 3,000 new residential units built since 2000. The year 2013 was a banner year for construction permits in the city, including 156 single-family homes and 357 multi-family units.
Its Main Street is a growing area for local niche retail, and the downtown area is still the center of city life and activity.
While you'll find city apartments built between 1970 and 1999, and a selection of older homes in town, you'll also find new luxury apartments and serviced apartments. When you're considering rental homes in Mandan, be sure you have the kinds of documents that landlords will require for a long-term lease: employment verification, a bank account, several months of past pay stubs, names and contact information for verification of previous rental history and the ability to pay a security deposit in addition to at least the first month's rent.
Allow enough time to look for suitable city apartments, and you'll be able to settle in "where the bonds of home are a wee bit tighter."
Mandan has three distinct neighborhoods: Rock Haven, City Center and Sunny. Each may be a bit more expensive than other North Dakota cities, but you'll get amenities and services galore. Mandan is a progressive city and its forward-thinking and frugal city government has even managed to decrease the tax rate mill levy over the past 20 years, so that living here is a very good deal.
Basically, the City Center area runs along Main Street on the east side of the Missouri. Rock Haven is located to the north, and Sunny stretches out to the south. In each neighborhood, you'll find parks and playgrounds, a mix of housing types, self-contained subdivisions and some neighborhood shops and convenience stores. Because it's a relatively small town, you'll have easy, quick access to everything you need, and commuting time is minimal, though you will, almost certainly, want your own vehicle.
There's plenty of open land with historical significance to explore, and a wide river for recreation. Interstate-94 will take you easily east to Fargo and Minnesota or west to Montana. Although the summers can be hot and windy and the winters are cold (sometime really cold), you'll enjoy the changing seasons and this pleasant spot "where the skies are a trifle bluer" . . . "out where the world is in the making."
You can shop for big-ticket items on "The Strip," and find everything including farm machinery, motorcycles, ATVs, boats, snowmobiles and horse trailers. Within a few miles of your home, you can use them all at different times of the year. You can also use bicycles, fishing gear, hiking boots, running shoes and golf clubs.
You'll never be at a loss for activities or friends in Mandan. You can meet those friends at Harvest Brazilian Grill in a refurbished and upscale downtown building on Main St. or at Captain Freddy's Riverside. You'll also find great steaks and pizza and local sandwich shops -- and the more you get out, the more friends you'll find.
With all those new-found friends, you can enjoy the special celebration of the region's largest Independence Day Parade and Street Festival, a tradition in Mandan since 1881. Every year it gets bigger and better -- and longer -- "out where the West begins!"
