Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.
Alabama Avenue South, Sorensen, Saint Louis Park, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55416, United States of America
98, East 12th Street, Grafton, Walsh County, North Dakota, 58237, United States of America
Scene: (Burying the money in the snow)
Downtown Fargo District, 4th Street North, Downtown, Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota, 58102, United States of America
Scene: (snow exteriors)
Alabama Avenue South, Sorensen, Saint Louis Park, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55416, United States of America
US 8, Forest Lake, Washington County, Minnesota, 55025, United States of America
Scene: (where Jerry Lundegaard is arrested)
Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, 501, West 78th Street, Chanhassen, Carver County, Minnesota, 55317, United States of America
Scene: (José Feliciano concert)
Edina City Hall, 4801, West 50th Street, Edina, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55424, United States of America
Scene: (Brainerd Police Department interiors)
10198, Garfield Street South, Bathgate, Pembina County, North Dakota, 58216, United States of America
Scene: (Paul Bunyan statue)
1066, Griffin Avenue, Mahtomedi, Washington County, Minnesota, 55115, United States of America
Scene: (where Marge meets the hookers)
East 70th Street, Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55450, United States of America
Scene: (carl gets the license plate)
400, Rice Street West, Stillwater, Washington County, Minnesota, 55082, United States of America
Oldfield Road North, May Township, Washington County, Minnesota, 55082, United States of America
Scene: (cabin)
South St Paul City Hall, 310, Marie Avenue, South Saint Paul, Dakota County, Minnesota, 55075, United States of America
160th Street, Morrison County, Minnesota, 56382, United States of America
Scene: (opening bar scene)
Minneapolis City Hall, 350, South 5th Street, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55415, United States of America
US 8, Forest Lake, Washington County, Minnesota, 55025, United States of America
Scene: (location)
West 70th Street, Richfield, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55423, United States of America
South 6th Street, Brainerd, Crow Wing County, Minnesota, 56401, United States of America
401, Wildwood Road, Willernie, Washington County, Minnesota, 55090, United States of America
185, South Atlantic Avenue, Hallock, Kittson County, Minnesota, 56728, United States of America
Crosstown Highway, Edina, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55436, United States of America
Minneapolis City Hall, 350, South 5th Street, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55415, United States of America
Tea & Crepes Cafe, 311, DeMers Avenue, Downtown Grand Forks, Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, 58201, United States of America
Scene: (snow exteriors)
160th Street, Morrison County, Minnesota, 56382, United States of America
6358, Ginger Drive, Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55346, United States of America
Scene: (Lundegaard Family Home)
Plymouth, Hennepin County, Minnesota, 55447, United States of America
Scene: (The parking lot where Jerry is parked when Wade turns down his loan request.)
Minnesota
The Coen Brothers’ snowbound crime classic is rooted in the frozen flatlands of Minnesota and North Dakota – so much so that a mild, snowless winter forced the crew to chase snow across the region and truck it in to keep the white world consistent.
Where was Fargo filmed?
Fargo was filmed across Minnesota – Minneapolis and its suburbs – and North Dakota, including the city of Fargo itself.
Every Fargo location, explained
1
Minneapolis and the suburbs
Jerry Lundegaard’s world used Minneapolis and suburbs like St Louis Park, with the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre appearing too.
2
Brainerd and the highways
The snowy roadside scenes used the highways and small towns of Minnesota, around Forest Lake.
3
North Dakota – Fargo and Grafton
The film reached North Dakota, including downtown Fargo and the town of Grafton, where the money is buried in the snow.
4
The frozen flatlands
The vast, white, featureless landscape is a character in itself across the region.
Planning a visit
The film’s world spans Minneapolis and the flatlands of North Dakota – real, accessible country, at its most Fargo-like under deep winter snow.
Fargo Fun Facts
1
They had to chase the snow A mild winter meant the crew hunted for snow across the region and even trucked it in.
2
'Based on a true story' - not really The film’s opening claim is a Coen Brothers fiction; the story is invented.
3
The wood chipper The film’s grisly wood-chipper scene became darkly iconic.
4
McDormand won an Oscar Frances McDormand won Best Actress as police chief Marge Gunderson.
5
'You betcha' The film’s Upper-Midwest accents and manners became its signature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fargo based on a true story?
No – despite its opening title card, the story is entirely fictional.
Is Fargo filmed in Fargo?
Partly – it was filmed across Minnesota and North Dakota, including the city of Fargo.
Why did they truck in snow?
A mild winter left too little snow, so the crew chased and imported it to keep the look consistent.
