Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji is a city in northern Minnesota, United States. It is the county seat of Beltrami County. In 2020, about 14,574 people lived there. By 2022, the population grew to around 15,946. It is an important place for trade between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Duluth.

The city is important for three Indian reservations: Red Lake, White Earth, and Leech Lake. Many services for Native American communities are based there, including the Indian Health Service. Bemidji is on the southwest shore of Lake Bemidji, the northernmost lake that flows into the Mississippi River. Because of this, it is called "The First City on the Mississippi."

Bemidji is also known as the "curling capital" of the United States. Many people say it is the birthplace of the legendary Paul Bunyan.

Etymology

The name Bemidji comes from the Ojibwe words Buh-mid-ji-ga-maug, which mean "a lake with crossing waters". This name describes how the Mississippi River flows through the lake. An Ojibwe leader named Shay-now-ish-kung moved to the area in 1882 and was the first person to settle there permanently. He told early settlers the name of the lake, but they thought it was his name, so they called him Chief Bemidji.

Sometimes, in Ojibwe, Bemidji is called Wabigamaang, meaning "at the lake channel/narrows", because part of the city is located near the narrow part between two lakes.

History

Beltrami County was created on February 28, 1866. Bemidji Township was surveyed by European Americans in 1874 and organized in 1896, just after the village of Bemidji was chartered.

Before the 1880s, about 50 Leech Lake Indians lived near the lake they called Bemidjigumaug, meaning "river or route flowing crosswise." The first homesteaders were Freeman and Besty Doud, followed by the Porter Nye family.

Bemidji became incorporated on May 20, 1896. By 1900, the village had grown to 2,000 people. Railroads arrived in 1898, bringing more business. Timber was a big industry, with large companies investing in the forests around Bemidji.

During the Great Depression, Bemidji’s businesses helped support government programs. After World War II, the lumber business grew again as many people needed new homes.

In the 1930s, a statue of the folkloric figure Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, was created as a tourist attraction. The statues are among the most photographed in America, after only Mount Rushmore.

Parks and recreation

Bemidji is close to many beautiful places like Chippewa National Forest, Itasca State Park, Lake Bemidji State Park, and Big Bog State Recreation Area. There are lots of lakes nearby, plus trails for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

The Paul Bunyan State Trail is great for walking, biking, snowmobiling, and skiing. There is also a bike trail around Lake Bemidji that is about 17 miles long. Families enjoy biking around the lake with stops along the way.

There are many fun events in Bemidji, like Art in the Park, where artists show their work and sell things like wooden crafts, jewelry, and food. In August, there are Dragon Boat races with food, games for kids, and music. Winterfest has cold-weather fun, such as a polar plunge and sled races. The Paul Bunyan Triathlon and the Minnesota Finlandia Ski Marathon are also held here.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bemidji covers an area of 22.335 square miles (57.85 km²). Of this, 17.440 square miles (45.17 km²) is land and 4.895 square miles (12.68 km²) is water.

Four-lane roads like U.S. Route 2, U.S. Route 71, and Minnesota State Highway 197 are important travel routes in the city. Other nearby highways include Minnesota State Highway 89 and Minnesota State Highway 371.

Climate

Bemidji has a humid continental climate. Summers are short and warm, while winters are long and very cold. The average temperature is about 38.6 °F (3.7 °C). January is the coldest month, with temperatures between -5 °F (-21 °C) and 16 °F (-9 °C). July is the warmest month, with temperatures between 57 °F (14 °C) and 77 °F (25 °C).

The area gets about 46.7 inches (118.6 cm) of snow and 26.6 inches (676 mm) of rain each year. Lake Bemidji usually freezes in late November and thaws in late April.

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Bemidji had 14,574 people. The median age was 30.9 years. About 19.6% were younger than 18, and 17.4% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males.

Most people, about 95.9%, lived in urban areas. The population density was 999.6 people per square mile. There were 6,571 places to live, and 8.5% were empty.

About 22.5% of households had children under 18. Many households had only one person, with 43.1% of all households made up of individuals.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded 13,431 people in Bemidji. The population density was 1,039.6 people per square mile. There were 5,748 places to live.

The racial makeup was 81.3% White, 11.3% Native American, and smaller groups. About 1.9% were Hispanic or Latino.

Nearly 25% of households had children under 18. Many households had only one person, with 38.6% consisting of just one person. The median age was 27.1 years. About 19.4% of residents were under 18, and 14.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

Economy

Bemidji's economy is strong. The city has good jobs and many people live comfortably there.

Major Employers

The city has many important employers that help keep the community going.

The City's 2021 report lists some of the biggest employers in Bemidji.

Industries

Bemidji has many different types of jobs for people aged 16 and older.

Government

Bemidji has a mayor and a council to help run the city. The council members are elected from five different areas called districts.

Politics

Presidential election results

Culture

The Concordia Language Villages near Bemidji help people learn languages like French, Chinese, Norwegian, Spanish, Italian, and German.

Bemidji has special signs in the Ojibwe language.

During summer, you can watch plays at the Paul Bunyan Playhouse, and there’s also a community theatre. Bemidji has its own symphony orchestra.

Two big statues, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, are popular spots for photos.

Sports

Bemidji is a popular city for hockey fans. Bemidji State was a top hockey team in the 1980s and 1990s.

The city is also known for curling. Teams from the Bemidji Curling Club have represented the United States in big international events.

In 2010, the Sanford Center opened as a new home for the Bemidji State University hockey team.

In 2019, Bemidji hosted Hockey Day Minnesota, a special three-day event. The Bemidji High School and Bemidji State University teams both played, along with the Minnesota Wild team.

The Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon started in 2013 and takes place every October. It includes races for kids, as well as different distances around Lake Bemidji.

Education

Bemidji has many places to learn. There is Bemidji State University, Northwest Technical College, and Oak Hills Christian College. The city’s public schools are part of Independent School District 31. They have eight elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. There are also charter schools like TrekNorth Charter Jr. and Sr. High School and Voyagers Charter High School. Bemidji has four private schools: St. Philip's Catholic School, St. Mark's Lutheran School, Kingdom Builders, and Heartland Christian Academy.

Regional center

Bemidji is an important place for shopping, arts, entertainment, education, health services, worship, and government services. The Bemidji area includes parts or all of Beltrami, Hubbard, Cass, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Clearwater, and Mahnomen counties, along with the White Earth, Leech Lake, and the Sovereign Nation of Red Lake areas. In 2021, about 200,259 people lived in the Bemidji area.

Media

Newspapers

The Bemidji Pioneer is the local newspaper. It is published twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is owned by the Forum Communications Company. It started as a weekly paper in 1896.

TV stations

Most TV stations in Bemidji show programs from the Twin Cities.

Radio stations

FM

AM

Magazines

• inBemidji is a lifestyle magazine about the Bemidji area. It is published four times a year. It started in December 2013 as inMagazine by The Bemidji Pioneer.
• Northwoods Woman was a magazine about women in northern Minnesota. It was published every two months from 2008 to 2013. It began in Bemidji, Walker, and Park Rapids.

Infrastructure

Major highways

Bemidji has important roads nearby. These include U.S. Highway 2, U.S. Highway 71, Minnesota State Highway 89, and Minnesota State Highway 197.

Air service

You can fly from Bemidji using the Bemidji Regional Airport. The airport has flights with three airlines: Delta Connection, Sun Country Airlines, and Bemidji Airlines. Bemidji Airlines is based in Bemidji and also does cargo flights. Corporate Air works with FedEx Express for cargo-only flights.

Notable people

Bemidji has been home to many interesting people. Some have served in government, like Rita Albrecht, who was the mayor of Bemidji from 2012 to 2020, and Russell A. Anderson, who became the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Others have made their mark in sports and entertainment. Dave Casper was a well-known football player, while Joe Motzko played hockey professionally. In music, Gary Burger was the guitarist and lead singer for the band The Monks, and Mimi Parker played drums and sang for the band Low. Actress Jane Russell also lived in Bemidji.

The city has also been home to authors, such as Roy C. Booth and Kent Nerburn, as well as many state representatives and senators who helped shape Minnesota.

In popular culture

The first season of the TV show Fargo happens in and around Bemidji and Duluth. The show was filmed in Calgary, Alberta. The show stars Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks, and Martin Freeman.