Northeast Minneapolis
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Northeast Minneapolis, sometimes referred to as Nordeast, includes the oldest neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from downtown Minneapolis and North Minneapolis. The part of Northeast Minneapolis across the river from downtown was originally settled as St Anthony, named after the falls that marked the northernmost navigable point of the Mississippi river. In 1848, Franklin Steele purchased the land that would become St Anthony and with the help of Ard Godfrey built the first commercial mill at the falls of St Anthony. The falls provided a dependable power source and soon many mills had been constructed there and the nickname "Mill City" was born. The land west of the Mississippi was opened for settlement in 1852, and when people started settling it, St Anthony found it had a competitor across the river. St Anthony was incorporated in 1855, 12 years before its neighbor Minneapolis. St Anthony and Minneapolis existed as separate cities until 1872 when the two cities agreed to merge under the name of Minneapolis. At that point St Anthony passed out of existence and Northeast Minneapolis came into being.
Northeast Minneapolis has been a traditionally working class area populated by immigrants of Polish, Finnish, German, and Russian descent that were drawn into the area by employment opportunities that the grain mills and sawmills along the river offered. Those companies were happy to have a large base of unskilled labor to draw from, and as the businesses grew they drew more and more immigrants into the area. By 1930, the immigrant population in made up nearly 60% of Northeast's total population, and was having a profound influence on the cultural life of Minneapolis. The names of local businesses still bear the mark of the area's large Eastern European immigrant population, for example, Surdyk's Liquors and Kramarczuk's Sausages are still doing business and thriving after half a century of existence. Northeast Minneapolis also became known for its large number of churches including its first church, St. Anthony of Padua, built on land donated by Pierre Bottineau and founded in 1849. As numerous as the churches were the neighborhood bars, which still a prominent feature of the community (in fact the first mayor of St. Anthony was elected largely by support of the tavern and bar owners).
After over a hundred years of continuous settlement by European populations the housing and other neighborhood infrastructure needed improvement by the late 20th century. The focus was on a housing stock which had become less and less acceptable to middle class buyers. Starting in the early 1970s residents received grants and loans to complete construction, alteration or improvement projects, new streets were built, Plumbing, heating, and electricity were brought up to code and improvements were made to local business.
It was also during this time that a proposal to build a freeway through the area was fought. The proposed freeway, I-335, was meant to connect I-94 on the west side of Minneapolis to I-35W along the east side near the campus of the University of Minnesota. The route was to follow the north side of the rail line that crosses Nicollet Island and passes to the north of the St Anthony commerical district, between 1st and 2nd Avenues NE. Land was bought and cleared for the project and the residents relocated before the project was defeated by the local residents. Ultimately new housing was constructed on the newly cleared land and was a part of the area's revitalization.
In recent years, the demographics of Northeast have changed somewhat, the population becoming younger and more diverse, while retaining a stable base of old "Nordeast" families, often in their third or fourth generation. More and more students from the nearby University of Minnesota moved into Northeast. Asian-Pacific and African Americans found stable neighborhoods and affordable housing available and chose the area as home. New immigrant groups (Somalis and Latin Americans of a variety of nationalities for example) kept the tradition of Northeast as a haven for immigrants. Seventy-nine percent of housing in the area is owner occupied which has continued to contribute to the stability of neighborhoods that comprise Northeast Minneapolis.
Along with the younger demographic came revitalization to the culture of Northeast. It has become a center for the arts in the Twin Cities. Galleries have sprung up all over Northeast, many occupying the historic buildings saved from when the area was more industrial. The Northrup King Building is a good example of this. Construction started in 1917 for the Northrup-King & Co. seed company and finally comprised 10 interconnected buildings that shipped seeds across the United States. Now, it is the home of over 135 tenants, including 100 artists and including small business and nonprofit organizations. The Grain Belt Brewery complex, the California Building, Thorp Building, and Waterbury Building are also home to various artist galleries and studios.
The new influence of the arts is expressed by "Art-a-whirl", an art crawl the third week of May that encompasses 400 art studios and has existed for 10 years. The Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (or NEMAA), which runs Art-a-Whirl, was instrumental in establishing the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, bounded by Central Ave., Broadway, the Mississippi River and Lowry Ave.
Restaurants and shops catering to a younger population have also reenergized Northeast Minneapolis. These newer businesses operate side by side with older establishments from the earlier era, including Nye's Polonaise Room and Kramarczuk's Sausage Company. The new face of Northeast Minneapolis is perhaps best seen in the new Hennepin Avenue Bridge. The new suspension bridge is at the same site of the first permanent bridge across the Mississippi River anywhere along its length and is styled after the first bridge at the site, also a suspension bridge.
[edit] Northeast Neighborhoods
Logan Park
Marshall Terrace
Northeast Park
Sheridan [7]
St. Anthony East
Waite Park [9]
