Pembina–Emerson Border Crossing

The Pembina–Emerson Border Crossing connects the city of Pembina, North Dakota and community of Emerson, Manitoba. It is connected by Interstate 29 and U.S. Route 81 on the American side, and by Manitoba Highway 75 on the Canadian side. Over one million travelers are processed at this border crossing each year, making it the second busiest along the Canada-U.S. border west of the Great Lakes, behind only the Pacific Highway Border Crossing. Its location along an international trade corridor makes this an important commercial port. Cross-border trade is valued at approximately $20 billion CAD each year.HistoryIn 1871, Emerson was established as the first land border Customs station in Canada. It was created to protect and ultimately collect duty for trade with the Hudson's Bay Company trading post that was attacked in a Fenian Raid, and subsequently liberated by the U.S. Cavalry earlier that year. The original customs building in Emerson still stands today.For many years, there were two roads entering Canada at Emerson. The popular Jefferson Highway (U.S. Route 75) entered at Noyes, Minnesota and U.S. Route 81 (U.S. 81) entered from Pembina, North Dakota. All Canada-bound traffic was directed to the brick Customs building in downtown Emerson, which has since been converted into the Emerson Health Centre. Then in the mid-1950s, Canada built separate inspection stations at the border on both roads. The crossing across from Pembina was called "West Lynne" (named after the small village that had been absorbed by the Town of Emerson in 1883) and the larger crossing across from Noyes was known as "Emerson East".