City of Bemidji Facts
The City of Bemidji was settled in this year.
1888
The number of students at Bemidji Normal School in Fall 1919.
38 students (only 10 men)
The colors Green and White were selected in 1920 based on these two environmental factors.
Pine Trees and Snow
•Deputy was known for giving low-income students money from his own pocket, and having them for dinner at his house. During his tenure the school's enrollment multiplied from 38 to about 500, and in 1921 its name was changed to Bemidji State Teachers College. The academic building from that time, which is now the administration building, is named after him. He required to retire at 70, and earned his PhD just before his death at age 80 (1947).
The City Zoo used to be located where this hall currently sits.
Birch Hall
The Ojibwe name for Lake Bemidji.
Bemijigamaag
The first book purchased for the library.
Webster's Dictionary
The first sport started in 1922.
Men's basketball
The time under President Decker's leadership was known as...
BSU got its current name under its fourth president. Decker presided over a time known as the "great expansion," during which eight buildings were constructed, three existing buildings were renovated, and enrollment hit an all-time high. Decker also introduced a litany of new programs including computer science, criminal justice, communication media and American Indian studies.
The year Birch Hall was completed.
1952
The main industry in Bemidji when it was settled.
Lumber
The main building on campus from 1919 to 1937.
Deputy
The year the student newspaper started.
1929
The first woman to hold a presidency at BSU.
Rebecca Stafford was the first—and until 2016—only woman to hold the office, and she did so for the shortest amount of time. Before coming to BSU she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Radcliffe College in Massachusetts, and a master's degree and doctoral degree (both in sociology) from Harvard. She resigned to become executive vice president of Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
After WWII, enrollment increased this %.
300%
Men outnumbered Women 3 to 1
The population of Bemidji in 1905 when it became a city.
3,800
The number of graduates in the first graduating class in 1920.
4
The year BSU became the "Beavers."
Named the Beavers in 1932 after hard work and endurance of the beaver (by President Deputy during a football practice). The local paper had previously called the athletic teams “the Peds” for Teaching. (Pedagogy).
Up until just recently, this president continued to visit BSU everyday. In addition, he continues to support STEM programs: science, technology, engineering and math.
The year the first master's degree was awarded.
1955
The name "Bemidji" originates from the Ojibwe word "bemijigamaag", meaning...
The "lake with crossing waters" or "at the crossing of the two waters" or "at the place where the waters separate."
BSU had 12 building on this number of acres in 1964.
74 acres
The year the first tunnel was built.
1935
Laborers were paid 40 cents per hour
The name of the current first lady.
Bonus: Name of the first dog.
Dr. Joy Hoffman
Jackson
In 1975, the university changed its name. It almost became this.
Northern State University - Bemidji
President Decker decided on Bemidji State University at the last minute.
In 1998 there was a push to change to Minnesota State University – Bemidji, but the town/college rejected it.