about us
At Knife River, we are proud of our heritage. Our corporation was founded in 1917 as a lignite coal mining company near the Knife River Indian Village in west central North Dakota.
The region may be best known for a specific type of flint once found only in North Dakota. For thousands of years American Indians shaped Knife River Flint, as it became known, into arrowheads, knives and other tools. The predictable chipping pattern of this quartz material made it a valuable commodity - one that was traded widely. Today, archeologists have found Knife River Flint at sites as far away as New York, Missouri, Ohio and Florida.
Our corporation, like Knife River Flint, is native to North Dakota, but now can be found in locations throughout the United States. We are no longer in the coal business, but have used our vast mining expertise to grow from our coal-based roots into one of the nation’s largest aggregate producers. Today, we mine and market aggregates and related value-added construction materials products and services in the western United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. And we are one of only three of the Top 10 Aggregate Producers in American that remain U.S.-owned.
Our name, Knife River, represents our proud past and the foundation from which we've built upon to become a trusted partner, providing you with high-quality products and services.
Our Vision
With integrity, Knife River Corporation will create superior shareholder value by being a World Class leader in safety and customer satisfaction by providing outstanding construction materials and services while being a great place to work.
Our Mission
Knife River Corporation will be the supplier of choice in providing quality construction materials and services that benefit our customers and build strong communities.
Our Colors
The safety of our employees, our business partners and the traveling public is a primary focus of our daily operations. Our safety orange-on-white color combination reinforces our commitment to safety by providing higher visibility at our jobsites and in the communities we serve.
Our Logo
The Knife River logo represents our company's proud past and our strong future. Some look at our logo and see a river, which represents our roots along the Knife River in west central North Dakota. Others look at our logo and see a winding road, which represents our path to the future.
Our Parent Company
MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) is a member of the S&P MidCap 400 index,
provides value-added natural resource products and related services that are essential to energy and transportation infrastructure, operating in three core lines of business;
Energy, Construction Materials and Utility Resources. MDU Resources includes natural gas and oil production, natural gas pipelines and energy services, construction materials and mining, construction services, and electric and natural gas utilities.