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Old 04-09-2015, 09:23 AM
 
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Sorry to jump in on this thread three years later, but I'm curious how the move went? We are considering moving to Bemidji but are hesitant due to the high crime rates shown online. It's hard to imagine that small town MN could have such a problem. Is this a safe place to live/raise children? Lived in northern ND for over 30 years and oil has pushed us to leave. To many crazies! Definitely don't want to move into an area that is even less safe. Love lake time, hunting, ice fishing, and living on acreage so we know already Bemidji offers that in abundance. Just more curious what is causing the high crime numbers there?
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Old 04-10-2015, 12:04 AM
 
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I don't think anyone's going to be brave enough to post a truthful answer here. There is one, of course.
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Old 04-10-2015, 08:15 AM
 
Location: E ND & NW MN
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowhunt View Post
Sorry to jump in on this thread three years later, but I'm curious how the move went? We are considering moving to Bemidji but are hesitant due to the high crime rates shown online. It's hard to imagine that small town MN could have such a problem. Is this a safe place to live/raise children? Lived in northern ND for over 30 years and oil has pushed us to leave. To many crazies! Definitely don't want to move into an area that is even less safe. Love lake time, hunting, ice fishing, and living on acreage so we know already Bemidji offers that in abundance. Just more curious what is causing the high crime numbers there?
I live about 1 1/2 hrs west of Bemidji. Bemidji itself isnt a bad place....the crime stats are skewed heavily because of Red Lake Reservation. Crime is pretty high on the reservation and there is other more Native vs Native crime. Be leery of on-line stats as you may be looking at entire county stats, etc. Bemidji PD does have a facebook page with info. As a white male our family has visited the Bemidji area for the lake and other nearby attractions and never had any issues.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bemid...358892?fref=ts
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Old 04-10-2015, 08:30 AM
 
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Thanks! I appreciate the honesty. We are just extremely concerned about trading one Wild West community for another. I have been up in this lakes area before and never had any impression that this area would be unsafe. It's just concerning when that's what the stats say. It is possible those numbers could reflect the county, but I've also relied on news articles written by the local paper. We have similar issues in ND with some reservations so we are aware of what that can bring. Literally I'm wanting to disprove the stats. Our family loves the lake lifestyle and think this area would be an excellent fit. Also we are currently on the left coast and would really like to get back to the Midwest people and lifestyle.
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Old 04-10-2015, 08:47 AM
 
Location: E ND & NW MN
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowhunt View Post
Thanks! I appreciate the honesty. We are just extremely concerned about trading one Wild West community for another. I have been up in this lakes area before and never had any impression that this area would be unsafe. It's just concerning when that's what the stats say. It is possible those numbers could reflect the county, but I've also relied on news articles written by the local paper. We have similar issues in ND with some reservations so we are aware of what that can bring. Literally I'm wanting to disprove the stats. Our family loves the lake lifestyle and think this area would be an excellent fit. Also we are currently on the left coast and would really like to get back to the Midwest people and lifestyle.
I work in Grand Forks ND and my wife is from Minot and have family in that area and in Bottineau. As with most reservations in the region (Dakotas and Minnesota) there are a lot of long standing issues on all reservations. These long term issues continue to fester and lead to higher incidences of crime, poverty, child abuse on the reservations. I have met many Native Americans who have overcome issues raised on a reservation and have gotten college degrees, so as with most all issues it is a small minority of any population that creates most of the problems.

That said....Spirit Lake reservation near Devils Lake has had issues and overall if you would look at crime rates for Devils Lake they would likely be higher than similar towns its size. That said, we camp regularly at Devils Lake and many do as well and have never run into issues.

I believe as in many instances it is who you hang out with that greatly influences your chance of impacts from crime. That said, Bemidji itself hasnt seen the influx of new people like western ND....but continues with the same influences it always had. The chances of you yourself running into problems is itself small. Many many people I know have cabins and camp all over lakes country in northern MN and feel completely safe. The pockets of crime are rather limited to certain small areas and not widespread. This is my opinion of course based on my experiences, which may or may not be typical.

That said, if you want to live or build on lake land or lots in the woods in northern MN I wouldnt hesitate to do so nor recommend to do so.
Dan
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Old 04-10-2015, 11:48 AM
 
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Good points! My wife grew up in Devils lake and some in Parshall so we are educated on some of those issues. I think Bemidji would be a good fit but getting information from others is always a good thing. It's a big deal to move kids so we are being extra cautious. Thanks again for the input.
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Old 04-10-2015, 12:02 PM
 
Location: E ND & NW MN
4,818 posts, read 10,805,108 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowhunt View Post
Good points! My wife grew up in Devils lake and some in Parshall so we are educated on some of those issues. I think Bemidji would be a good fit but getting information from others is always a good thing. It's a big deal to move kids so we are being extra cautious. Thanks again for the input.
I understand and I hope others can chime in as well. I am not familiar with the schools there.... our 4th grader plays youth basketball but we havent been to Bemidji yet for any tournaments. Bemidji state is there and BSU hockey in the new Stanford Center is nice. Schools and moving are tough.
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Old 04-10-2015, 12:05 PM
 
Location: E ND & NW MN
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One thing that always looked neat for kids in school (of all ages) is the Concordia Language camps located northeast of Bemidji. I know many folks at my work love the Bemidji area for camping, hiking, and biking with more outdoor bike paths, camp activities than here in the prairie of the Red River valley and North Dakota.

Language Immersion Programs | Concordia Language Villages

The camps are through Concordia College in Moorhead MN.
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Old 04-10-2015, 01:35 PM
 
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I may have to open my own thread to get more input rather than piggy back this one from three years ago?
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Old 04-10-2015, 02:08 PM
 
Location: E ND & NW MN
4,818 posts, read 10,805,108 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowhunt View Post
I may have to open my own thread to get more input rather than piggy back this one from three years ago?
As someone who has been active on this forum in different subject areas. Yes I would advise doing so. I monitor more ND than Minnesota as focus so much TC oriented and I know less about that area. But there are a few who know about Bemidji or have relatives in the area that could help more I am sure.
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