It was founded in 1896 and is currently owned by the Forum Communications Company out of Fargo, North Dakota.
This first Daily Pioneer newspaper included city ordinances, license applications, articles of incorporation, as well as local news, business advertisements, editorials, and church news.
In the early 1900s, the newspaper covered interactions with the Ojibwe Nation from a white settlers and farmers perspective.
Related names of the newspaper include:[2] In October 2019, the paper moved to publishing twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday.
In May 2020, the Pioneer moved from its location on the south side of Bemidji to Paul Bunyan Drive.