There's No Creepier Story To Come Out Of North Dakota Than This One
Lea Monroe
Author
North Dakota is home to some pretty creepy abandoned places and ghost stories, but do you remember when our little ol’ city of Fargo gained quite a bit of attention after the 1996 film Fargo was released? While the overall movie was technically fictitious, throughout the years there has been confusion and strange findings concerning what the film was actually based on.
"THIS IS A TRUE STORY.
The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987.
At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed.
Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred."
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After the film was released, it was made clear by the Coen Brothers - who directed the movie - that everything was fictitious, and that only certain scenes and ideas were based on some real life events.
But the murder the Coen brothers claimed to have never heard of? In 1963, a woman by the name of Carol Thompson was murdered by a home invader. In a disturbing string of events, after being beaten and nearly drowned in her own bathtub, she managed to escape and make her way to safety at a nextdoor neighbors house only to pass away hours later in the hospital of her injuries.
Quickly, investigators began to feel that Carol's husband, T. Eugene, was to be watched closely. It was eventually revealed that Carol's husband had hired a man to kill her, who then passed the job onto another man to actually complete. To this day the husband maintains his innocence and swears he was framed for her murder, though his own children don't believe his story.
The similarities between the two stories led many Minnesotans to believe that the film was based upon the 1963 murder, especially considering it took place in a city just a half-hour away from where the Coen brothers themselves grew up.
So, did you ever realize that the 1996 cult film wasn’t actually based on a true story? To read more about our creepiest city, check out these 5 Truly Terrifying Ghost Stories That Prove Fargo Is The Most Haunted City In North Dakota!
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Creepy Stories About North Dakota
What is the history of Fargo North Dakota?
Fargo is a city in Cass County, North Dakota. Its population at the 2010 census was just over 125,000 people, making it the “largest” city in North Dakota. Some folks would argue that that’s still a small town. It was founded in 1871, and it houses the North Dakota State University. It’s an interesting little place, having been a hub for arts, culture, and economy for the entirety of its existence thus far. Historically, the area belonged to the Sioux. It was originally named Centralia, being renamed “Fargo” for the same man who founded Wells Fargo (who died in 1881). Once upon a time, Fargo was called the “divorce capital” of the world thanks to its lenient marriage laws. 31 blocks of the city were destroyed in a devastating fire in 1893; it was rebuilt back stronger than ever, being built again of brick and having a water system installed. Interestingly, Fargo has been named the “#1 Hottest Job Market” on ZipRecruiter... so perhaps its population is growing!
Are there any ghost stories about North Dakota?
Plenty! North Dakota is one of those states that’s just naturally creepy – at least we think so! It’s got countless ghost stories that have been passed from generation to generation, and we love retelling them! For example, there’s the story behind the haunting at the North Dakota Children’s Museum; a child who died in the well on property long ago is still thought to wander the halls and rooms of the museum, scaring the daylights out of the occasional employee. North Dakota State University is also said to have its ghosts, haunted by a man who is said to have hanged himself on campus during World War II. The town of Harvey is famous not for anything but its ghost – the library is haunted by a woman called Sophie, who loves to play with the lights, open and close doors, and cause general mayhem. If you’d like to know more about these ghosts and then some, take a look at this article of the ten most terrifying places in North Dakota.