How about a journey through a city named not for a saint but for a railroad? I’m talking about Welcome to St. Louis Park. It is a first-ring suburb just west of Minneapolis. This city of 50,010 residents holds a unique blend of history and modern life.
Welcome to St. Louis Park. Its story begins with the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway. The name “Park” was added to avoid confusion with St. Louis Missouri. Incorporated in 1886 St. Louis Park has transformed over the years. From 1887 to 1890 its post office even went by the name of Elmwood.
Let’s travel back to the late 1800s. Thomas Barlow Walker and other Minneapolis industrialists saw potential here. They formed the Minneapolis Land and Investment Company. Their goal was to develop St. Louis Park for industry commerce and homes.
Originally the heart of St. Louis Park was at the intersection of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway and Wooddale Avenue. By 1893 downtown St. Louis Park had hotels fraternal halls and growing businesses. The Moline Plow Company factory provided over 600 industrial jobs.
The financial panic of 1893 slowed things down. Walker moved on to other ventures. Yet St. Louis Park continued to evolve.
Then comes an innovation that changed grain storage forever. In 1899 St. Louis Park became home to the Peavey–Haglin Experimental Concrete Grain Elevator. This was the world’s first concrete tubular grain elevator. People called it “Peavey’s Folly” fearing it would burst. But it worked. Concrete elevators are still used today.
After World War I St. Louis Park was a small retail area. Streetcars made it easy to shop in Minneapolis. But between 1920 and 1930 the population more than doubled. Homebuilding boomed in the late 1930s. World War II temporarily halted development.
Explosive growth followed World War II. The population soared from 7737 in 1940 to over 30000 by 1955. New residents moved in every day. Most of St. Louis Park’s homes were built during this time.
Commercial development kept pace. Minnesota’s first shopping center Lilac Way opened in the late 1940s. Miracle Mile shopping center built in 1950 and Knollwood Mall opened in 1956 are still open.
In the late 1940s a group of army doctors established the St. Louis Park Medical Center. It later merged with Methodist Hospital to become Park Nicollet Health Services.
In 1954 St. Louis Park became a city. This allowed it to hire a city manager and handle growing responsibilities. Physical planning zoning and infrastructure became key priorities.
Today St. Louis Park is a vibrant city with much to offer. It is known for its nationally renowned public schools. All its schools are recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.
St. Louis Park also boasts year-round outdoor recreation. There are 51 parks miles of trails and various sports facilities. The Westwood Hills Nature Center offers a beautiful natural escape.
The city is dedicated to public art. Murals sculptures and sidewalk poetry enhance the community’s charm. Arts and cultural events take place throughout the year.
Welcome to St. Louis Park a place where history innovation and community thrive. It’s a city with a story and it continues to evolve.