The region is the cultural, retail, health care, educational, and industrial center of southeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.

The Fargo–Moorhead area is defined by the Census Bureau as comprising all of Cass County, North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota, which includes the cities of Dilworth, Minnesota, West Fargo, North Dakota, and numerous other towns and developments from which commuters travel daily for work, education, and regular activities.

The Asian American population is not dominated by a single ancestry group, and is fairly diverse.

The largest Asian American group are those of Chinese descent, who number at 928 and make up 0.5% of the population.

In addition, 608 individuals identified themselves with other Hispanic or Latino groups other than Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban, making up 0.3% of the population.

The Fargo–Moorhead area has generally leaned Republican, voting for that party's presidential candidate in every election between 1968 and 2004.

This area includes the twin cities of Wahpeton, North Dakota and Breckenridge, Minnesota.

The main connection between these two pairs of cities is the Red River Valley, the flat, fertile land that both depend upon for a major part of their economies.