itself, but the Ojibwe westward migration in the 1700s prompted the Dakota’s southwest relocation. The name Bemidji comes from the Ojibwe “bemijigamaag”meaning “lake with crossing waters,” referring to the Mississippi River flowing across Lake Bemidji on its way east. From 1874 to 1897, lumber magnates Thomas Barlow Walker, Charles Ruggles, and John and Charles Pillsbury invested millions in timber claims. Lumber production became the dominant business until disastrous sawmill fires swept through in the 1910s and 1920s. By this point, loggers had cleared the northern forests and the town’s lumber industry moved to the Pacific coast. This district is now home to 14,400 citizens. Bemidji functions as the regional hub for Northwest Minnesota. Serving 60,000 customers in a 60-mile (97-kilometer) radius, the city’s daytime population swells to 45,000, three times its official number. In 2023, Bemidji’s job market increased by 1.9%, with a predicted 29.5% ten-year growth rate. While all commercial enterprises contribute to the city’s economic vitality, Dave Hengel, Executive Director of Greater Bemidji, credits three anchor businesses for their positive fiscal impact. “One is Sanford Health. This 118-bed healthcare provider has been a part of the town since 1898.” As the region’s largest employer, Sanford draws in professionals and invests heavily in the community’s well-being and services. “They have contributed hundreds of millions in the last five years,” says Hengel. Another crucial enterprise tipping the scales of success is Paul Bunyan Communications (PBC), which the region relies on for its high-speed internet network. PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS: FORESEEING FIBER’S FUTURE Not-for-profit Paul Bunyan Communications is the 33 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 03 BEMIDJ I , MN
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