Bismarck is situated on the east bank of the Missouri River, and on several river ledges north and east of the River. Directly across the River is Mandan. The two cities make up the core urban area of the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Statistical Area
The North Dakota State Capitol, the tallest building in the state, towers over the central part of Bismarck. The state government employs many people within the city. As a hub of manufacturing, retail trade, and health care, Bismarck is the economic center of a large portion of south-central North Dakota.
As of the census of 2000, there were 55,532 people, 23,185 households, and 14,444 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,065.2/mi² (797.4/km²). There were 24,217 housing units at an average density of 900.6/mi² (347.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.78% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 3.39% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The top six ancestries in the city are: German (57.9%), Norwegian (18.2%), Russian (7.7%), Irish (7.2%), English (5.0%), Swedish (4.3%).
There were 23,185 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married 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% had 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.
In the city, the 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 years of age 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. The per capita income for the city was $20,789. About 5.7% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Because is nearly in the center of North Dakota, Bismarck has become a major transportation hub.
Bismarck Municipal Airport is south of the city and has the largest passenger volume in western North Dakota and the second highest within the state. The airport is served by United Express, Allegiant Air and Northwest. A new $15 million dollar terminal opened in May 2005. The previous terminal was built in the mid-1960s, and expanded in the mid-1970s. A wind storm collapsed part of the roof connecting the expanded terminal to the original building, and eventually it was decided to demolish the entire complex and build the spectacular new terminal.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway runs east-west through the city. There has not been Amtrak service in Bismarck since the North Coast Hiawatha service ended in 1979. The closest Amtrak station is in Minot, north of Bismarck, where the Empire Builder line runs.
Two federal highways pass through Bismarck. Interstate 94 runs east and west through the city and connects Bismarck and Mandan. The north-south U.S. Route 83 merges in north Bismarck with Interstate 94 to run east for roughly 25 miles (40 km) when it again runs north-south.
May 2004 was the launching date for Capital Area Transit System (or CAT). This public bus system is operated by the Bis-Man Transit Board and has eleven routes throughout Bismarck and its neighboring City of Mandan. Bis-Man Transit offers a taxi service for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
The spread of the city away from the center has meant that hospital and other downtown workers and even high school students are very likely to drive from their homes to their places of employment and back home again, day after day. Most drive alone, and the result has been a blighting of the city with parked cars during weekdays. Acres of cars park in downtown Bismarck. There are three multilevel parking garages, but it is actually possible to walk completely across downtown Bismarck from east to west without leaving a parking lot except to cross a city street. Hospital and clinic workers park on the streets of the surrounding residential neighborhoods, effectively making those streets one-way. It may be that this driving to and from work (perhaps coupled with a genetic disposition to overweight) has contributed to the overweight condition that has unfortunately become a characteristic of many Bismarck residents, prompting the creation of a satirical business plan for Bismarck: "Eat, drink and check-in to the hospital."