Beltrami County, Minnesota

Not to be confused with Beltrami, Minnesota.

Beltrami County (/bɛlˈtræmi/ bel-TRAM-ee)^[2] is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,228.^[3] Its county seat is Bemidji.^[4] The county's name comes from Italian adventurer Giacomo Beltrami from Bergamo, who explored the area in 1825. The county was created in 1866 and organized in 1896.^[5]

Beltrami County
County
Beltrami County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°01′N 94°55′W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 28, 1866 (created) 1896 (organized)[1]
Named for	Giacomo Constantino Beltrami
Seat	Bemidji
Largest city	Bemidji
Area
• Total	3,056 sq mi (7,920 km2)
• Land	2,505 sq mi (6,490 km2)
• Water	551 sq mi (1,430 km2)  18%
Population  (2020)
• Total	46,228
• Estimate  (2023)	46,718
• Density	18.6/sq mi (7.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	7th, 8th
Website	www.co.beltrami.mn.us

Beltrami County comprises the Bemidji, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Portions of the Leech Lake and Red Lake Indian reservations are in the county. The northernmost portion of the Mississippi River flows through the southern part of the county, through Bemidji. Beltrami, Renville, and Stearns are Minnesota's only counties that abut nine other counties.

Geography

Beltrami County's southwest corner is considered part of the headwaters of the Mississippi River, which flows easterly and northeasterly from Lake Itasca through the southern part of the county. Much of the middle and upper county is taken up with the two sections of Red Lake. The county terrain consists of rolling low tree-covered hills, dotted with lakes and ponds.^[6] The terrain slopes to the east and north. Its highest point is a small hill 1.3 miles (2.1 km) northwest of Wolf Lake, at 1,511 ft (461 m) ASL;^[7] otherwise the terrain high point is near its southwest corner, at 1,457 ft (444 m) ASL.^[8] The county has a total area of 3,056 square miles (7,920 km²), of which 2,505 square miles (6,490 km²) is land and 551 square miles (1,430 km²) (18%) is water.^[9] It is the fourth-largest county in Minnesota by area.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 2
• U.S. Highway 71
• Minnesota State Highway 1
• Minnesota State Highway 72
• Minnesota State Highway 89
• Minnesota State Highway 197

Adjacent counties

• Lake of the Woods County - north
• Koochiching County - northeast
• Itasca County - east
• Cass County - southeast
• Hubbard County - south
• Clearwater County - southwest
• Pennington County - west
• Marshall County - west
• Roseau County - northwest

Protected areas

• Bagley Lake State Wildlife Management Area (part)
• Buena Vista State Forest
• Chippewa National Forest (part)
• Lake Bemidji State Park
• Long Lake State Wildlife Management Area
• Mississippi Headwaters State Forest (part)
• Pine Island State Forest (part)
• Red Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area (part)
• Three Island Lake County Park

^[6]

Climate and weather

Bemidji, Minnesota
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.7     16 −4     0.6     24 3     0.9     36 16     1.5     53 30     2.7     67 43     4.1     75 52     4.3     79 57     3.5     77 55     2.8     66 45     2.3     54 35     1.1     34 19     0.6     21 3 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel[10]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     18     −9 −20     15     −4 −16     22     2 −9     39     12 −1     68     19 6     104     24 11     110     26 14     89     25 13     70     19 7     57     12 2     28     1 −7     16     −6 −16 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Bemidji have ranged from a low of −4 °F (−20 °C) in January to a high of 79 °F (26 °C) in July, although a record low of −50 °F (−46 °C) was recorded in January 1950 and a record high of 101 °F (38 °C) was recorded in July 1975. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.59 inches (15 mm) in February to 4.33 inches (110 mm) in July.^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	80		—
1880	10		−87.5%
1890	312		3,020.0%
1900	11,030		3,435.3%
1910	19,337		75.3%
1920	27,079		40.0%
1930	20,707		−23.5%
1940	26,107		26.1%
1950	24,962		−4.4%
1960	23,425		−6.2%
1970	26,373		12.6%
1980	30,982		17.5%
1990	34,384		11.0%
2000	39,650		15.3%
2010	44,442		12.1%
2020	46,228		4.0%
2023 (est.)	46,718	[11]	1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[3]

2020 Census

Beltrami County Racial Composition^[16]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	32,445	70.2%
Black or African American (NH)	519	1.12%
Native American (NH)	9,198	20%
Asian (NH)	268	0.6%
Pacific Islander (NH)	15	0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)	2,675	5.8%
Hispanic or Latino	1,108	2.4%

2000 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Beltrami County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 39,650 people, 14,337 households, and 9,749 families in the county. The population density was 15.8 per square mile (6.1/km²). There were 16,989 housing units at an average density of 6.78 per square mile (2.62/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.66% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 20.36% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.6% were of German, 19.7% Norwegian and 5.6% Swedish ancestry. 95.1% spoke English and 2.4% Ojibwa as their first language.

There were 14,337 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.30% were married couples living together, 13.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.13.

The county population contained 28.70% under the age of 18, 13.90% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,392, and the median income for a family was $40,345. Males had a median income of $30,434 versus $22,045 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,497. About 12.90% of families and 17.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.70% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.

Over half the children in the county are born out of wedlock. About a third are born to teenaged mothers. The county has about twice the state average in terms of high school dropouts.^[17]

Crime

Between 1990 and 2005, the county had a suicide rate four times higher than the state.^[18] The county exceeds the state and national rates in both violent and property crimes.^[19]

Communities

Cities

• Bemidji (county seat)
• Blackduck
• Funkley
• Kelliher
• Solway
• Tenstrike
• Turtle River
• Wilton

Townships

• Alaska Township
• Battle Township
• Bemidji Township
• Benville Township
• Birch Township
• Buzzle Township
• Cormant Township
• Durand Township
• Eckles Township
• Frohn Township
• Grant Valley Township
• Hagali Township
• Hamre Township
• Hines Township
• Hornet Township
• Jones Township
• Kelliher Township
• Lammers Township
• Langor Township
• Lee Township
• Liberty Township
• Maple Ridge Township
• Minnie Township
• Moose Lake Township
• Nebish Township
• Northern Township
• O'Brien Township
• Port Hope Township
• Quiring Township
• Roosevelt Township
• Shooks Township
• Shotley Township
• Spruce Grove Township
• Steenerson Township
• Sugar Bush Township
• Summit Township
• Taylor Township
• Ten Lake Township
• Turtle Lake Township
• Turtle River Township
• Waskish Township
• Woodrow Township

Unorganized territories

• Brook Lake
• Lower Red Lake
• North Beltrami
• Shotley Brook
• Upper Red Lake

Census-designated places

• Little Rock
• Ponemah
• Red Lake
• Redby

Unincorporated communities

• Andrusia
• Aure
• Carmel
• Debs
• Four Town
• Hines
• Jelle
• Pennington
• Pinewood
• Puposky
• Quiring
• Saum
• Secluded Acres
• Shooks
• Waskish
• Werner

^[6]

Government and politics

From the New Deal realignment in 1932 through 1996, Beltrami County leaned Democratic, selecting the Democratic nominee in every presidential election save Eisenhower's landslides in 1952 and 1956 and Nixon's in 1972. In 2000, George W. Bush became the first Republican to carry the county since 1972. Bush fell short of a majority, with third parties (particularly Green nominee Ralph Nader) doing well statewide, but his 48.5% vote share was higher than any Republican's from 1964 to 1996 save Nixon in 1972 and Reagan in 1984. Beltrami returned to the Democratic column in the next three elections, but in 2016, Donald Trump became the second Republican since 1972 to carry the county, winning a bare majority; in 2020, he won it again with a slightly higher percentage, but the margin of victory shrank due to the decrease in vote share for third party candidates.

United States presidential election results for Beltrami County, Minnesota^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	12,188	50.39%	11,426	47.24%	575	2.38%
2016	10,783	50.00%	8,688	40.29%	2,093	9.71%
2012	9,637	43.70%	11,818	53.59%	596	2.70%
2008	9,762	43.90%	12,019	54.05%	455	2.05%
2004	10,237	48.45%	10,592	50.13%	302	1.43%
2000	8,346	48.48%	7,301	42.41%	1,570	9.12%
1996	5,806	36.64%	8,006	50.52%	2,036	12.85%
1992	5,204	32.55%	7,210	45.10%	3,573	22.35%
1988	6,652	46.26%	7,566	52.61%	162	1.13%
1984	7,414	49.43%	7,481	49.88%	103	0.69%
1980	6,481	41.71%	7,432	47.83%	1,624	10.45%
1976	5,214	39.25%	7,540	56.76%	531	4.00%
1972	5,947	52.20%	5,194	45.59%	252	2.21%
1968	3,912	40.90%	5,034	52.63%	619	6.47%
1964	3,184	34.74%	5,967	65.10%	15	0.16%
1960	4,482	48.95%	4,653	50.81%	22	0.24%
1956	3,974	50.97%	3,807	48.83%	16	0.21%
1952	4,817	53.75%	4,092	45.66%	53	0.59%
1948	3,126	32.63%	6,020	62.84%	434	4.53%
1944	2,705	32.76%	5,490	66.50%	61	0.74%
1940	3,511	32.77%	7,036	65.68%	166	1.55%
1936	2,182	24.36%	6,507	72.65%	268	2.99%
1932	2,318	32.10%	4,386	60.73%	518	7.17%
1928	4,062	62.28%	2,221	34.05%	239	3.66%
1924	2,960	46.22%	323	5.04%	3,121	48.74%
1920	4,518	61.26%	1,427	19.35%	1,430	19.39%
1916	1,331	33.04%	1,912	47.47%	785	19.49%
1912	490	16.20%	790	26.12%	1,745	57.69%
1908	1,882	63.39%	648	21.83%	439	14.79%
1904	1,953	82.37%	234	9.87%	184	7.76%
1900	1,339	62.05%	767	35.54%	52	2.41%
1896	202	47.98%	213	50.59%	6	1.43%
1892	57	44.88%	44	34.65%	26	20.47%

On January 7, 2020, in response to Trump's executive order, the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners voted to prohibit refugees from resettling in the area.^[21]

County Board of Commissioners^[22]

Position		Name	District
	Commissioner	Craig Gaasvig	District 1
	Commissioner	Joe Gould	District 2
	Commissioner	Richard Anderson	District 3
	Commissioner	Tim Sumner	District 4
	Commissioner	John Carlson	District 5

State Legislature (2023-2025)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	Senate	Steve Green	Republican	District 2
	House of Representatives	Matt Grossell	Republican	District 2A
	House of Representatives	Matt Bliss	Republican	District 2B

U.S Congress (2023-2025)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	House of Representatives	Pete Stauber[23]	Republican	8th
	Senate	Amy Klobuchar[24]	Democratic	N/A
	Senate	Tina Smith[25]	Democratic	N/A

Education

School districts include:^[26]

• Bemidji Public School District
• Blackduck Public School District
• Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools
• Kelliher Public School District
• Red Lake Public School District
• Grygla Public School District

See also

• Gilfillan Biotic Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Beltrami County, Minnesota
• Red Lake, the largest lake that is entirely in Minnesota.

References

1. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
2. "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
3. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 34.
6. Beltrami County MN Google Maps (accessed March 4, 2019)
7. Beltrami County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 4, 2019)
8. ""Find an Altitude/Beltrami County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 4, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
10. "Monthly Averages for Bemidji MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
16. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Beltrami County, Minnesota".
17. Dey, Crystal (November 11, 2014). "Beltrami County children continue to struggle: New data shows higher than average poverty compared to state". Bemidii Pioneer. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
18. Langman, Peter (January 6, 2009). Why Kids Kill (First ed.). St. Martin's Press. p. 137.
19. "Beltrami County, Minnesota". Sperling's Best Places. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
20. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
21. "Beltrami Co. becomes first in state to reject refugee resettlement". MPR News. January 7, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
22. "Beltrami County Board of Commissioners". June 24, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
23. "Representative Pete Stauber". Representative Pete Stauber. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
24. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
25. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
26. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Beltrami County, MN" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list

External links

• Official website
• 360 Degree Virtual Tour^{[permanent dead link]} of 2011 Beltrami County Fair

48.02°N 94.92°W / 48.02; -94.92