History of Minneapolis in Timeline

Minneapolis, the most populous city in Minnesota, is located in Hennepin County and serves as its county seat. With a 2020 population of 429,954, it sits on both banks of the Upper Mississippi River and neighbors Saint Paul, the state capital. Together, they form the Twin Cities metropolitan area, home to 3.69 million people. Characterized by flat terrain and an artesian aquifer, Minneapolis experiences cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. Known as the "City of Lakes," it boasts thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks, and waterfalls. Its extensive park system is linked by the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway.

1900: Attracting Skilled Workers

Around 1900, Minneapolis started attracting skilled workers, benefiting from the expertise of the University of Minnesota.

1900: Arrival of Italians, Greeks, and Ukrainians

Around the late 1890s and 1900s, Minneapolis saw the arrival of Italian and Greek immigrants. Additionally, Ukrainian immigrants started settling in the city after 1900.

1900: Flour Milling Hub

In 1900, Minneapolis milled 14% of America's grain, with about one-third shipped overseas.

1902: Mayor Doc Ames Scandal

In 1902, Mayor Doc Ames, after engaging in corruption, attempted to flee Minneapolis.

1910: Restrictive Covenants

In 1910, the first racially restrictive covenant was added to a Minneapolis deed, initiating decades of segregation.

1915: Minneapolis Institute of Art Opens

One-seventh of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, designed by McKim, Mead & White, opened in 1915.

1916: Peak Flour Production

Minneapolis reached its peak flour production in 1916, milling 18.5 million barrels.

1918: Beginning of Antisemitism

From the end of World War I in 1918 until 1950, Minneapolis experienced a period of widespread antisemitism.

1919: Closure of Weyerhauser Mill

By 1919, sawmills in Minneapolis, including the Weyerhauser mill, closed as the lumber industry declined.

1921: Ku Klux Klan Influence

The Ku Klux Klan gained influence in Minneapolis from 1921 to 1923.

1923: Munsingwear's Dominance

By 1923, Munsingwear became the world's largest underwear manufacturer.

1923: Ku Klux Klan Influence Ends

In 1923, the influence of the Ku Klux Klan in Minneapolis came to an end.

1925: Eugenics Law and Sterilizations

Following the passage of a eugenics law in Minnesota in 1925, sterilizations were performed at Faribault State Hospital by staff from Eitel Hospital.

1926: Basilica of Saint Mary

The Basilica of Saint Mary, the first basilica in the US, was named by Pope Pius XI in 1926.

1928: Mia Expansion Begins

In 1928, the Minneapolis Institute of Art began a series of expansions to achieve the original design.

1928: Temple Israel

Temple Israel, built in 1928, served the first Jewish congregation in Minneapolis.

1930: High Literacy Rate Among Black Residents

By 1930, Minneapolis boasted one of the highest literacy rates among Black residents nationwide, despite facing job discrimination.

1930: Least Snowy Winter Begins

The winter of 1930-1931 was the least snowy on record for Minneapolis, starting in 1930.

1931: Least Snowy Winter Ends

The winter of 1930-1931, the least snowy on record, ended in 1931 with just 14.2 inches of snow.

1934: Teamsters' Strikes

During the summer of 1934, amidst the Great Depression, Minneapolis teamsters went on strike, leading to significant labor disputes and ultimately influencing federal labor laws.

1935: Consumer Boycott Led by Cecil Newman

In 1935, Cecil Newman and the Minneapolis Spokesman spearheaded a year-long boycott of local breweries that refused to hire Black workers.

1935: Federal Labor Laws

In 1935, federal laws protecting workers' rights were passed, partly influenced by the Minneapolis teamsters' strikes.

July 1936: Record High Temperature

In July 1936, Minneapolis experienced its highest recorded temperature of 108 °F (42 °C).

1936: Silver Shirts Meetings

Starting in 1936, the Silver Shirts, a fascist hate group, began holding meetings in Minneapolis.

1938: More Federal Labor Laws

Additional federal laws protecting workers' rights were enacted in 1938.

1938: Thermo King Founded

Thermo King, a mobile refrigeration company, was founded in Minneapolis in 1938 by Frederick McKinley Jones and his associate.

1940: Walker Art Center

Around 1940, the Walker Art Center shifted its focus to modern and contemporary art.

1949: Medtronic Founded

Medtronic was founded in a Minneapolis garage in 1949.

1950: Start of Period of Black Population Growth

Between 1950 and 1970, Minneapolis saw a significant increase in its Black population.

1950: End of Antisemitism

By 1950, the period of widespread antisemitism in Minneapolis came to an end.

1950: Peak Population in Minneapolis

In 1950, Minneapolis reached its peak population of 521,718, marking the only time the city's population has surpassed half a million.

1952: First Successful Open-Heart Surgery

Surgeon F. John Lewis successfully performed the first open-heart surgery to repair a child's congenital heart defect at the University of Minnesota's Variety Club Heart Hospital in 1952.

1957: Open-Heart Surgery Milestone

By 1957, over 200 patients, primarily children, had successfully undergone open-heart surgery at the University of Minnesota. Around this time, Medtronic began developing portable and implantable pacemakers in collaboration with surgeon C. Walton Lillehei.

1957: Control Data Founded

Control Data was founded in downtown Minneapolis in 1957 and pioneered the use of transistors in computers.

1958: Skid Row Demolition Begins

Between 1958 and 1963, Minneapolis demolished a significant portion of its downtown area known as "skid row."

1959: Report on Minneapolis Elevation

In 1959, the US Soil Conservation Service reported Minneapolis's elevation as 830 feet above mean sea level. The lowest point was identified near the confluence of Minnehaha Creek and the Mississippi River at 687 feet, while the highest point was estimated between 967 and 985 feet.

1961: Minnesota Vikings and Twins Arrive

The Minnesota Vikings joined the NFL as an expansion team, and the Washington Senators relocated to Minnesota to become the Twins in 1961.

1963: Guthrie Theater Opens

The Guthrie Theater, founded by Tyrone Guthrie, opened in 1963 with an innovative thrust stage designed in collaboration with Tanya Moiseiwitsch and Ralph Rapson.

1963: Skid Row Demolition Ends

The demolition of "skid row" in Minneapolis concluded in 1963.

1966: Plymouth Avenue Disturbances

In 1966, suppressed anger among the Black population in Minneapolis led to disturbances on Plymouth Avenue.

1967: Plymouth Avenue Disturbances Continue

The disturbances on Plymouth Avenue in Minneapolis continued into 1967.

1967: I-35W Opens

The opening of I-35W in 1967 displaced Black and Mexican neighborhoods in south Minneapolis.

1968: American Indian Movement Founded

The American Indian Movement (AIM) was founded in Minneapolis in 1968.

1969: Charles Stenvig becomes Mayor

Charles Stenvig, a law-and-order candidate, was elected mayor of Minneapolis in 1969.

1969: Vikings in Super Bowl IV

The Vikings played in Super Bowl IV in 1969, their first Super Bowl appearance.

1970: Arrival of Koreans and Filipinos; Japanese American Community Established

Around 1970, Korean and Filipino immigrants began arriving in Minneapolis, often for educational opportunities at the University of Minnesota. By this time, a Japanese American community of nearly 2,000 had been established.

1970: End of Period of Rapid Black Population Growth

By 1970, Minneapolis' Black population had grown substantially, marking the end of a period of rapid increase.

1971: Same-Sex Couple Marries

A same-sex couple in Minneapolis married in 1971, forty years before same-sex marriage was legalized in Minnesota.

1973: Vikings in Super Bowl VIII

The Vikings played in Super Bowl VIII in 1973, losing their second Super Bowl.

1974: Vikings in Super Bowl IX

The Vikings played in Super Bowl IX in 1974, losing their third Super Bowl appearance.

1975: Arrival of Southeast Asian Refugees

Around 1975, Minneapolis became a destination for refugees from Southeast Asia, including Vietnamese, Hmong, Lao, and Cambodians, although many also settled in Saint Paul.

1976: Vikings in Super Bowl XI

The Vikings played in Super Bowl XI in 1976, losing their fourth Super Bowl.

1983: Record Snowfall Winter Begins

The winter of 1983-1984 marked the snowiest winter on record in Minneapolis, starting in 1983.

1984: Record Snowfall Winter Ends

The winter of 1983-1984, the snowiest on record, ended in 1984 with a total of 98.6 inches of snowfall.

1987: Twins Win World Series

The Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1987.

1989: Timberwolves Return to Minneapolis

The Minnesota Timberwolves brought NBA basketball back to Minneapolis in 1989.

1990: Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) Begins

Around 1990, Minneapolis initiated the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). This 20-year program, funded by tax increment financing, aimed to involve residents in shaping neighborhood improvements.

1990: Control Data Disbanded

Control Data, a successful business, was disbanded in 1990.

1991: Twins Win World Series

The Minnesota Twins won their second World Series title in 1991.

1991: Gopher Released

The University of Minnesota released the Gopher protocol in 1991.

1992: Arrival of Tibetan Immigrants

In 1992, about 160 Tibetan immigrants arrived in Minnesota, with a significant portion settling in Minneapolis's Whittier neighborhood.

1993: Weisman Art Museum Opens

The Weisman Art Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, opened at the University of Minnesota in 1993.

1999: Minnesota Lynx Founded

The WNBA team Minnesota Lynx was founded in 1999.

2000: Increase in Indian Population and Arrival of Burmese Immigrants

In the early 2000s, Burmese immigrants began arriving in Minneapolis. Between 2000 and 2010, the Indian population in the city saw a substantial increase, making it the largest Indian community in Minnesota.

2001: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's headquarters were in Minneapolis until 2001.

2004: Minnesota Orchestra Grammy Win

The Minnesota Orchestra won a Grammy in 2004 for their recording of Dominick Argento's Casa Guidi.

2005: Museum of Russian Art Opens

The Museum of Russian Art opened in a restored church in 2005, showcasing 20th-century Russian art.

2006: New Guthrie Theater Opens

A new Guthrie Theater, designed by Jean Nouvel, opened in 2006 overlooking the Mississippi River, featuring a reproduced thrust stage along with a proscenium and an experimental stage.

2006: Mia Expansion Continues

Further additions were made to the Minneapolis Institute of Art in 2006, furthering the original scheme.

2006: Minneapolis Central Library Opens

The downtown Minneapolis Central Library, designed by César Pelli, opened in 2006.

2007: I-35W Bridge Collapse

The Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed in 2007 due to overloading from repair materials, resulting in 13 deaths and 145 injuries. The bridge was rebuilt in 14 months.

2008: Library Merger

The Minneapolis Public Library and the Hennepin County Library merged in 2008.

2009: Delta Air Lines becomes dominant at MSP Airport

Following the merger with Northwest Airlines in 2009, Delta Air Lines became the dominant carrier at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), handling 80% of the airport's traffic and establishing MSP as Delta's second-largest US hub. Information on the city's bikeways and skyway system is also available.

2010: Indian Population Becomes Largest in State

By 2010, the Indian population in Minneapolis grew by 1,000 since 2000, establishing the city as having the largest Indian community in Minnesota.

2010: Immigration

The 2021 ACS indicated that a significant portion of immigrants to Minneapolis had arrived in or before 2010.

2010: Twins Move to Target Field

The Minnesota Twins began playing at Target Field in 2010.

2011: Weisman Art Museum Expansion

Frank Gehry doubled the gallery space of the Weisman Art Museum with an addition in 2011.

2011: End of NRP and Transition to Neighborhood and Community Relations

In 2011, the 20-year Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) concluded. The city's Neighborhood and Community Relations department assumed its responsibilities but operated with reduced city-only funding.

2011: Lynx Win WNBA Championship

The Minnesota Lynx won their first WNBA Championship in 2011.

2013: Somali Museum of Minnesota Opens

The Somali Museum of Minnesota opened on Lake Street in 2013.

2014: Religious Survey

A 2014 Pew Research Center survey found that 70 percent of Twin Cities residents were Christian.

2014: Minnesota Orchestra Grammy Win

The Minnesota Orchestra won a Grammy in 2014 for their recording of Sibelius's first and fourth symphonies.

2015: Minneapolis Theater Count

In 2015, Peg Guilfoyle counted fifteen Twin Cities theater companies with a dedicated space in Minneapolis.

2016: The Bakken Museum Refocuses

The Bakken shifted its focus to invention and innovation in 2016.

2016: The Herbivorous Butcher Opens

The Herbivorous Butcher, the first vegan "butcher" shop in the United States, opened in Minneapolis in 2016.

2016: U.S. Bank Stadium Opens

U.S. Bank Stadium, built for the Minnesota Vikings, opened in 2016.

2017: Food Desert and Appetite for Change

By mid-2017, a large food desert existed in north Minneapolis, with 70,000 people having access to only two grocery stores. The nonprofit Appetite for Change worked to address this issue through community gardens, farmers markets, and restaurants.

2017: Slowdown in Somali Immigration

Following a national executive order in 2017, Somali immigration to Minneapolis significantly slowed.

2017: Lynx Win WNBA Championship

The Minnesota Lynx won their fourth WNBA Championship in 2017.

2018: Jacob Frey becomes mayor

In 2018, Jacob Frey became the mayor of Minneapolis.

2018: Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan Approved

In 2018, the Minneapolis City Council approved the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, notably ending single-family zoning citywide. This made Minneapolis the first major U.S. city to implement such a change.

2018: Income Gap

Minneapolis had one of the largest income gaps in the US in 2018, with Black families earning 44 percent of what White families earned.

2018: Minnesota African American Heritage Museum Opens

The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery was founded in 2018.

2018: Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium

U.S. Bank Stadium hosted Super Bowl LII in 2018, expanding its seating capacity to 70,000 for the event.

2019: Launch of Neighborhoods 2020 Program

In 2019, Minneapolis launched the Neighborhoods 2020 program, restructuring neighborhood funding with a focus on equity. This led to financial challenges for some neighborhood organizations.

2019: Transportation Mode Share in Minneapolis

In 2019, data from the Metropolitan Council revealed the most common transportation methods for Minneapolis households. Driving alone constituted 40% of trips, followed by carpooling (28%), walking (16%), public transit (13%), and lastly, bicycling (3%).

2019: Overnight Light Rail Service Reduced

Overnight service on the Green Line was cut back in 2019, in part due to hundreds of homeless people seeking shelter on the trains.

2020: Homeownership Disparity

In 2020, Black homeownership in Minneapolis was one-third that of White families.

2020: Implementation of Neighborhoods 2020 Program

In 2020, the Neighborhoods 2020 program, initiated the prior year, was implemented.

2020: Murder of George Floyd and Ensuing Protests

In 2020, the murder of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin sparked international protests and unrest. The event, captured on video by Darnella Frazier, ignited demonstrations in Minneapolis and around the world, highlighting issues of racial injustice. Locally, protests continued at George Floyd Square for years afterward.

2020: Racism as Public Health Emergency

Minneapolis declared racism a public health emergency in 2020.

2020: Minneapolis Census

The 2020 US Census recorded Minneapolis's population as 429,954, with demographic breakdowns including race and ethnicity.

2020: The Bakken Museum New Entrance

The Bakken Museum opened a new entrance on Bde Maka Ska in 2020.

2020: LGBT Adult Population Estimate

The Williams Institute estimated the Twin Cities' LGBT adult population at 4.2 percent in 2020.

2021: Metro Transit Rider Demographics

In 2021, 55% of Metro Transit riders system-wide were people of color.

2021: Racial Disparities in Opioid Overdose Deaths

In 2021, Black individuals in Minnesota were three times, and Native American individuals ten times, more likely to die from an opioid overdose compared to White individuals.

2021: Discharge of Covenants

In 2021, Minneapolis provided residents a way to remove restrictive covenants from their deeds.

2021: Median Household Income

The 2021 ACS reported Minneapolis's median household income as $69,397, comparable to the US average.

2021: Ancestry and Languages

The 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) detailed the most common ancestries in Minneapolis and language use at home.

2022: Education and Poverty

As of 2022, 90.8 percent of Minneapolis residents 25 or older had a high school degree, and 53.5 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher.

2022: Ethiopian and Somali Population Figures

As of 2022, Minneapolis had an estimated population of 3,000 Ethiopians and 20,000 Somalis.

2022: Homeownership and Deaths of Despair

By 2022, the Black-White homeownership gap in Minnesota slightly decreased, while deaths of despair increased.

2022: Community Groups Assist Light Rail Security

Facing a shortage of police officers in 2022, the Metro Council employed community groups to assist with security at light rail stations, providing support and guidance to passengers in need of mental health services and shelters.

2022: Opioid Overdose Deaths in Minneapolis

In 2022, 231 deaths in Minneapolis were attributed to opioid overdoses.

2022: Evie Carshare and Shared Micromobility

In 2022, Minneapolis and St. Paul owned Evie Carshare, a fleet of 145 electric cars available for one-way trips. During warmer months, shared electric bikes and scooters from Lime and Veo are available for rent at mobility hubs, with riders able to end their trips anywhere in the city.

2022: Muslim Call to Prayer

In 2022, Minneapolis changed its noise ordinance to permit broadcasting the Muslim call to prayer.

2022: Minneapolis-St. Paul Media Market Ranking

In 2022, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area was ranked the 14th largest designated market area by Nielsen. This ranking changed in the following year.

2022: Owamni Wins James Beard Award

Sean Sherman's Owamni restaurant in Minneapolis received the James Beard Award for best new restaurant in 2022.

2022: Legal Challenges to Minneapolis 2040 Plan Begin

Starting in 2022, the Minneapolis 2040 plan faced legal challenges, with conflicting opinions from the Minnesota Supreme Court, the US District Court, and the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

2022: Gross Domestic Product

The Twin Cities metro area's GDP was $323.9 billion in 2022.

August 2023: Downtown Stormwater Tunnel Project Update

As of August 2023, the Minneapolis department of public works had nearly completed the excavation phase (97%) and was over 40% finished with the lining phase of a large stormwater tunnel system designed to manage runoff in a 100-year storm. This system, located beneath Washington and Chicago Avenues, will drain runoff into the Mississippi River.

2023: Metro Transit System Overview and Ridership

As of 2023, Metro Transit operated two light rail lines, five bus rapid transit lines, one commuter rail line, and a fleet of 736 buses serving 10,745 stops in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. Ridership in 2023 reached nearly 45 million, a 16% increase from 2022, with bus service recovering to 90% of pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

2023: Minneapolis Population

As of 2023, Minneapolis was the 46th largest city in the United States by population.

2023: Minneapolis Grain Exchange

As of 2023, the Minneapolis Grain Exchange was the only exchange for hard red spring wheat futures.

2023: Current Light Rail, BRT, and Commuter Rail Services

In 2023, Minneapolis had the Blue and Green light rail lines. The D Line BRT runs along the 18-mile Route 5. The Northstar Commuter rail runs from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis, but service was reduced to four daily trips from twelve due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on ridership.

2023: High Score on Municipal Equality Index

In 2023, Minneapolis received a score of 94 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index, reflecting strong support for the LGBTQ+ community.

2023: Income and Rent

In 2023, Minneapolis's median household income was $78,030 and median rent was $1,529.

2023: Minneapolis-St. Paul Media Market Ranking

In 2023, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area ranked as the 15th largest designated market area according to Nielsen, down from 14th in 2022. Data on radio and TV stations and households was also available.

2023: Aldi Closure and Appetite for Change Developments

In 2023, the closure of an Aldi store exacerbated the food desert situation in north Minneapolis. Appetite for Change closed its Minneapolis restaurant, opened a food truck, and secured a grant for a permanent location.

2023: NRP funding equivalent to $542 Million in 2023 dollars

In 2023, the historical funding for the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) was equivalent to $542 million.

2023: Twin Cities Marathon Cancelled

The 2023 Twin Cities Marathon was cancelled.

2023: GDP and Corporate Headquarters

The metro area's GDP grew to $337 billion in 2023.

March 2024: List of Newspaper Association Members Publishing in Minneapolis

As of March 2024, several members of the Minnesota Newspaper Association publish in Minneapolis, including Insight News, Finance & Commerce, Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Minnesota Women's Press, North News, Northeaster, Southwest Connector, Star Tribune, and St. Paul – Midway Como Frogtown Monitor. Other publications in the city include La Prensa de Minnesota, Vida y Sabor, The American Jewish World, Southwest Voices, Streets.mn, Bring Me The News, Racket, MinnPost, and Minnesota Daily.

2024: Ongoing Protests and Community Engagement at George Floyd Square

As of 2024, daily protests persisted at George Floyd Square. The city engaged in community discussions regarding the square's future, with proposals expected by the end of 2024, and possible implementation by 2026 or later. A key demand from protesters remained the elimination of qualified immunity for police.

2024: Red Lake Nation College Opens Minneapolis Site

In 2024, Red Lake Nation College, an accredited federally recognized tribal college, is opening a new site in Minneapolis. The college will offer associate degrees and focus on teaching Ojibwe culture.

2024: Minneapolis 2040 Plan Upheld by State Legislature

In 2024, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill ultimately upholding the city's 2040 plan, resolving prior legal disputes.

2024: Enhanced Light Rail Security Measures

Metro Transit partnered with a private security company in 2024, deploying 24 trip agents daily on light rail lines to enhance security and safety in collaboration with transit police and community officers.

2024: Increased Neighborhood Funding in City Budget

The 2024 Minneapolis city budget included increased base funding for neighborhood organizations.

2024: City Budget Addresses Opioid Crisis

The 2024 Minneapolis city budget included increased funding for the Turning Point treatment center, focusing on care for African Americans, and the transfer of two city properties to the Red Lake Nation for a culturally sensitive opioid and fentanyl addiction treatment center.

2024: Minnesota Frost Win Championship

The Minnesota Frost won the Professional Women's Hockey League championship in 2024.

2024: Lynx in the WNBA Finals

The Minnesota Lynx lost in the finals of the WNBA championship in 2024.

2024: U.S. Pond Hockey Championships Partially Cancelled

The final weekend of the 2024 U.S. Pond Hockey Championships on Lake Nokomis was cancelled due to warm weather.

2026: Potential Implementation of George Floyd Square Proposals

By 2026, the final proposals for George Floyd Square resulting from community engagement in 2024 could be implemented.

2030: Planned Light Rail Expansions

A Blue Line extension to the northwest suburbs is scheduled for completion by 2030, and a Green Line extension is planned to connect downtown Minneapolis with the southwestern suburbs.

2030: Minneapolis Transportation Goals

By 2030, Minneapolis aims to have 60% of trips taken without a car, with 35% by walking and biking, and 25% by public transit. The city also aims to reduce vehicle miles traveled by 1.8 percent annually.