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