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Bemidji, Minnesota

9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1977. It stands in Bemidji City. It lies in ZIP code area 56601. The Survey maps it on the Bemidji West quadrangle. 14,574 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,365 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Bemidji within Beltrami County

On record in Bemidji

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 7 records

Population over time

2 figures

Bemidji grew from 13,431 to 14,574 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201013,431
202014,574+1,143 (+9%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

5 surveys from 9 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

242 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 242 fires within 5 miles of Bemidji between 1992 and 2020, burning about 304 acres in total. None started naturally. 50 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning114
Arson/incendiarism50
Missing data/not specified/undetermined32
Equipment and vehicle use16
Recreation and ceremony13
Misuse of fire by a minor8
Smoking5
Railroad operations and maintenance2
Fireworks2

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
5 September 2017Debris and open burningunder an acreMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
29 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
27 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
2 September 2015Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
13 September 1995Arson/incendiarismunder an acreMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
10 September 2004Arson/incendiarismunder an acreMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
1 September 1995Arson/incendiarismunder an acreMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
31 August 2008Debris and open burningunder an acreMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Beltrami County

Mines and quarries near this place

2 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Bemidji: 1 occurrence, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Limestone, General, Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Beltrami County Marl Beds No 1Limestone, GeneralOccurrence
County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every working recorded in Beltrami County

Storms near this place

60 of 122 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Bemidji in 122 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 73 hail, 38 thunderstorm wind, 7 flash flood, 2 lightning. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2008HailBemidji$400,000Golf ball size hail fell for about four minutes from 6:00 PM to 6:04 PM.
July 2018Tornado (EF1)Bemidji$250,000The tornado occurred west of Bemidji State University. A garage was lifted off its foundation, trees were snapped or uprooted, and several roofs were damaged. Projectiles damaged many windows in the area. Flying debris damaged light poles and street signs in the area.
July 1996HailBemidji$100,000no account filed
July 1996HailBemidji$100,000no account filed
June 1999Flash FloodBemidji$50,000Rapid flooding washed out a driveway and flooded several roads.
July 1999HailBemidji$50,000Car dealerships suffered a lot of damage from the hail.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindBemidji$25,000Many trees were blown down at Lake Bemidji State Park. One tree fell on a car and another damaged a camper.
June 1999Thunderstorm WindBemidji$20,000Strong winds blew over 4 interior block walls at the construction site for the new Bemidji High School. The walls were tethered to the ground with cables.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindBemidji$15,000A tree fell on a garage, completely destroying it.
September 2004LightningBemidji$10,000A lightning strike ignited a small fire in the attic of a house.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindBemidji$10,000A tree fell on a motorhome in Bemidji.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindBemidji$10,000no account filed
August 2011Flash FloodBemidji$5,000Several streets south of downtown Bemidji had 1 to 2 feet of water flowing in them and at least one car was stranded.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindBemidji$5,000Several large trees were blown down.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindBemidji$5,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindBemidji$5,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindBemidji$400Trees were blown down in the strong wind.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindBemidji$200Trees were blown down in the strong wind.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Multiple tree branches blown down along with home damage. Winds were estimated at 80 mph.
July 2025Flash FloodBemidji-There was a report of significant street flooding in Bemidji. Tree damage debris from the June 20-21 derecho contributed to blocked storm drains and exacerbated street flooding.
July 2025Flash FloodBemidji-There were reports of widespread flooding in streets and yards around Bemidji State University just north of downtown. Tree damage debris from the June 20-21 derecho contributed to blocked storm drains and exacerbated street flooding.
July 2025Flash FloodBemidji-Street flooding reported by Emergency Manager. Roads were temporality closed. Tree damage debris from the June 20-21 derecho contributed to blocked storm drains and exacerbated street flooding.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Dozens of trees down in Diamond Point Park. Trees down across the Bemidji area. Time estimated.
June 2024HailBemidji-Half-dollar sized hail report relayed by Emergency Manager.
June 2024HailBemidji-Golf ball sized hail in Bemidji, relayed by Emergency Manager.
August 2024HailBemidji-Emergency Manager reports hail around town, with sizes varying from nickel up to quarter sized.
June 2023Flash FloodBemidji-Beltrami county emergency manager reports 2.1 inches of rain from personal rain gauge in just under an hour. Storm drains are backing up in town, with flash flooding occurring.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Pontoon boat and lift overturned on Schoolcraft River.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBemidji-The emergency manager reports trees blown down in Bemidji, along with dime-sized hail. A trailer was blown over on Highway 71 near Anne Street. Power lines were down as a result of tree branch damage, and spotty fires were reported as a result of sparking power lines.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Large trees blown down along U.S. Highway 2.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Peak wind was measured by a RAWS station. Time adjusted based on other nearby wind sensor readings.
July 2021HailBemidji-Public report of 1 inch hail received via social media.
July 2021HailBemidji-Multiple public reports of 1 inch hail in and around Bemidji were received via social media.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Several snapped trees reported at the high school. Photos and report posted via social media, time estimated via radar.
August 2020HailBemidji-The hail fell near Lake Plantagenet.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Branches and power lines were blown down near the university.
July 2019HailBemidji-Dime to quarter sized hail was reported near the high school.
July 2019HailBemidji-The hail fell along Division Street.
June 2019HailBemidji-Large hail fell at Lake Irvine.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindBemidji-A highway sign was blown down along highway 197.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Several trees were blown down.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Tree damage was widespread around Bemidji. Roofing was blown off several buildings.
August 2013HailBemidji-The hail fell on the south side of Bemidji.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Shingles were blown off of a house in Bemidji. Numerous trees were also blown down throughout the city and street flooding occurred.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Numerous large tree limbs were broken down and trees were uprooted. Roofing material was torn off of buildings at Oaksville Christian College and around the Lake Marquette area.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Very strong winds occurred with the large hail.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Large trees were blown down along the south side of Lake Bemidji.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Some siding was blown off of a building near the Pamida store south of Lake Bemidji.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindBemidji-There were reports of power poles snapped and power lines down in the Nymore area of southeast Bemidji and southeast Beltrami County.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindBemidji-A 60 foot tall pine tree was blown down.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Trees were blown down onto power lines.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Large trees were blown down in north Bemidji. Street flooding was also reported.
August 2011HailBemidji-The hail fell intermittently over a five minute period.
July 2010Tornado (EF0)Bemidji-This tornado touched down near Hwy 71 and had an intermittent path to the east. Several smaller branches were broken down in forested areas along the path.
May 2010HailBemidji-This was the second of three brief hail events through the morning.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Several large tree limbs and a street light were knocked down by thunderstorm downburst winds. Multiple damage reports were received between Wilton and Bemidji.
May 2010HailBemidji-This was the third of three brief hail events of the morning.
May 2010HailBemidji-Nickel and dime sized hail was reported.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindBemidji-Many large trees were blown down.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindBemidji-A 6 inch diameter tree was snapped off and 5 smaller trees were blown down. Other tree branches were also snapped off by the strong wind.

Every storm recorded in Beltrami County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Norway Park3.0 miles10
Secluded Acres4.0 miles10
Lavinia4.6 miles11
Birchmont5.1 miles11
Woodland Park5.8 miles11
Rosby5.9 miles10
Wilton6.7 miles11
Scribner8.2 miles11

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on BemidjiAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q730430The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 655325. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.