Bismarck was founded by European-Americans in 1872 on the east bank of theMissouri River. It has been North Dakota's capital city since 1889, when the state was created from theDakota Territory and admitted to the Union.[10]
Bismarck is across the river fromMandan, named after a Native American tribe of the area.[11] The two cities comprise the core of theBismarck metropolitan area.
TheNorth Dakota State Capitol is in central Bismarck. The state government employs more than 4,600 in the city. As a hub of retail and health care, Bismarck is the economic center of south-central North Dakota and north-centralSouth Dakota.
For thousands of years, variousindigenous peoples inhabited present-day central North Dakota. The historicMandanNative American tribe occupied the area long before Europeans arrived. TheHidatsa name for Bismarck ismirahacii arumaaguash ("Place of the tall willows");[12] theArikara name isituhtaáwe [itUhtaáwe].[13]
In 1872, European Americans founded a settlement at what was then called Missouri Crossing, so named because theLewis and Clark Expedition crossed the river there on their exploration of the land acquired by theLouisiana Purchase in 1804–06. It had been an area of Mandan settlement. Later, the new town was called Edwinton, after Edwin Ferry Johnson, engineer-in-chief for theNorthern Pacific Railway. Its construction of railroads in the territory attracted workers and settlers.[14]
In 1873, the Northern Pacific Railway renamed the city Bismarck in honor ofGerman chancellorOtto von Bismarck. Railroad officials hoped to attractGerman settlers to the area and German investment in the railroad.[15] It is the only U.S. state capital named for a foreign statesman. The discovery of gold in the nearbyBlack Hills ofSouth Dakota the following year was a great impetus for growth. Thousands of miners came to the area, encroaching on what theLakota considered sacred territory, leading to heightened tensions withNative Americans.
Bismarck became a freight-shipping center on the "Custer Route" from theBlack Hills.[15] In 1879, the first recorded tornado in North Dakota history smashed a steamship into the Missouri River's bank near Bismarck, causing major damage.[16]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 36.452 square miles (94.41 km2), of which 35.955 square miles (93.12 km2) is land and 0.497 square miles (1.29 km2) (1.36%) is water.[2]
Downtown Bismarck:Patterson Place (built in 1911 as the McKenzie Hotel) was the tallest building in the state until construction of the capitol building. Originally operated as a luxury hotel, it has been adapted for senior housing and a retail restaurant.
The city has developed around downtown Bismarck, the center of historic development. It is distinctive because the city's major shopping center,Kirkwood Mall, is in the city center rather than in the suburbs. Several other major retail stores are near Kirkwood Mall, which was developed near theBismarck Event Center. The two Bismarck hospitals,CHI St. Alexius Medical Center andSanford Health (previouslyMedcenter One Health Systems), are downtown. The streets are lined with small stores and restaurants.
Much recent commercial and residential growth has occurred in the city's northern section, largely because of expanding retail centers. Among the shopping centers in northern Bismarck areGateway Fashion Mall, Northbrook Mall, Arrowhead Plaza, and the Pinehurst Square "power center" mall.
The Cathedral District, named after the Art DecoCathedral of the Holy Spirit, is a historic neighborhood near downtown Bismarck. Some homes in this neighborhood date to the 1880s, although many were built in the first decades of the 20th century. At times, the city has proposed widening the streets in the neighborhood to improve traffic flow. Many residents object because such a project would require the removal of many of the toweringAmerican elms which line the streets. These have escaped the elm disease that destroyed street canopies of trees in eastern cities.
After the completion of theGarrison Dam in 1953 by theArmy Corps of Engineers, which improved flood control, thefloodplain of theMissouri River became a more practical place for development. Significant residential and commercial building has occurred in this area on the city's south side. The Upper Missouri River is still subject to seasonal flooding.
Situated in the middle of theGreat Plains, between the geographic centers of the United States and Canada, Bismarck displays a highly variable four-seasonhumid continental climate (KöppenDfa/Dfb,TrewarthaDcac/Dcbc) bordering on acold semi arid climate. Bismarck's climate is characterized by cold, somewhat dry, snowy, and windy winters and warm, humid summers.Thunderstorms occur in spring and summer, but much of the rest of the year is dry.
The warmest month in Bismarck is July, with a daily mean of 71.3 °F (21.8 °C),[17] with typically wide variations between day and night. The coldest month is January, with a 24-hour average of 12.8 °F (−10.7 °C).[17] Precipitation peaks from May to September and is rather sparse in the winter. Winter snowfall is typically light to moderate, occurring with the passage of frontal systems; major storms are rare.
According to realtor websiteZillow, the average price of a home as of August 31, 2025, in Bismarck is $358,716.[22]
As of the 2024American Community Survey, there are 34,239 estimated households in Bismarck with an average of 2.20 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $73,877. Approximately 8.8% of the city's population lives at or below thepoverty line. Bismarck has an estimated 65.7% employment rate, with 43.0% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.7% holding a high school diploma.[23] There were 35,757 housing units at an average density of 994.49 per square mile (384.0/km2).
The top two reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (93.8%) and Other (6.2%).
The median age in the city was 39.6 years.
Bismarck, North Dakota – racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 census, there were 73,622 people, 31,739 households, and 18,107 families residing in the city.[29] Thepopulation density was 2,122.71 inhabitants per square mile (819.6/km2). There were 34,049 housing units at an average density of 981.72 per square mile (379.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.72%White, 2.91%African American, 4.84%Native American, 1.31%Asian, 0.42%Pacific Islander, 1.30% from some other races and 4.50% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.52% of the population.[30]
As of the2010 census, there were 61,272 people, 27,263 households, and 15,624 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,986.5 inhabitants per square mile (767.0/km2). There were 28,648 housing units at an average density of 928.6 inhabitants per square mile (358.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.40%White, 0.65%African American, 4.53%Native American, 0.56%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.30% from some other races, and 1.54% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 27,263 households, of which 27% had children under the age of 18 living with them (the lowest percentage in North Dakota),[32] 44.1% weremarried couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.7% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 38 years. 20.8% of residents were under 18; 11% were between 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.
As of the2000 census, there were 55,532 people, 23,185 households, and 14,444 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,065.2 inhabitants per square mile (797.4/km2). There were 24,217 housing units at an average density of 900.6 inhabitants per square mile (347.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.78%White, 0.28%African American, 3.39%Native American, 0.45%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.17% from some other races, and 0.89% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 23,185 households, of which 30.2% had children under 18 living with them, 50.1% weremarried couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.
The city's population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income per household in the city was $39,422, and the median income per family was $51,477. Males had a median income of $33,804 versus $22,647 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $20,789. About 5.7% of families and 8.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
The Belle MehusAuditorium, named after a local piano teacher, is a 1914 historic building in downtown Bismarck and a center for arts in the area.[36] Performances of Northern Plains Dance and theBismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra are held there.
Theater companies in Bismarck include the Capitol Shakespeare Society,[37] Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre,[38] the Shade Tree Players children's theater group,[39] Dakota Stage Ltd,[40] University of Mary, Bismarck State College, and various high school groups. The Gannon and Elsa Forde Art Galleries are at Bismarck State College. The Missouri Valley Chamber Orchestra, founded in 2000, performs a variety of musical genres.
In the fall, the accent is on high school and college football. There are spirited rivalries among the several high schools in the area. Most University of Mary football games are played in the Community Bowl. Other popular winter sports include ice hockey, wrestling and basketball.
In spring, baseball is one of the city's top amateur sports, with each high school, Bismarck State College, and The University of Mary providing teams. The University of Mary and Bismarck State College both also have a softball team. High schools and colleges also feature track and field during the spring.
In the summer, Bismarck has American Legion baseball and auto racing. The Fourth of July holiday is the height of rodeo time, with rodeos in Mandan and Bismarck. Slow-pitch softball is played by teams in the city. Bismarck is the host city of the world's largest charity softball tournament, theSam McQuade Sr. softball tournament, in which more than 400 teams from the U.S. and Canada compete.
TheBismarck Bobcats hockey team of theNorth American Hockey League is made up ofjunior players (age 20 and younger, sometimes 21 if waived). The Bobcats won back-to-back Borne Cup championships asAmerica West Hockey League members before merging into the NAHL in 2003. The Bobcats have made several trips to the NAHL's national tournament, claiming their firstRobertson Cup title in 2010.
Bismarck has a large park system and an extensive network of exercise trails. The Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, established in 1927, operates many parks, swimming pools, and several golf courses within the city. TheWorld War I Memorial Building, which is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places and operated by the recreation district, serves as a community gymnasium and was recognized by a 100 Cities 100 Memorials grant in 2018.[44]
The Parks and Recreation District operates roughly 2,300 acres (930 ha) of public parkland.[45]Sertoma Park stretches more than 3 miles (4.8 km) along the banks of theMissouri River. Within the park are several miles of biking trails and theDakota Zoo.
There are five golf courses in Bismarck: four 18-hole courses (Apple Creek Country Club, Hawktree Golf Club, Riverwood Golf Course, and Tom O'Leary Golf Course), and one nine-hole course (Pebble Creek Golf Course).
Hunting and fishing are popular in the area, with hunting seasons for deer, pheasant, and waterfowl. Fishing is a year-round sport on theMissouri River bordering Bismarck, and there are public docks on the river. From north to south, there is a dock at the Port of Bismarck, from which theLewis and Clark passenger riverboat plies the Missouri; Fox Island Landing, about a half mile southwest of Riverwood Golf Course; and the Bismarck Dock atGeneral Sibley Park, which has a boat ramp and picnic facilities.
In February 2007, Bismarck broke the record for the mostsnow angels made in one place. A total of 8,962 participants came to the capitol grounds for the event.[46]
Bismarck operates under thecity commission style of municipal government. Citizens elect a mayor and four commissioners on anat-large basis for terms of four years, with a limit of three consecutive terms. The commission exercises both legislative and executive powers, with each commissioner exercising oversight over several city departments. The mayor serves as president of the commission and has few powers over and above his fellow commissioners.[citation needed]
The current mayor of Bismarck isMike Schmitz.[47] The city commission meets every second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
According to theUniform Crime Report statistics compiled by theFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2024, there were 210 violent crimes and 1,857 property crimes per 100,000 residents. Of these, the violent crimes consisted of 1 murder, 34 forcible rapes, 46 robberies and 129 aggravated assaults, while 191 burglaries, 1,476 larceny-thefts, 185 motor vehicle thefts and 5 acts of arson defined the property offenses.
From September 2024 to August 2025: 124 aggravated_assault, 0 homicide, 33 rape, 34 robbery, 8 arson, 205 burglary, 1,283 larceny theft, and 132 motor vehicle theft by FBI Crime Data Explorer.[48]
Three Bismarck Catholic parishes operateprimary schools (kindergarten through eighth grade): St. Mary's Grade School, St. Anne's Grade School, and Cathedral Grade School. St. Mary's Grade School, founded in 1878, is the oldest continuously operating elementary school in North Dakota.
There are three colleges and a university in Bismarck. TheUniversity of Mary[50] is a four-year university, operated by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.[51]Bismarck State College[52] is a two-year public college, and a member of theNorth Dakota University System.United Tribes Technical College[53] is a two-yeartribal college. Sanford Health, formerly Medcenter One, operates a nursing school that offers a Bachelor of Science in nursing. The campus is just north of the medical center in central Bismarck.
Bismarck is served by theBismarck Tribune, the city's daily newspaper. Established in 1873, the paper is the city's oldest continuously operating business. TheTribune is the official newspaper of the city of Bismarck,Burleigh County, and the state ofNorth Dakota.[54] The daily newspapers of other major cities in North Dakota are also available at area newsstands.
Bismarck is the center of atelevision market covering most of western North Dakota and parts of Montana. Five stations are based in Bismarck. The four commercial stations have rebroadcasters inMinot,Williston, andDickinson. The stations are:
Bismarck supports 27 radio stations. Most of the commercial stations are owned by eitheriHeartMedia orCumulus Media. Many of the lower-frequency stations are broadcasters of nationalChristian radio networks. The local stations are:
Bismarck is a regional center for health care. It has two hospitals:CHI St. Alexius Medical Center (285-bed) andSanford Health (238-bed). When it opened in 1885, St. Alexius was the first hospital inDakota Territory and the Catholic facility is the state's oldest health care provider. St. Alexius and Medcenter One have joined forces to form the Bismarck Cancer Center.[55] Medcenter One was founded in 1908 as Bismarck Evangelical Hospital. In 1955, it was renamed Bismarck Hospital. In 1984, it was renamed MedCenter One, and in 2012, it became part of theSanford Health system.[56]
Northern Pacific Railway Depot, built in 1901 using the Mission Revival style
The Capital Area Transit System, operated byBis-Man Transit, began operations in 2004.[57] This public bus system has eleven routes throughout Bismarck and Mandan, Monday-Saturday. Bis-Man Transit also operates a para-transit service for senior citizens and people with disabilities.[58]
Bismarck had electric streetcar service from 1904 to 1931.
Bismarck Municipal Airport is south of the city. It has the largest passenger volume in western North Dakota and the second highest within the state. The airport is served byUnited Express,Allegiant Air,Delta Air Lines, andAmerican Eagle. A new $15 million terminal opened in 2005. The previous terminal was built in the mid-1960s and expanded in the mid-1970s. After a windstorm collapsed part of the roof connecting the expanded terminal to the original building, officials decided to demolish the entire complex and build the new terminal.
TheBNSF Railway runs east–west through the city. The railway was originally integral to the growth of Bismarck and Mandan. Today it is used for freight. Due to restructuring in the railroad industry, there has not been passenger train service toBismarck station sinceAmtrak'sNorth Coast Hiawatha service ended in 1979. The closest Amtrak station is inMinot, 106 miles (170 kilometers) north of Bismarck, which is served by theEmpire Builder.
Two federal highways pass through Bismarck.Interstate 94 runs east–west through the city. The north–southU.S. Route 83 merges in north Bismarck with Interstate 94 and runs east for roughly 25 miles (40 km) before turning south.
BisParks BCycle is a publicbikeshare system with four docks situated around the city. Bismarck is not ranked as a walk-friendly community, and is rated bronze for bike-friendliness.[60][61]
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
^Records for Bismarck have been kept at the Bismarck Municipal Airport since January 1948 and at an undisclosed location from October 1874 to December 1947.
^Murphy, Edward C.; Groenewold, Gerald H."Geology of the Bismarck-Mandan Area"(PDF).Geologic Investigations No. 3. North Dakota Geological Survey.Archived(PDF) from the original on March 14, 2012. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2012.
^"Thomas S. Kleppe".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. RetrievedSeptember 23, 2013.
^"Brock Lesnar". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Archived fromthe original on July 12, 2014. RetrievedSeptember 23, 2013.
^"Mike Peluso". Sports Reference LLC.Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. RetrievedSeptember 23, 2013.
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