Bemidji, Minnesota
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Bemidji 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 County6. Bemidji is best known nationally as being the "curling capital" of the United States and hometown of the world famous Morgan Habedank - creator of popular sayings such as "I heart..." and "I wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers." The skip of the Bronze Medal winning men's national curling team competing at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino is Bemidji native Pete Fenson, 37, and the skip of the women's national curling team, also competing at the Olympics, is fellow Bemidjian Cassandra Johnson, 24. Bemidji natives and sisters Kari Liapis Erickson and Stacy Liapis represented the US in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
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 meaning "lake with cross waters". 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. Bemidjipedia has also started a wiki about everything pertaining to Bemidji and the surrounding area. The statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox are well-known landmarks. Bemidji is also the first city on the Mississippi River. The lake attracts water recreation for summer tourists. Lake Bemidji State Park is nearby.
NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Casper was born in Bemidji, as was actress Jane Russell.
The town is known for its strawberries, with opportunities for visitors to "pick their own:" [1]
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.5 km² (12.9 mi²). 30.5 km² (11.8 mi²) of it is land and 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²) of it (9.11%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 11,917 people, 4,669 households, and 2,427 families residing in the city. The population density was 390.6/km² (1,011.8/mi²). There were 4,948 housing units at an average density of 162.2/km² (420.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.31% Caucasian, 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.
Bemidji serves as a community hub for over 55,000 people. The majority of the area's population lives in townships that border the city limits. With high growth in jobs, Bemidji is seeing population growth, much of which is unmeasured due to the townships' refusal of annexation.
[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. Politically the city is relatively liberal. 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.
A highlight of Bemidji summers is the Paul Bunyan Playhouse, a non-equity summer stock theater. Now in its 56th season, the Playhouse offers Bemidji area residents the opportunity to see a combination of the best local, state and national talent in a variety of theatrical offerings.
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, a member of the US curling team that took the bronze medal at the 2006 Olympics is a native of Bemidji.
[edit] Media
[edit] Newspapers
- Local newspaper
- The Bemidji Pioneer - local daily newspaper www.bemidjipioneer.com
- Regional newspapers - these newspapers from other cities are also available
- St. Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul)
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
- Duluth News Tribune (Duluth)
- The Forum (Fargo, ND)
- Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, ND)
[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 (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"
- 103.7 KKBJ Hot Adult Contemporary, "Today's Best Hits Mix 103.7"
- 105.3 K234AD Community/IPR/NPR, KAXE translator
- 107.1 KKEQ Contemporary Christian music, "Q107", audible signal on most radios, based in Fosston, MN but targets Bemidji listeners
- AM radio
[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 |
 South Bemidji At Night |
[edit] External links
- The Bemidji Pioneer Newspaper
- City of Bemidji
- Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce
- City of Bemidji Wiki
- BemidjiBlog
