FARGO, Diocese of. — A city in the State of North Dakota, United States of America, and the see of a suffragan diocese of Saint Paul, Minnesota, comprising 30 counties in the same State, i.e., a territory of approximately 90,750 sq. km.
In 1948, out of a population of 408,873 inhabitants, there were 74,539 Catholics, including 6,534 Indians, distributed across 112 parishes and stations, under the care of 150 priests, of whom 19 were religious, with 18 high schools attended by 2,341 pupils and 23 elementary schools with 3,263 pupils. In 1946, there were 316 conversions. The diocese also includes four communities of religious men (including a Benedictine abbey at Richardson) and twelve of religious women.
The present diocese was erected on 12 November 1889 with its see at Jamestown, transferred to Fargo on 24 May 1897. At that time, it encompassed the entire State of North Dakota. On 31 December 1909, Pius X divided that territory to erect the Diocese of Bismarck (v.).