12,076 within the city limits. With the adjacent townships the population is 28,771. 31 miles south of Bemidji on US 71. The headwaters is located in Itasca State Park. The continental divide is located in the area.
Water flows north to Hudson Bay and south to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Mississippi River flows north into Lake Bemidji, then east with the northernmost point of the river east of Lake Bemidji. It continues in a southeasterly direction to Grand Rapids, Minnesota before it takes a more southerly direction. Lake Bemidji State Park has an active nest, along with the Chippewa National Forest which has the largest nesting population of bald eagles in the contiguous United States. Itasca State Park is a likely site and lately, eagles have been sighted soaring over downtown Bemidji. Enterprise Car Rental and National Car Rental, both located at the airport, Merlin Vold Auto and Silver Star Limo.