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First City on the Mississippi. Home of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Curling Capital, USA. Bemidji is known for many things, the least of which being an ideal place for families to enjoy some time resting and relaxing. It was named in 1993, 1995 and 2002 as "One of the 100 Best Small Towns in America."

Bemidji is an Ojibwe word, "Bay-may-ji-ga-maug" meaning "lake with cross waters" referring to the Mississippi River which crosses Lake Bemidji. Shay-now-ish-kung settled in Bemidji in 1883. White settlers referred to him as "Chief Bemidji," named after the lake.

The city is young and growing, with housing prices still affordable. Bemidji's population in 2000 was 11,917, jumping 11.6 percent to 13,296 in 2005. The Beltrami County city has an average age of 27.6 years with a median household income of $28,072 a year and median house value of $69,800 in 2000.

If you like water sports and fishing, Bemidji is the place for you.

There are 400 fishing lakes within a 25-mile radius of Bemidji featuring world-class walleye, bass, muskie, perch, crappies, pan fish and trout fishing. Twenty-five percent of all Minnesota lakes are in the Bemidji area. The Mighty Mississippi River begins several miles away in Itaska State Park, making its 2,552-mile journey to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.

Here's some pertinent information for you ice-fishermen: The average annual snowfall is 41.1 inches; the average high temperature in January is 12 degrees and the average low is minus 11; the average day Lake Bemidji freezes over is November 26 and the average day ice thaws on Lake Bemidji is April 26.

Even if you don't like fishing, there are many fun things to do.

The Bemidji Speedway's regular race night starts in mid-May and runs throughout the summer. Stock cars, funny cars, every kind of racing can be found at the Speedway.

The Bemidji Mudcats play from May to September in the Class B Minnesota Baseball Association Arrowhead League. 

The Chippewa Triathlon in June features a 14 mile canoe race, a 28 mile bike ride, and a seven mile run.

Paul Bunyan Downtown Days in June features a cemetery walk, a boat and float parade followed by a fish fry at the waterfront and a meet and greet fishing tournament.

The Fourth of July Water Carnival offers midway rides, food, and entertainment. Events for the kids include a kiddie parade, activities throughout the day, and a water ski show in the afternoon. For older celebrators, there is a 10K run in the morning, a parade, a build-your-own-boat regatta, a family olympics, an Iron Chef family grilling competition and fireworks at the waterfront at 10:15 p.m.

On Wednesday night throughout the summer, Brigid's offers traditional Irish folk songs.

The weekend after the Fourth of July is the Red Lake Powwow in Red Lake. The powwow celebrates the 1889 agreement with the U. S. acknowledging Red Lake as an independent sovereign tribal nation.

While the story of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox may be known to many, the story of Bemidji's leading role in the sport of curling is a story known by few.

The Bemidji Curling Club was organized in 1935. The first club was located at the Farmer's Market, now the site of the Cenex parking lot. The first rocks were bought from the Chisholm Curling Club at a reduced price.

By February, 1935, a total of sixteen rinks were formed. During the summer of 1935 a sports arena project was approved as one of the first WPA projects for Bemidji. The first Paul Bunyan Bonspiel was in January, 1937, with 48 entries from around Minnesota and Canada.

High school curling was organized during the 1939 season. After the Minnesota State High School League sanctioned curling as a letter sport in 1968, Bemidji teams were state runners-up on four different occasions until the sport was dropped by the MSHSL in 1977.

When the men's rinks became short of curlers in the early 1950s, the club promoted women's curling. The women have sponsored a bonspiel since 1962-63. It became known as the Norma Olson Bonspiel during the 1974-75 season.

Since 1980, the club has produced many teams competing in state, national and international competitions as well as hosting a number or Minnesota State Championships and District Playdowns. Bemidji was also the home to the 2002 Women's Olympic Curling Team and 2006 Women's and Men's Olympic Curling Teams

Lake Bemidji State Park and Itasca State Park, Minnesota's oldest park, offer the perfect opportunities for hiking, bird watching, camping in the breathtaking splendor of the northwoods. Art lovers can get their exercise to when they walk the Bemidji Sculpture Walk downtown that features pieces donated by artists from all around the country. And don't forget that winter is truly a magical time here, with sleigh rides and dog sleds ready to take you speeding down one of the many trails.

Contributed by John Fitzgerald. John is a freelance writer based out of Buffalo Hills, MN.