| Called in the Ojibwe language | | | | West Hotel and engaged in bootlegging, |
| Gakaabikaang (at the falls), the city | | | | racketeering, and prostitution. |
| grew up around the Saint Anthony Falls, | | | | In the 1950s and 1960s, the downtown |
| the only waterfall on the Mississippi | | | | area of Minneapolis went through a major |
| River and the end of the commercially | | | | phase of urban renewal, which involved |
| navigable section of the river until | | | | the razing of about 200 buildings across |
| locks were installed in the 1960s. | | | | 25 city blocks—roughly 40% of the |
| Father Louis Hennepin was the first | | | | area. This included the destruction of a |
| European to explore the area, giving the | | | | slum area known as "Skid Row," but also |
| falls their name, as well as lending his | | | | the destruction of many buildings with |
| name to the county in which Minneapolis | | | | notable architecture. One of the most |
| is located. The nearby Fort Snelling | | | | lamented buildings was the Metropolitan |
| spurred the growth of villages and towns | | | | Building, known simply as "the Met". |
| in the area. A lumber mill was built on | | | | Efforts to save the building (which |
| the falls in 1822 to supply the fort. In | | | | ultimately failed) are credited with |
| the 1840s, settlers were not allowed to | | | | jumpstarting a much greater interest in |
| stay on land controlled by the military | | | | historic preservation in the state of |
| without special permission, so the first | | | | Minnesota. |
| settlement near the falls, St. Anthony, | | | | While it was never official policy, |
| grew on the northeast side of the river, | | | | segregation occurred between whites and |
| just outside of the fort's jurisdiction. | | | | blacks in the city, and racial issues |
| The first person authorized to live on | | | | still fuel conflicts in the city today. |
| the river's west bank was Colonel John | | | | A desegregation program of forced busing |
| H. Stevens, who operated a ferry service | | | | to balance the number of black and white |
| starting around 1850. A few years later, | | | | schoolchildren in city schools began in |
| the amount of land controlled by the | | | | 1972. While ethnic diversity continues |
| fort was reduced with an order from U.S. | | | | to grow in the area (both in quantity |
| President Millard Fillmore, and free | | | | and variety), some advocacy groups, in |
| settlement followed. The village of | | | | particular those representing African |
| Minneapolis soon sprung up on the | | | | Americans and Native Americans, complain |
| southwest bank of the river. The village | | | | that their members are excessively |
| of St. Anthony was incorporated by the | | | | targeted by the police. Minneapolis has |
| Minnesota Territorial Legislature in | | | | a higher rate of black poverty than many |
| 1855, and Minneapolis soon followed in | | | | other American cities. |
| 1856. | | | | Another relatively troubled period for |
| The original campus of the University of | | | | parts of Minneapolis was the 1990s, when |
| Minnesota system first appeared near the | | | | the murder rate and incidence of gang |
| falls at this time. Today it is a Big | | | | violence climbed, almost entirely in |
| Ten university with more than 50,000 | | | | poorer neighborhoods of the city. The |
| undergraduate and graduate students | | | | Phillips neighborhood (now referred to |
| enrolled in the Twin Cities alone, | | | | as Phillips Community) was particularly |
| making it one of the largest campuses in | | | | hard-hit. After reaching a record 97 |
| the country. | | | | homicides in 1995, the city gained an |
| Minneapolis grew quickly during and | | | | unpleasant nickname because of the |
| after the Civil War and became a city in | | | | violence: "Murderapolis." Supposedly |
| 1867. Outstripping the growth of its | | | | coined by local gun shop owner Mark |
| neighbor, the city merged with St. | | | | Koscielski, the term gained widespread |
| Anthony five years later in 1872. The | | | | use after The New York Times used it |
| early growth of the city was directed by | | | | when reporting that Minneapolis had |
| the river, which ran to the southeast, | | | | surpassed the per capita homicide rate |
| and most early streets ran parallel to | | | | of New York City. The murder rate |
| it to maximize the amount of land that | | | | retreated in the following years, but |
| could be used. Later growth of | | | | area residents often grow concerned that |
| Minneapolis eventually turned to using | | | | the nickname may make a comeback |
| north-south/east-west streets, so many | | | | whenever there is an uptick in violence |
| unique intersections were formed to | | | | in the city. |
| translate between the two layouts | | | | Health and environmental issues have |
| (probably the most famous of these is a | | | | gained importance over the years. Many |
| site known as Seven Corners, on the | | | | cleanup projects have taken place, and |
| eastern periphery of downtown). Some | | | | industrial activities have been scaled |
| streets, especially many of the older | | | | back or modified within the city. In |
| and more traditionally important ones of | | | | 2005, the City amended its Comprehensive |
| the city, like Hennepin Ave. and | | | | Plan and adopted various indicators that |
| Nicollet Ave., have both orientations at | | | | strengthen its commitment to |
| different points along their roadways. | | | | sustainability. On the scale of |
| Following an initial burst of activity | | | | individuals, a ban on smoking in all |
| in the lumber industry, the city's | | | | bars, bowling alleys and restaurants |
| economy developed around the processing | | | | went into effect in March 2005. |
| of grain from the Great Plains, which is | | | | Minneapolis has a long history of |
| reflected by the presence of companies | | | | prominence as a center for the arts. The |
| such as General Mills and Pillsbury in | | | | Walker Art Center (opened in 1927) an |
| the city. In its heyday, it was known as | | | | early proponent of pop and postmodern |
| the "milling capital of the world." It | | | | art movements. The Guthrie Theater |
| was the leading producer of grain in the | | | | (founded in 1963) is a repertory company |
| world until 1932. Today, it is still | | | | whose stage also showcases local and |
| referred to as the mill city. More | | | | international performances theatrical |
| recently the city has become notable for | | | | and otherwise, and features workshops |
| its medical and financial industries, as | | | | headlined by Emmy and Oscar-winning |
| well as the largest shopping mall in | | | | celebrities. The new three-stage Guthrie |
| terms of indoor space in the United | | | | complex opened in the old Mill District |
| States, the Mall of America (actually in | | | | in 2006. In the 1980s, a diverse range |
| Bloomington, a suburb south of | | | | of musicians, including Prince, Hüsker |
| Minneapolis). Minneapolis was the | | | | Dü, the Replacements, the Suburbs, and |
| headquarters of Honeywell International | | | | Soul Asylum set the pace for the nation |
| Inc. | | | | in pop musical innovation, and local |
| The 1920s and 1930s were a rather dark | | | | producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis's |
| period in the city's history, as | | | | studios became a destination for some of |
| organized crime and corruption took hold | | | | the 1980s and 1990s biggest acts. |
| of the region. The most notorious | | | | Prince's music and that of groups |
| gangster from this time was Kid Cann | | | | artists in his artistic influence gave |
| (real name Isadore Blumenfeld) who ran | | | | rise to the term "the Minneapolis |
| much of his operation from the city's | | | | sound". |