# Beltrami County, Minnesota *County in northern Minnesota; county seat Bemidji* Beltrami County (pronounced bel-TRAM-ee) is a county in northern [[Minnesota]]. Its seat is Bemidji, and the 2020 census counted 46,228 residents.[^1] The county takes its name from Giacomo Beltrami, an Italian adventurer from Bergamo who explored the region in 1825. It was established in 1866 and organized in 1896.[^1] The county makes up the Bemidji, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area. Parts of two Indian reservations, Leech Lake and Red Lake, fall inside its boundaries.[^1] The [[Mississippi River]], at its northernmost reach, crosses the southern part of the county by way of Bemidji. Beltrami, Renville and Stearns are the only Minnesota counties that border nine other counties.[^1] On January 7, 2020, the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners voted to bar refugee resettlement in the area. The vote was a response to an executive order issued by Trump.[^8] ## Geography The county's southwest corner is counted as part of the Mississippi headwaters. From Lake Itasca the river runs east and northeast across the southern part of the county.[^2] The two sections of Red Lake occupy much of the county's middle and north. The land is rolling, low and wooded, scattered with lakes and ponds, and descends toward the east and north.[^2] The total area is 3,056 square miles (7,920 km²). Of this, 2,505 square miles are land and 551 square miles, or 18%, are water. By area, Beltrami is the fourth-largest county in Minnesota.[^2] The highest elevation is 1,511 ft (461 m) above sea level, on a small hill 1.3 miles (2.1 km) northwest of Wolf Lake. Apart from that hill, the terrain is highest near the southwest corner, at 1,457 ft (444 m).[^2] U.S. Highways 2 and 71 and Minnesota State Highways 1, 72, 89 and 197 cross the county.[^2] The county's neighbors are: - Lake of the Woods County to the north - Koochiching County to the northeast - Itasca County to the east - Cass County to the southeast - Hubbard County to the south - Clearwater County to the southwest - Pennington and Marshall counties to the west - Roseau County to the northwest.[^2] Protected land lying wholly in the county includes Lake Bemidji State Park, Buena Vista State Forest, Long Lake State Wildlife Management Area and Three Island Lake County Park. Other protected areas lie partly in the county: the Chippewa National Forest, the Mississippi Headwaters and Pine Island state forests, Bagley Lake State Wildlife Management Area, and Red Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area.[^2] ## Climate and weather In recent years, average temperatures in Bemidji have run from a January low of −4 °F (−20 °C) to a July high of 79 °F (26 °C). The recorded extremes are −50 °F (−46 °C), in January 1950, and 101 °F (38 °C), in July 1975.[^3] Mean monthly precipitation is lowest in February, at 0.59 inches (15 mm), and highest in July, at 4.33 inches (110 mm).[^3] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 46,228 residents with a median age of 35.6 years. Of these residents, 24.8% were under 18 and 17.2% were 65 or older.[^4] The census reported the following racial composition: - White: 70.9% - American Indian and Alaska Native: 20.4% - Two or more races: 6.3% - Black or African American: 1.2% - Asian: 0.6% - Some other race: 0.6% - Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: under 0.1%. Residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino, of any race, made up 2.4% of the population.[^4] About two-thirds of residents (67.9%) lived in rural areas and 32.1% in urban areas.[^4] The census counted 17,678 households. Of these, 29.1% included children under 18 and 42.8% were married-couple households. There were 21,271 housing units, of which 16.9% were vacant. Owners occupied 68.1% of occupied units and renters 31.9%.[^4] The 2000 census had counted 39,650 people, 14,337 households and 9,749 families, at a density of 15.8 people per square mile. That census recorded 16,989 housing units.[^5] ## Crime According to the Wikipedia article on the county, Beltrami's suicide rate from 1990 to 2005 was four times the statewide rate. The same article states that the county's rates of violent crime and property crime are both above the state and national rates.[^6] ## Communities The Wikipedia article lists eight cities: Bemidji (the county seat), Blackduck, Funkley, Kelliher, Solway, Tenstrike, Turtle River and Wilton.[^7] It also lists 42 townships and five unorganized territories: Brook Lake, Lower Red Lake, North Beltrami, Shotley Brook and Upper Red Lake.[^7] The county's census-designated places are Elbow Lake, Little Rock, Ponemah, Red Lake and Redby. The article also lists 16 unincorporated communities, among them Andrusia, Puposky and Waskish.[^7] ## Government and politics From the New Deal realignment of 1932 through 1996, the county voted for the Democratic presidential nominee in every election but three. The exceptions were Eisenhower's landslides of 1952 and 1956 and Nixon's of 1972.[^8] In 2000, George W. Bush became the first Republican to win the county since 1972. His 48.5% share fell short of a majority, as third-party candidates, Green nominee Ralph Nader in particular, ran strongly statewide.[^8] Bush's share was nonetheless higher than any Republican's from 1964 to 1996 except Nixon's in 1972 and Reagan's in 1984.[^8] The county voted Democratic in the next three elections. Donald Trump then won it in 2016 with a bare majority, the second Republican to carry it since 1972.[^8] In 2020 he won the county again with a slightly larger percentage but a narrower margin, as the third-party share fell. In 2024 his share rose to nearly 52%.[^8] On January 7, 2020, the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners voted to bar refugees from resettling in the area, acting in response to Trump's executive order.[^8] ## Education The school districts listed for the county include: - Bemidji Area Schools - Blackduck Public School District - Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools - Kelliher Public School District - Red Lake School District - Grygla Public School District.[^9] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Beltrami County, Minnesota*, lead section (revision 1375322715, retrieved 2026-10-25) — pronunciation, 2020 population, county seat, namesake, creation and organization dates, statistical area, reservations, river course, and nine bordering counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltrami_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Beltrami County, Minnesota*, *Geography* section (revision 1375322715, retrieved 2026-10-25) — headwaters, Red Lake, terrain, elevations, area and water share, highways, adjacent counties and protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltrami_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Beltrami County, Minnesota*, *Climate and weather* section (revision 1375322715, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Bemidji average and record temperatures and monthly precipitation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltrami_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Beltrami County, Minnesota*, *Demographics* section, 2020 census subsection (revision 1375322715, retrieved 2026-10-25) — population, age structure, racial composition, urban and rural shares, households and housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltrami_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Beltrami County, Minnesota*, *Demographics* section, 2000 census subsection (revision 1375322715, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2000 population, households, families, density and housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltrami_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Beltrami County, Minnesota*, *Crime* section (revision 1375322715, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 1990–2005 suicide-rate comparison and violent and property crime comparison. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltrami_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Beltrami County, Minnesota*, *Communities* section (revision 1375322715, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, townships, unorganized territories, census-designated places and unincorporated communities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltrami_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Beltrami County, Minnesota*, *Government and politics* section (revision 1375322715, retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting history 1932–2024 and the January 7, 2020 Board of Commissioners vote on refugee resettlement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltrami_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Beltrami County, Minnesota*, *Education* section (revision 1375322715, retrieved 2026-10-25) — school districts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltrami_County,_Minnesota