History of the District
Northeast Mineapolis is a unique corner of the city known for its industrial and immigrant heritage. From its early settlement along the East riverbank at St. Anthony Falls in the early 1800’s, factories, warehouses and shops sprang up with the close access to the river and railroads that could easily move goods in and out. Homes were nestled in among the train tracks and factories that employed the immigrants who first populated the area. The early immigrant populations (Polish, Ukranian, Lebanese and German) built churches and schools to educate their children and preserve their individual cultures and beliefs. Even the streets of Northeast were named with the new residents in mind. Named after the US presidents in order of their election, they helped people prepare for citizenship exams.
Northeast is now seeing a new influx of immigration. Arab, East Indian, Latin and Asian enclaves are well established and growing in the area. A younger generation of home owners (many of whom were raised in nearby suburbs or elsewhere in the region) have moved into the city for an opportunity to refurbish old homes and to be involved in the “neighborhood” atmosphere of Northeast Minneapolis.
But most markedly, hundreds of artists have moved into the area in the past decade. Their studio spaces have put new use to the old factories and warehouses, breathing life into entire sections of Northeast that had fallen empty over the years. All these groups as well as the decendants of the first immigrants are essential to the revitalization of Northeast, creating small businesses, restaurants, galleries and a mix of cultural experiences that lure the public to the area. The identity of Northeast Minneapolis will always be tied to the original immigrant communities who created the setting that makes up the look and feel of this part of our city. But the future of Northeast Minneapolis will be inextricably linked to the creative force of its new residents and the over 400 artists who now live and work in the area.
