Bemidji, Minnesota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bemidji, Minnesota | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Beltrami |
| Founded | |
| Incorporated | 1896 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Richard Lehman |
| Area | |
| - Total | 13.0 sq mi (33.5 km²) |
| - Land | 11.8 sq mi (30.5 km²) |
| - Water | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km²) 9.11%% |
| Elevation | 1,365 ft (416 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 11,917 |
| - Density | 1,011.8/sq mi (390.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | Central (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 56601 |
| Area code(s) | 218 |
| FIPS code | 27-05068[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0655325[2] |
| Website: www.ci.bemidji.mn.us | |
Bemidji (pronounced /bəˈmɪdʒiː/) is a city in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,917 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Beltrami County.[3] Bemidji lies on the southwest shore of Lake Bemidji, the northernmost lake feeding the Mississippi River.
Its name derives from the Ojibwe Bay-may-ji-ga-maug (Double-Vowel orthography: bemijigamaag)[4], meaning "lake that traverses another body of water". On occasion in Ojibwe, the city of Bemidji is called Wabigamaang ("at the lake channel/narrows") because part of the city is situated on the Lakes Bemidji-Irving narrows, located on the south end of Lake Bemidji and extends to the eastern shore of Lake Irving.
Bemidji is the home to Bemidji State University, Northwest Technical College, and Oak Hills Christian College. It's also headquarters of Bemidji Woolen Mills. The statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, well-known landmarks, are downtown on the lakefront. Lake Bemidji State Park offers year-round recreation.
Bemidji is home to one of five flight bases in the state for North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, a Level 1 Trauma Center in the twin cities, MeritCare Clinic which operates five facilities in Bemidji, and North Country Health Services.
NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Casper was born in Bemidji, as was actress Jane Russell.
Bemidji is also home base for Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, a group of sixteen radio stations in Bemidji, Baxter, Wadena and Alexandria.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.9 square miles (33.5 km²), of which, 11.8 square miles (30.5 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (9.11%) is water.
Four-lane U.S. Route 2, U.S. Route 71, and Minnesota State Highway 197 are three of the main routes in the city. Minnesota State Highways 89 and 371 are nearby.
The largest earthquake on record for the Bemidji area was recorded on September 3, 1917. It is claimed that it shook houses down in Bemidji and across northern Minnesota. (Little Falls Daily Transcript, September 4, 1917) The epicenter was about 95 miles away in Staples, Minnesota. It affected an area of 48,000 km², and was rated a magnitude 4.4 with a maximum intensity of VI to VII. The closest and most recent quake occurred in Walker, MN on September 27, 1982 with a magnitude of 2.0.[1]
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 2,183 |
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| 1910 | 5,099 | 133.6% | |
| 1920 | 7,086 | 39% | |
| 1930 | 7,202 | 1.6% | |
| 1940 | 9,427 | 30.9% | |
| 1950 | 10,001 | 6.1% | |
| 1960 | 9,958 | −0.4% | |
| 1970 | 11,490 | 15.4% | |
| 1980 | 10,949 | −4.7% | |
| 1990 | 11,245 | 2.7% | |
| 2000 | 11,917 | 6% | |
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 11,917 people, 4,669 households, and 2,427 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,011.8 people per square mile (390.6/km²). There were 4,948 housing units at an average density of 420.1/sq mi (162.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.31% White American, 0.76% African American, 11.52% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 4,669 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.0% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 24.9% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,072, and the median income for a family was $37,250. Males had a median income of $28,312 versus $20,694 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,264. About 13.2% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Culture
Bemidji is a progressive college town, with strong technology and art influences. The city's streets are lined with small shops and art sculptures. The community puts high importance on art, music, science, and religion. The city offers a quaint, laidback feel and lifestyle.[citation needed] Politically the city is relatively conservative. The Concordia Language Villages are located near Bemidji and this has perhaps been influential in the existence of several language conversational groups (including French, Norwegian, Spanish, Italian, and German) that meet weekly in local coffee houses. During the summer, the Paul Bunyan Playhouse operates a non-equity, summer stock theater.
The city is well known to fans of the sport of curling. Both men's and women's rinks from the Bemidji Curling Club won the right to represent the United States in the 2005 World Curling Championship and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Pete Fenson, the skip of the U.S. curling team that took the bronze medal at the 2006 Olympics, is a native of Bemidji.
A city referendum for a Bemidji Regional Events Center passed by a slim majority of 43 votes out of 4583 votes cast in November 2006. The center is expected to cost $50 million. While the major tenant for the center is expected to be the Bemidji State University (BSU) hockey team, the current status of the men's hockey team is uncertain as it attempts to enter the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Information on this project can be found at Bemidji Events.
[edit] Media
[edit] Newspapers
- The Bemidji Pioneer - local daily newspaper www.bemidjipioneer.com
[edit] TV stations
Most of Bemidji's TV stations primarily rebroadcast the television stations of Minneapolis.
- KAWE 9 (digital 18) PBS, "Lakeland Public TV" -- the only locally-based TV station in Bemidji
- KCCW 12 (digital 20) CBS, rebroadcasts WCCO Minneapolis
- KFTC 26 MyNetworkTV, rebroadcasts WFTC Minneapolis
- K28DD 28 ABC, rebroadcasts KSAX Alexandria
- K30DK 30 Fox, rebroadcasts KMSP Minneapolis
[edit] Radio stations
- FM radio
- 88.5 KCRB Minnesota Public Radio, classical music / NPR
- 89.7 KBSB College radio Top 40 (Bemidji State University), "FM 90"
- 91.3 KNBJ Minnesota Public Radio, news / NPR
- 92.3 KBJI-LP 3ABN Christian network
- 92.7 W224AB Christian, KBHW translator
- 95.5 KKZY Adult Contemporary, "KZY"
- 98.3 WBJI Classic country, "Real Country"
- 99.1 KLLZ Classic Rock, "Z99"
- 101.1 KBHP Country "KB101"
- 102.5 KKWB-FM easy listening (new-under construction)
- 103.7 KKBJ Hot Adult Contemporary, "Mix 103.7"
- 104.5 WQXJ-FM True Oldies Channel
- 105.3 KAXE "Northern Community Radio", translator K234AD, Community/IPR/NPR
- 107.1 KKEQ Contemporary Christian music, "Q107", audible signal on most radios, based in Fosston, MN but targets Bemidji listeners
- AM radio
- 820 WBKK-AM Classic Country with Polka (new-under construction)
- 1360 KKBJ News/Talk
- 1450 KBUN KFAN Sports network, "The Fan"
[edit] Magazine
- Best of Bemidji Quarterly Magazine - direct mailed magazine to every home in the greater Bemidji area, BOB features ads from local businesses with no editorial copy. Most ads are coupons. www.bestofbemidji.com
[edit] Gallery
 Paul And Babe |
 Courthouse |
 Bemidji Fed Building |
 A downtown street |
 Lake Bemidji |
 Paul Bunyan Drive SW |
 City Bass |
 Madeline Takes Flight |
 Blue Chain Jane |
 Ira Eagle Boy |
 Box Of Dreams |
 Escape From The Depths |
 Lake Bemidji In The Spring |
 Downtown Bemidji |
 Downtown Bemidji |
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary.
[edit] External links
- City of Bemidji, MN -- Official site
- Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce
- The Bemidji Pioneer Newspaper
- MeritCare Clinic
- North Country Regional Hospital
- Best of Bemidji Quarterly Magazine
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