Border States was founded in 1952 to serve the electrical utility industry.
In 1961, the company formed Border States Agency as a manufacturers’ representative for products sold directly to the electric, utility, and industrial markets.
By the late 1970s, the company had 140 employees in five North Dakota branches.
In 1984, Border States created the “Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).” Under this plan, active employees own 100 percent of company stock.
The 1980s brought growth through branch expansions and acquisitions. By 1990, we had 200 employees in 10 branches in four states.
Throughout the 1990s BSE continued an aggressive pattern of growth and successful expansion.
Border States formed an Industrial Supply Division in 2002 to add industrial mill supply products and integrated supply capability to develop an expanded product and solutions offering for our customers.
In December 2004 Border States purchased Bates & Associates, Inc. expanding our offering to include natural gas products.
Border States purchased Nunn Electric Supply Corporation, a full line provider of electrical, plumbing, and telecom products, in April 2006 and formed our South Central Region with 19 additional locations.
In April 2007, Border States purchased Minnesota Electric Supply Company expanding our market area in Minnesota.
In November 2008, Border States purchased Harris Electric Supply adding seven branches in Tennessee.
Today, Border States has more than 1,400 employees in 57 branches located in Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Mexico, and portions of Idaho, Nebraska and Nevada. Our corporate headquarters are located in Fargo, North Dakota. Border States is one of the 100 largest private ESOP companies in America and one of the few ESOP companies headquartered in North Dakota. We provide quality products and unique services to electrical construction and maintenance, industrial automation and supply, power and natural gas utility, and data communications markets.
