Minneapolis Minnesota History

Originally called Gakaabikaang by the Ojibwe, the area that is now Minneapolis developed at the head of the Mississippi and the Saint Anthony Falls (the only waterfall on the entire length of the Mississippi). Father Louis Hennepin came to the area in 1680 and named it Falls of St. Anthony. Soon, other settlers arrived and St. Anthony began to grow. A lumber mill was constructed on the falls in 1822. By 1823, Fort Snelling, a remote military outpost along the river used the power of the Saint Anthony Falls to grind flour – the early beginning of the flour industry that would become a vital part of the history of Minneapolis. And, a ferry service connected the two sides of the river banks and the twin cities by 1850. In 1855, the town was incorporated and a year later the name was changed. The name Minneapolis comes from a combination of the Dakota word minne for water and the Greek word polis for city.

Minneapolis grew rapidly during the Civil War because the lumber and flour milling industries became more important to the nation. Following the war, Minneapolis remained the milling capital of the world and the leading producer of grain in the world until 1932. Organized crime and corruption brought dark days to much of the northeast and Minneapolis was no exception. Kid Cann ran his famous bootlegging, prostitution and racketeering operation out of the West Hotel. By the 1950s and into the early 1960s, Minneapolis began an urban renewal project that included rebuilding almost 40% of the city. The Civil Rights Movement brought racial issues to the forefront in the city and problems with discrimination claims, demonstrations and protests continued to impact the city’s progress throughout the rest of the century.

The new millinium brought renewed city cleanup projects and stability to Minneapolis. Environmental and health initiatives drew national attention. Emphasis on cultural arts and education added more praise for the quality of life in Minneapolis. Paired with twin city St. Paul across the Mississippi River, Minneapolis/St. Paul is the 15th largest city-combo in the country. Accolades are plentiful. Travel & Leisure magazine recently named Minneapolis as one of five up-and-coming travel destinations and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine named Minneapolis to its “7 Cool Cities” list.