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There is a lot of diversity in the oil patch. Lots of Spanish speaking folks, quite a few people from western Africa, quite a few from Philippines, Eastern Europe, and of course people from all 50 states.
To be honest, just the whole question of "Where is North Dakota's most Liberal Leftwing hipsterest city? " is so silly.
Who cares? Does the winner get to become the new tourist attraction in North Dakota? Are thousand's of people going to flock to the winning town to experience their newly famed Liberal Leftwing hipsternest?
I think towns like Williston probably have the most diverse population of people because of the influx of people from around the country and even from other countries. But most are not "liberal" or "leftwing" otherwise they would just go back to where ever they came from and collect unemployment and other forms of government assistance. Instead, they would rather work hard and rely on their own resources rather than the governments. As far as "hipster" I doubt many people would even want to be tagged with that title. But the better questions might be "which city in North Dakota considers themselves or wants to be the most liberal leftwing hipsterest city in ND" and obviously the winner would be Fargo, since the majority of the posts point to or are claiming the title for Fargo. In my opinion, they can have the title. Fargo has the reputation of trying to separate themselves from the rest of North Dakota and want to be looked at as a mini Minneapolis. I'll never forget the couple of businessman checking in at a hotel I used to work at in Bismarck back in my college days. The weather was stormy and they complained about the trip out west to Bismarck. I asked where they drove from and they replied "the cities". I said Wow, you drove all the way from Minneapolis in this storm? And the one guy replied, no Fargo. When they walked away from the desk out of listening range, those of us working the desk and a few other customers who were standing in line to check in, burst out laughing. But in defense of Fargo, I know most people from Fargo are not as arrogant as those 2 guys.
North Dakota may be a conservative state but just keep in mind, where are all the jobs at and who has never been hit by the recession and who has always had a surplus? And before the uneducated buffoons like ^^^^ who are going to say the oil boom is the reason for all our success...let me tell you this, ND was in better shape than any state before the boom...the oil just put the icing on the cake.
Fargo is by far the most liberal city in ND and is very diverse, and yes we do have our flaws but who doesn't?
There's equal opportunity for everyone here, the whole state not just Fargo...so do not be turned away by the likes of above posters. They spew liberalism so proudly because they think Jon Stewart was meant to be taken seriously and they honestly think this is the real news source...or their favorite actor just attended an Obama fundraiser...or their favorite music artist protested everything against the right wing...do I need to go on?
North Dakota is a great state, everything about it is great (after you get used to the winters) a great state for work, to raise a family, to meet people, for a clean environment, and our summers are perfect!
Those hesitating to move here...don't. It'll be the best move you will ever make.
Honestly I don't like Obama. I also don't like the oil boom as it has brought human refuse from all across the country that bring their crime and drugs along for the ride. Don't make assumptions about me, I am a mixed bag. I am a social liberal but a fiscal conservative with a few exceptions. It's plain and simple that North Dakota legislators are misogynistic pricks who think they should have a say in how families make their decisions. I'm just sick and tired of the bible thumpers trying to cram laws down our throats
Of course if these issues don't get you fired up, by all means, move here.
I think towns like Williston probably have the most diverse population of people because of the influx of people from around the country and even from other countries. But most are not "liberal" or "leftwing" otherwise they would just go back to where ever they came from and collect unemployment and other forms of government assistance. Instead, they would rather work hard and rely on their own resources rather than the governments.
This may sound completely crazy, but believe it or not, the free market dogmatists do not have a monopoly on the notion of meritocracy (the belief that people should get what they deserve) or a work ethic. Many of those horribly evil socialists do too, and they question whether or not the rich and the upper classes have actually worked for and earned the wealth they have been given and allowed to accumulate. Some might argue that much of that wealth was stolen off the backs of the real workers. Some would even argue that upper level executives are grossly overpaid. Not all evil liberals and leftwingers believe that it's good to sit at home and collect welfare.
I know hipster. Hipster is fashion. Hipster is food. Hipster is music. Hipster is ideology. Hipster is social justice talk without a lot of action behind it. Hipster is supporting local farms and small businesses. Hipster is cafes, small breweries, wine, and living in ways that clash with the values that are spoken. That was the hipster lifestyle I saw and participated in all around me.
Which city in North Dakota is most hipster? Well that depends on your definition. Fargo is a college town. You will find Hipster ideology, politics, music, social justice talk without the actions behind it. The fashion is more hipster than Bismarck, but less than Minot. I definitely would not say that they are hipster in how they dress anywhere in North Dakota.
Bismarck due to the politics and social justice moments there has more of a hipster vibe than fargo. It also has a better uptown food and bar scene. But as far as hipster places to shop and eat, theirs are better than Fargos, but fewer and less impressive than what Minot has to offer.
Minot has the best hipster vibe, hands down. Poetry readings, electric vibe rap, punk, rock, and folk music are played live by local artists on a nightly basis at several downtown bars and eateries. For eateries/bars we have upscale, but we also have simple wine bars, French patisseries, cafes, a few breweries,pubs, underground bars (literally, underground with Frank Sinatra playing and board games on the tables), Thai, sushi, authentic Mexican, and other eateries all within the six block radius of Minot's downtown. They also have the art scene down in Minot. My sister is an artist and lived both in Minot and Fargo. There are more art shows, galleries, art fairs, etc in Minot than she experienced in Fargo. The theater scene is busier in Minot as well. Minot peeps like to be active and have art fairs, street fairs, farmers markets, our own fashion week etc. Minot also has the hipster fashion and shopping in general down. Hipsters like locally made and designed. The downtown streets have art stores, interior design stores, furniture stores that sell only unique pieces, and several independent little shops. Some of my favorites include a small independent bookstore (think You've got mail only better), and several of the independently owned clothing and jewelry stores. In these stores you will find things only sold at those stores. The fashion in these stores at $500-$1,500 a pair of shoes, or $50/hr to custom make a piece of jewelry and you also pay for the materials (Think $600 for a necklace you could buy from Leah Sophia for $120), Yeah it reminds me of the hipster fashion everyone in uptown Minneapolis or on Grand in Saint Paul would wear, all while they drank a martini and talked about social justice.
I know hipster. Hipster is fashion. Hipster is food. Hipster is music. Hipster is ideology. Hipster is social justice talk without a lot of action behind it. Hipster is supporting local farms and small businesses. Hipster is cafes, small breweries, wine, and living in ways that clash with the values that are spoken. That was the hipster lifestyle I saw and participated in all around me.
Which city in North Dakota is most hipster? Well that depends on your definition. Fargo is a college town. You will find Hipster ideology, politics, music, social justice talk without the actions behind it. The fashion is more hipster than Bismarck, but less than Minot. I definitely would not say that they are hipster in how they dress anywhere in North Dakota.
Bismarck due to the politics and social justice moments there has more of a hipster vibe than fargo. It also has a better uptown food and bar scene. But as far as hipster places to shop and eat, theirs are better than Fargos, but fewer and less impressive than what Minot has to offer.
Minot has the best hipster vibe, hands down. Poetry readings, electric vibe rap, punk, rock, and folk music are played live by local artists on a nightly basis at several downtown bars and eateries. For eateries/bars we have upscale, but we also have simple wine bars, French patisseries, cafes, a few breweries,pubs, underground bars (literally, underground with Frank Sinatra playing and board games on the tables), Thai, sushi, authentic Mexican, and other eateries all within the six block radius of Minot's downtown. They also have the art scene down in Minot. My sister is an artist and lived both in Minot and Fargo. There are more art shows, galleries, art fairs, etc in Minot than she experienced in Fargo. The theater scene is busier in Minot as well. Minot peeps like to be active and have art fairs, street fairs, farmers markets, our own fashion week etc. Minot also has the hipster fashion and shopping in general down. Hipsters like locally made and designed. The downtown streets have art stores, interior design stores, furniture stores that sell only unique pieces, and several independent little shops. Some of my favorites include a small independent bookstore (think You've got mail only better), and several of the independently owned clothing and jewelry stores. In these stores you will find things only sold at those stores. The fashion in these stores at $500-$1,500 a pair of shoes, or $50/hr to custom make a piece of jewelry and you also pay for the materials (Think $600 for a necklace you could buy from Leah Sophia for $120), Yeah it reminds me of the hipster fashion everyone in uptown Minneapolis or on Grand in Saint Paul would wear, all while they drank a martini and talked about social justice.
Thank goodness that there are some places in this nation that are largely bereft of the hypocritical "fake authenticity" pseudo-culture of hipsterism.
It's literally a cultural satire of what North Dakota is; driven by spiritually empty middle-upper class kids and their middle and lower class wannabees. Its a replacement of valid, authentic community with a culture of urban social signaling.
They are searching for community and meaning in liberal urban cultures that otherwise deprive them of such, ironically through the very liberal values that they espouse. Hence, the blue collar aesthetic and the open satire of blue collar conservative culture. Thanks goodness some parts of the nation are culturally different from other parts.
You can download the screaming trees and the B-52s at any time. No need to search for these one trick pony sad excuses in North Dakota. Rock Lobster, indeed.
If you were searching for the Talking Heads, I'd give you a pass, but you weren't.
It's also perhaps more than a little bit ethnically biased to associate liberalism with Northern Europeans in general. Conservatives aren't exactly free to express their views in that guilt ridden culture. It would be more accurate to praise the liberal totalitarianism that oppresses the Scandinavians, if that's your thing.
I'd think Fargo, though probably just a portion of Fargo. "Most Liberal Leftwing hipsterest city" in ND is going to be awfully relative. It I don't think it has the type of liberal leftwing hipster city or cities that some other states have.
I've just accepted a job in Grand Forks and I can't wait to leave urban America behind. I've been living between Minneapolis and Phoenix for the last 5 years, and I admittedly enjoy many things that are stereotypically "hipster" - I'm a liberal millenial musician afterall, but I can no longer stand the neverending rent hikes and general growing pains thanks to the influx of the entitled class.
I've always viewed Grand Forks and Fargo as being somewhat socially liberal for how isolated both are. Both cities go through periods with thriving music scenes and there are a number of art galleries, coffee shops, and a few record stores in each. Grand Forks has a natural foods co-op downtown and Fargo is getting one. However, as previously mentioned, Minot has a lot going on. My horrible punk bands in high school used to play there a lot.
Last edited by gearedtowardssalad; 02-17-2016 at 03:18 AM..
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Drunks, not "hipsters"
