history minneapolis minneapolis largest city population state minnesota county seat origin growth city spurred proximity major united_states military presence area location provided power flour mills established confluence mississippi soldiers began falls land available settlement towns founded falls east minneapolis west towns later merged city early development focused flour mills eventually dominant industry industrial development fueled development railroads banks foundation innovations techniques minneapolis world leading center flour production earning city grew culture developed churches arts institutions famous park system designed flour mills long gone minneapolis remains regional center banking industry largest companies merged remain prominent area city rediscovered hosts early european exploration minneapolis grew mississippi_river end commercially section river locks installed 1960s french explorer explored minnesota area mission extend french dominance area exploring area got word explorers held captive arranged release prisoners included father catholic priest missionary expedition father explored falls named patron saint anthony published book entitled describing area interested europeans time went developed tendency edition book described falls having drop feet drop feet including nearby estimate current total drop river level series dams city land acquired united_states series treaties purchases negotiated band separately european nations england claimed land east mississippi france spain france claimed land west river land east river west claimed united_states purchased tracts land indians tract located mouth river second larger tract ran confluence minnesota width miles east west river return distributed trading goods gallons liquor promised payment united_states government united_states senate eventually approved payment established extend united_states jurisdiction area concerns british fur traders area soldiers initially camped site south conditions hard nearly fifth soldiers died winter later moved camp camp military activity conducted fort built camp site cold clear flowing spring considered sacred native soldiers needed supply fort built roads planted vegetables wheat hay raised cattle weather recordings area lumber mill mill built falls supply fort settlement east bank mississippi near envisioned 1830s commander accurate survey reservation lands transmitted map acres reservation drew boundary line exclude certain parts east bank plan stake pre claim falls plans stake claim july word reached fort treaty united_states ratified land river rushed falls built marked boundary lines party arrived morning late claim desirable land claimed desirable land near claim settlers went build dam falls built cut logs area hunters soon found debt fur traders pressed outbreak loss buffalo deer bear loss forests logging treaty traverse des sold remaining land west river allowing settlement clever plan obtain land west falls suggested associated colonel bargain obtain land stevens agreed operate ferry service mississippi exchange claim acres km2 government mills government approved bargain stevens built house winter house permanent dwelling west bank area minneapolis years later land controlled fort reduced order president rapid settlement followed village minneapolis soon sprung southwest bank river city pioneers anthony obtained proper title land turned energies building anthony falls obtained financing built dam east channel river equipped partner moved minnesota dispatched crews mississippi_river begin cutting lumber began cutting lumber september october enlisted supervise mill salary year gave anthony town quickly grew workers addition followed mill built town approximately people incorporated city house built purchased moved square house surveyed minneapolis west river laid washington avenue parallel river streets running parallel perpendicular washington later questioned decision thinking run streets directly east west north south ended nicely wide straight streets washington avenue feet wide feet wide contrasted streets feet wide early community tried names rejecting brooklyn small lakes city limits led minneapolis suggest derived word water greek word city recognized town minneapolis boundaries changed minneapolis incorporated city minneapolis joined minneapolis changed road names including names transportation avenue bridge suspension bridge bridge built width mississippi_river built dedicated january bridge span feet roadway feet built cost toll cents pedestrians cents wagons early settlers minnesota seeking railroad transportation insufficient capital available rails finally built minnesota paul pacific railroad built miles track area stop short railroad continued building track minneapolis minneapolis west early predecessor milwaukee road built line minneapolis railroad gradually extended austin crossed iowa border met line connection gave minneapolis rail service milwaukee prairie wisconsin service beginning october system minneapolis area took shape company began service horse drawn cars leadership company merged took electrification began system grown miles business industry early industrial development minneapolis tied power provided minneapolis led nation mills produced million board feet lumber total risen board feet board feet peak activity operating falls supported related industries mills lumber factories built doors windows manufacturers wooden flour industry dating government mill later eclipsed lumber industry value finished product flour production stood barrels rising barrels imposing mill built stories high promoted largest mill west buffalo new_york prominent industries falls included machine shops textile mills time east separate minneapolis west result inferior management water power found manufacturing district declining people organizations started talk merging cities citizens committee recommended merging cities vote issue rejected minneapolis incorporated city cities found competing larger population head navigation mississippi_river access railroads threatened collapse cities later pushed merger disaster nearly wiped falls geological formation area consisted hard thin layer limestone soft sandstone formation sandstone eroded away large blocks limestone fall expansion industry falls accelerated process erosion fragile limestone cap eroded away completely falls turn longer provide water power process came head october tunnel collapsed filled water limestone cap breached tunnel quickly created water threatened destroy falls falls quickly years falls repaired building wooden apron sealing tunnel building low dams falls avoid exposing limestone weather work assisted federal government eventually completed federal government spent effort cities spent possibly result bonding needed falls cities minneapolis merged april development flour newspaper predicted time distant minnesota superiority soil seasons wheat culture water power manufacturing flour export largely article mills turn wheat superior quality appearance manufactured west eighteen flour mills built west river falls mills traditional technology grain grind flour possible pass system worked best winter wheat fall resumed growth spring harsh winter conditions upper midwest lend production winter wheat deep lack snow cover killed crop spring wheat spring summer crop conventional techniques produce desirable product harder spring wheat fractured flour mixed completely flour turn minneapolis companies solved problem possible separate flour earlier process developed gradual reduction process grain series iron steel process resulted patent flour commanded double price clear flour replaced mill attempted techniques companies lured employees away able duplicate process flour industry grew steadily major event caused disturbance production flour mill exploded grain dust ignited explosion killed eighteen workers destroyed capacity district nearby businesses residences end year seventeen mills operation including rebuilt mill completely rebuilt took opportunity rebuild new technology dust collection systems largest mill east river mill built designed local architect wanted building beautiful functional seven story building stone walls feet thick base tapering eighteen inches improvements additions years world largest flour mill mill mill formed consolidating smaller mills corporate entity minneapolis led nation flour production earning nickname minneapolis surpassed world leading flour miller production stood dry barrels annually minneapolis mills grinding percent nation grain flour production hit peak dry barrels annually hydroelectric power hydroelectric power plant united_states built falls headed supplied equipment included generators electricity transmitted circuits shops washington avenue power plant turned lights september ahead wisconsin started generating electricity september company competed later began building dam feet falls objective build hydroelectric plant sell energy steam power generate electricity dam completed march later began construction plant leased plant later known railroads development flour mills falls spurred demand railroad service minneapolis minneapolis served spur chicago milwaukee fledgling minneapolis found railroads based milwaukee chicago favoring cities wheat minneapolis mills response owners minneapolis mills chartered minneapolis connect minneapolis iowa border took control paul pacific railroad goal bad economic conditions caused relinquish control paul pacific railroad mississippi railroad eventually reorganized paul pacific railroad minneapolis later great northern railway line lines leading giving access wheat growing regions served mills minneapolis small passenger station minneapolis inadequate hill decided build new depot expected share railroads mainline ran east mississippi new bridge river needed reach station result stone arch bridge completed opened passenger service april milwaukee road expanded presence minneapolis short line connection acquisition line going west minneapolis south built large shops avenue north lake street large depot washington avenue minneapolis got start goal serving atlantic ports marie michigan bypassing chicago altogether businesses founded market trade grain helped farmers ensuring got best prices possible wheat corn usual supply demand curves similar harvest times region introduced contract hard red spring wheat organization renamed term chamber commerce synonymous organizations lobbied business social issues flour industry spurred growth banking minneapolis area mills required capital investments plants machinery ongoing operations early 20th century minneapolis known financial center northwest cultural institutions education founded seven years minnesota state preparatory school school forced close american civil war financial difficulties support reopened president university granted bachelor_of_arts degrees awarded doctor philosophy degree beginnings area university eventually grew large campus east bank mississippi campus addition campus 1960s founded archbishop catholic secondary school early mission commercial school parents asking college preparatory school school operation years buildings parks park minneapolis land donated city took years community major interest parks civic leaders pressed assistance february legislature authorized city form park district levy taxes initial vision create number based design concepts connect parks civic leaders hoped stimulate economic development increase land values landscape architect hired create system parks named grand rounds donated city lake built current built fifth location purchased park park named character epic poem song came minneapolis parks superintendent tenure park system increased acres properties acres properties park system organized minneapolis chain lakes including cedar lake lake isles lake model park planners world encouraged active recreation parks opposed setting aside parks passive admiration arts established citizens committed bringing fine arts minneapolis community present building structure designed firm white opened later received additions minnesota orchestra dates founded renamed moved building downtown minneapolis walker art center established public art gallery 1940s museum shifted focus modern art gift possible acquire works museum continued focus modern art traveling shows 1960s big modern art museums churches lady founded oldest church minneapolis continuous use church originally built later catholic church catholic french canadian congregation acquired saint mary constructed land farm garden archbishop supervised planning church originally named chose architect trained des paris mass held church leaders desired build finest altar america finest marble afford elevated rank united_states building listed national_register_of_historic_places area finest examples architecture changing city fall empire decades 20th century minneapolis began lose dominant position flour industry reaching peak rise steam power later electric power eroded advantage provided water power wheat fields minnesota began suffering soil exhaustion consecutive wheat crops leading increase wheat leaf related crop diseases farmers southern plains developed variety hardy red winter wheat suitable bread flour kansas_city area gained prominence changes rail shipping rates buffalo new_york able ship flour response companies began marketing brands specifically consumers branded flour gold medal recognition prize won advertised slogan eventually countered slogan best incorporating brand invented character answer product questions purchased radio station renamed standing company merged regional companies renamed sought flour contests publishing recipes began developing semi prepared foods prepared foods flour mills gradually began shut buildings vacated demolished railroad served mills demolished mill canal mill ruins filled gravel mills left falls mill mill shut mill oldest mills operations city corridors avenue ceased early 20th century demand rail use fell result continue economic use river civic leaders pushed plans build locks dams making mississippi_river time congressional approval came wasn constructed sets locks lower dam falls covered falls permanent concrete apron project resulted stone arch bridge replacing arches steel rest spirit island process politics corruption anti social change minneapolis known anti beginning 1880s 1950s city described capital anti united_states time city jews excluded membership organizations faced employment discrimination considered residents neighborhoods jews minneapolis allowed buy homes certain neighborhoods minneapolis 1940s lack anti noted midwest exception minneapolis noted lack anti neighboring 1920s 1930s prohibition ruled underworld city ruled jewish led known linked murders prostitution money destruction minneapolis system political chief connor saint paul police established connor system provided haven capital city corruption spread named morgan operated gambling police protection underworld godfather allied morgan competed jewish prohibition death got start minnesota politics early 1940s organizer time realized party best chance success come minnesota merged democratic_party party leaders discussing merger idea farmer labor merged party order gain strength thousands loyal voters party got minnesota democratic ran mayor minneapolis losing thousand votes campaigned election support city labor leaders found support city african american community promising implement city civil rights commission appealed city middle class giving talks civic virtue area churches elected largest margin date elected immediately proposed city ordinance racial discrimination employers subject fine long period discussion finally approved ordinance margin january ordinance created nation established minneapolis nation leader imposing fines employment discrimination pressure local limit employment opportunities african americans ordinance years contrast similar measures passed milwaukee chicago ordinance gave city newly created authority impose fines prison sentences employers enacted job discrimination larger banks department stores saw value civil rights began hire african americans recognized city police officers operating racial ethnic prejudice causing urban unrest instructed city police chief officers minority neighborhoods contact clergy teachers business owners neighborhood leaders helped issue prejudice got attention problem solved fact life taken granted progress civil rights minneapolis gained national attention cities establish civil rights commissions reelected votes opponent votes delegate led strong civil rights address said rushing issue civil rights years late issue civil rights infringement states rights time arrived democratic_party shadow state rights walk bright sunshine human rights elected united_states senate election served years prominent minnesota politician including vice president later served years agreed run mayor city black mayoral candidate supported major political party white present minneapolis threatened family daily campaign police department guarded home fbi gave protection dogs davis received support white politicians including years later minneapolis elected african american mayor date city non white mayor founded advance civil rights native americans growing city census minneapolis highest population recorded people main growth city organized private system million passengers ran important roads extending downtown minneapolis neighborhood residential development core dates turn century result system growth allowed minneapolis annex land neighboring villages subsequently pushed incorporation today inner ring suburbs system built operated efficiently program profits system improvements new_york investor gained control system halted rebuilding program announced goal completely converting system buses policies alienated public ousted successor continued cut service replace system buses june took run photo taken shows handing check burned background later discovered associates plundered system personal gain small section line operated downtown downtown minneapolis hub business financial activity served time tallest building minneapolis construction municipal ordinance instituted restricted buildings height feet later raised feet construction height feet caused concerns real estate industry foot story limit request minneapolis civic commerce association seven story built major challenger height limit thirty story tower built highest building minneapolis builder wanted tower built lines staged lavish dedication ceremony complete march composed weeks later lost fortune wall street crash check bounced forbade play march debt great depression buildings suffered lack maintenance writer returning minneapolis long absence said minneapolis ugly parking lots like buildings narrow dirty irregular relationship set bad teeth decade later downtown surrounding areas radically urban renewal freeway construction world war businesses residents started moving suburbs downtown minneapolis nation perceived dying urban planners advocating radically rebuilding complete rebuilding forcing manufacturing federal housing act provided funding clearing areas city officials interpreted definition provided funding interstate highway system transform minneapolis gateway district centered intersection avenues west mississippi_river major casualty urban renewal neighborhood known cheap hotels announced moving corporate headquarters city planners decided implement large scale gateway district plan included large number buildings downtown minneapolis leveled including metropolitan building freeway construction impact city neighborhoods disrupted housing stock lost interstate south border city northeastern corner interstate border downtown county road later minnesota state highway southern boundary minneapolis built remaining portion interstate highway northern boundary city completed highway later rebuilt interstate standards point renumbered interstate proposed projects built running southeast downtown area minneapolis saint paul international airport slated freeway upgrade canceled neighborhood opposition similarly proposed interstate run interstate northeast minneapolis connection interstate north downtown project canceled neighborhood opposition shaping skyline destruction gateway district left large gap downtown minneapolis developments transform skyline developments building mall previously known avenue portion central business tree lined mall pedestrians transit mall forms kind linear park trees farmers market summer boosted city retail trade dramatic change skyline came opened height feet inches built previous highest building tower additions downtown included feet known south sixth built renamed campbell tower previously built built headquarters bank opened demolished served home previously hosted minnesota golden football team site reconstructed new 1990s wave downtown development filled parcels towers stories companies target vertical residential housing followed corporate development 1970s boom saw high rises blanket districts downtown west riverside plaza cedar square west completed tower mixed income self contained urban village originally larger contains tallest buildings outside downtown plain modern concrete styles period contrasted late 1990s 2000s brought prominent residential towers skyline varying colors architecture themes residence block south mississippi_river stories built art style recent addition skyline tall stories begun extending skyline south neighborhood contrast traditional red brick proportions modern glass light rail debut minneapolis opening june line metro system starts downtown minneapolis progresses southeastward minnesota state highway known avenue passes west serves minneapolis saint paul international airport terminates service began green line connects downtown downtown industry railroads left mississippi people gradually aware destination living working shopping acquired land river banks including corridor properties developed trails spurred development private land adjacent creating new neighborhood opened pedestrian traffic creating link trail system providing spectacular views old commercial buildings adapted new uses built standard mill north star new use building projects number projects provide residents opportunity live view urban uncovered remnants flour mills built 1860s 1870s canal supplied water mills supports ruins buried gravel fill open public park signs interpreting history area buildings mill severely damaged fire stabilized hosts opened museum presents history flour industrial development river story elevator ride shows steps turned wheat flour moved new building southeast
History of Minneapolis