Longfellow, Minneapolis

Last updated
Longfellow
MinneapolisLongfellowCommunity.PNG
Location of Longfellow within the U.S. city of Minneapolis
Coordinates: 44°56′29″N93°12′57″W / 44.94139°N 93.21583°W / 44.94139; -93.21583
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Hennepin
City Minneapolis
Named for The Song of Hiawatha
City Council Wards2, 6, 12
Neighborhoods
Government
  Council Member Robin Wonsley
  Council Member Jamal Osman
  Council Member Aurin Chowdhury
Area
[1]
  Total4.962 sq mi (12.85 km2)
Population
 (2020) [2]
  Total29,295
  Density5,900/sq mi (2,300/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55404, 55406, 55417
Area code 612
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1980 28,675
1990 28,618−0.2%
2000 27,776−2.9%
2010 27,7750.0%
2020 29,2955.5%

Longfellow, also referred to as Greater Longfellow [3] is a defined community in Minneapolis, Minnesota which includes five smaller neighborhoods inside of it: Seward, Cooper, Hiawatha, Howe and Longfellow. The community is a mix of agri-industrial properties along the old Northern Pacific Railway, expansive parkland surrounding the famous Minnehaha Falls, and smaller residential areas.

Contents

History

The city did not acquire land south of Franklin Avenue until 1881 and 1883, with the last half of Longfellow annexed in 1887 from Richfield. [4] The area was largely built from 1906 through the 1920s when streetcar and residential rail became accessible. Also the advent of ready-to-assemble homes such as Sears Catalog Homes made homeownership accessible to the primarily immigrant population of the city who could not afford the carpentry or craftsmanship to build single-family homes (or mansions) of the era. Most of these early homeowners were first and second generation Scandinavians who moved out from Cedar Riverside. Even by 1930, the south area was still a major immigrant hub compared to the southwest area with a high foreign-born or second generation population. [5]

Longfellow takes its name from Longfellow neighborhood which in turn is named after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The renowned American poet incorporated elements into his poem The Song of Hiawatha from Henry Schoolcraft's accounts of native Dakota lore in Minnesota which included Minnehaha Falls in Longfellow's southern tip. The early reference of Highway 55 as Hiawatha Avenue, along the west border, may have influenced the naming decision when community borders were drawn in the 1960s. Hiawatha Avenue is the main thoroughfare leading north into Downtown Minneapolis and south to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport.

Local businessman Robert F. Jones built his home to resemble a replica of Longfellow's house. Longfellow never lived in it or ever saw it. Longfellow House.JPG
Local businessman Robert F. Jones built his home to resemble a replica of Longfellow's house. Longfellow never lived in it or ever saw it.

Longfellow's popular The Song of Hiawatha spurred national interest in Minnehaha Falls and his name became associated with the area. The poet's name would be further emphasized when the Longfellow House was built in 1906. A local businessman, Robert Fremont "Fish" Jones, commissioned the 2/3 scale replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's original home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The house was placed as part of the Longfellow Zoological Gardens at 4001 Minnehaha Parkway East, which Jones ran. Jones died in 1934 and the house was deeded to the city. For a short period it was a Minneapolis public library serving the community until it was moved and restored by the Park Board in 1994 to its current location near Minnehaha Falls. [6] It is now an interpretive and information center for the Minneapolis Park System. [7]

The community was the center of widespread civil unrest during the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul in May 2020, with the Minneapolis Police Department's third precinct station and many local businesses among those destroyed by arson. [8]

Location and Characteristics

The community is considered part South Minneapolis. It is bounded by the city's eastern border with the Mississippi River to the east, Hiawatha Avenue to the west, Hiawatha Avenue and the Metro Blue Line to the southwest/west, and Interstate 94 to the north. It is primarily located in Ward 12, represented by city council member Aurin Chowdhury. The Seward neighborhood is split between Ward 2 and Ward 6, represented by Robin Wonsley and Jamal Osman, respectively. [9] Most of Greater Longfellow (with the exception of Seward]] is represented by the Longfellow Community Council. [3]

Longfellow is home to the Danish American Center, Minnehaha Academy, Christ Church and the Longfellow House. The area is typically recognized by bungalow style Craftsman homes built in the 1920s. It also contains the Ray and Kay Price House, designed by the famed Ralph Rapson, and the Frederick Lang House, designed by Herb Fritz. Minnehaha Falls is a national attraction and an important cultural node of the Twin Cities. [10]

The neighborhood's central corridor runs along East 42nd Avenue and is home to many businesses. Along the northern edge runs the Midtown Greenway trail and the vibrant East Lake business district, which is home to many restaurants. The west border was once an agri-industrial and milling processing center served by the Northern Pacific Railway. Today the grain silos and factories along the length of the highway are set to make way for new residential condos, apartment buildings, and a new greenway connecting Minnehaha Falls and the Midtown Greenway. This area is also anchored by the Minnehaha Mile, a biking street that contains more antique, vintage, retro, and secondhand shops than any other commercial corridor in the state of Minnesota

Attractions

Cheatham Avenue is named after John Cheatham, one of the first Black firefighters in Minneapolis. [11]

Hiawatha Avenue Mural on the Harvest States grain elevator was designed by artist Sara Rotholz Weiner. Completed in 1990, it is a defining feature of the neighborhood. [12]

Lock and Dam No. 1 is located on the southern edge of the neighborhood and offers a bird's-eye view of the locking procedure and other topics ranging from barge traffic in the transportation network to the Corps 9-foot channel project.

Min Hi Line is a proposed linear park and shared-use pathway for an active agricultural-industrial rail corridor. Two pilot projects were completed in 2018 and 2019, and many housing and commercial developments line the corridor.

Minnehaha Park is a historic city park on the shores of the Mississippi River that includes picnic areas, trails, sculpture and the 53 foot falls. An old snack shack in the Minnehaha Pavilion is located here.

Minnehaha Recording Company is a recording studio built into a 1939 Phillips 66 Gas Station on Minnehaha Avenue and 45th Street. Founded in 2014, the studio has hosted such artists as Charlie Parr, Chris Mulkey, Communist Daughter, Prof, Krizz Kaliko, Human Impact, Ecid, and Brian Ritchie.

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area provides trails for biking and hiking on along the river and provides access to sandy beaches and viewing points. The area’s 5-mile Winchell Trail along the river’s bluff offers a rustic hiking experience in the city.

Purple Rain house of “The Kid” is located on Snelling Avenue. It was used for exterior scenes in the movie. The house, purchased by Prince eight months before his death and owned by his estate, is a popular tourist destination for fans of the movie. [13]

The Metro Blue Line serves Longfellow, running along its western/southwestern border. [14]

Minnehaha Mile is a street containing nine antique, vintage, retro, and secondhand shops, more than any other commercial corridor in the state of Minnesota. East Lake Street is a commercial corridor that hosts a collection of restaurants that serve foods from around the world and unique shopping & business venues.

Notable residents

Neighborhoods in the Longfellow community

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seward, Minneapolis</span> Neighborhood of Minneapolis

Seward is a neighborhood in the Longfellow community of Minneapolis, Minnesota, located geographically southeast of downtown. It consists of the land bordered by the Hiawatha Avenue industrial district to the west, Minneapolis Midtown Greenway to the south, the Mississippi River to the east, and Interstate 94 to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnehaha Park (Minneapolis)</span> United States historic place

Minnehaha Park is a city park in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, and home to Minnehaha Falls and the lower reaches of Minnehaha Creek. Officially named Minnehaha Regional Park, it is part of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board system and lies within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service. The park was designed by landscape architect Horace W.S. Cleveland in 1883 as part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway system, and was part of the popular steamboat Upper Mississippi River "Fashionable Tour" in the 1800s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Street/Midtown station</span> Light rail station in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Lake Street/Midtown station, also referred locally as either the Lake Street station or Midtown station, is a Blue Line light rail stop in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The station is located on a bridge over East Lake Street adjacent to Highway 55.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neighborhoods of Minneapolis</span> Official communities and neighborhood of Minneapolis

Minneapolis is officially defined by its city council as divided into 83 neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are historically grouped into 11 communities. Informally, there are city areas with colloquial labels. Residents may also group themselves by their city street suffixes: North, Northeast, South, and Southeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway</span> Parkway system in Minneapolis

The Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway is a linked series of park areas in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, that takes a roughly circular path through the city. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board developed the system over many years. The corridors include roads for automobile traffic plus separate paths for pedestrians and bicycles, and extend slightly into neighboring cities. About 50 miles (80 km) of roadway and paths are in the system, and much of it was built in the 1930s as part of Civilian Conservation Corps projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooper, Minneapolis</span> Neighborhood of Longfellow, Minneapolis

The Cooper neighborhood resides along the west shore of the Mississippi River in south Minneapolis. It is bound by 34th St. E. on the south, 38th Ave. S. on the west, 27th St. E. on the north, and the river gorge to the east. Bordering neighborhoods are Seward to the north, Longfellow to the west, and Howe to the south. St. Paul's Merriam Park neighborhood is just across the Mississippi River to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Street (Minneapolis)</span>

Lake Street is a major east-west thoroughfare between 29th and 31st streets in Minneapolis, Minnesota United States. From its western most end at the city's limits, Lake Street reaches the Chain of Lakes, passing over a small channel linking Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles, and at its eastern most end it reaches the Mississippi River. In May 2020, the Lake Street corridor suffered extensive damage during local unrest following the murder of George Floyd. In August of the same year, city officials designated East Lake Street as one of seven cultural districts to promote racial equity, preserve cultural identity, and promote economic growth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiawatha, Minneapolis</span> Neighborhood of Longfellow, Minneapolis

Hiawatha is a neighborhood within the larger Longfellow community in Minneapolis. It is bordered by 40th Street to the north, the Mississippi River to the east, 54th Street East to the south, and Hiawatha Avenue to the west. Its neighbors are Howe to the north, the Mississippi River to the east, Minnehaha Park and the Minnehaha neighborhood to the south, and Ericsson and Standish to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midtown Greenway</span> Shared-use path in Minneapolis, USA

The Midtown Greenway is a 5.7-mile (9.2 km) rail trail in Minneapolis, Minnesota that follows the path of an abandoned route of the Milwaukee Road railway. It is considered under segregated cycle facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lind-Bohanon, Minneapolis</span> Neighborhood in Hennepin, Minnesota, United States

Lind-Bohanon is a northern neighborhood within the Camden community in Minneapolis. It is located in Ward 4, represented by council member LaTrisha Vetaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnehaha, Minneapolis</span> Neighborhood of Nokomis, Minneapolis

Minnehaha is a neighborhood in the Nokomis community in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its boundaries are Minnehaha Parkway to the north, Hiawatha Avenue to the east, 54th Street to the south, and 34th Avenue to the west. It is located in Ward 12 of the Minneapolis City Council, currently represented by council member Aurin Chowdhury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nokomis East</span> Group of neighborhoods in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Nokomis East is a group of neighborhoods in the southeastern corner of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It consists of four neighborhoods: Keewaydin, Minnehaha, Morris Park and Wenonah. Nokomis East contains two schools, the Nokomis Community Library, and a post office. On its western edge is Lake Nokomis, for which it is named. Two regional parks, and three neighborhood parks, provide recreation and educational programming for all age groups. Seven churches serve residents of various denominations. Nokomis East is served by the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA). The main transportation corridors are the neighborhood boundaries: Cedar Avenue, 34th and 28th Avenues, 50th and 54th Streets, Hwy 55, and Crosstown highway 62.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longfellow House</span> Historic home in Minnesota

The Longfellow House in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, is a 2/3 scale replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Built in 1907, the house was neither seen nor lived in by Longfellow, but was the home of an admiring Minneapolis businessman named Robert "Fish" Jones. Longfellow House stands within Minnehaha Park and is a contributing property to the Minnehaha Park Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board</span> Local governing body

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is an independent park district that owns, maintains, and programs activities in public parks in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It has 500 full-time and 1,300 part-time employees and an $111 million operating and capital budget.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winchell Trail</span> Hiking area in Minneapolis

Winchell Trail is a five-mile (8 km) round trip, pedestrian-only trail in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, that runs along the west side of the Mississippi River between Franklin Avenue South and East 44th Street. Popular with bird watchers and naturalists, the rustic trail provides Upper Mississippi River gorge access and views. The trail is separate from the adjacent multi-use bicycle path, taking hikers past sandy beaches, an oak savanna restoration project, and the floodplain forest. The trail has multiple access points and the section from East 38th Street to East 44th Street is paved. Described as moderate and for all hiking skill levels, the out-and-back Winchell Trail has total elevation gain of 501 feet (153 m). Portions of the trail can be hiked in near solitude as its age and general destitute make it a widely forgotten place to explore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiawatha LRT Trail</span> Shared-use path in Minneapolis

Hiawatha LRT Trail is a 4.7-mile (7.6 km), multi-use path adjacent to a light-rail transit line in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, that is popular with bicycle commuters. Users travel along the Metro Blue Line and Hiawatha Avenue transit corridor, reaching downtown Minneapolis near an indoor sports stadium at the trail’s northern end, and reaching a bridge above Minnehaha Creek at the trail’s southern end. Hiawatha LRT Trail provides a vital link between several Minneapolis neighborhoods and the city’s downtown area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Earth Trail</span> Shared-use path in Minneapolis

Little Earth Trail is an approximately 1-mile (1.6 km), multi-use bicycle path in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, that links several neighborhoods, parks, businesses, and trails in the Phillips community. The trail begins at its northern end near the intersection of East Franklin Avenue and 16th Avenue South and eventually follows the west side of Hiawatha Avenue to the Midtown Greenway and Martin Olav Sabo Bridge. Named after the nearby Little Earth community, the shared-use pathway provides transportation and recreation opportunities, and is a frequent location of activism on social justice issues in Minneapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Min Hi Line</span> Proposed linear park and shared-use path in Minneapolis

Min Hi Line is a proposed linear park and shared-use path that would eventually re-purpose an active rail and agri-industrial corridor in the Longfellow community of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Modeled after successful projects like the Atlanta Beltline and New York High Line, it would feature an approximately 3-mile (4.8 km), shared-use pathway that traverses housing, retail, commercial buildings, gardens, playgrounds, and public art installments. Two pilot projects completed in 2018 and 2019 connect the Min Hi Line corridor to trail systems at its northern and southern ends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trails in Minneapolis</span>

Minneapolis is often considered one of the top biking and walking cities in the United States due to its vast network of trails and dedicated pedestrian areas. In 2020, Walk Score rated Minneapolis as 13th highest among cities over 200,000 people. Some bicycling ratings list Minneapolis at the top of all United States cities, while others list Minneapolis in the top ten. There are over 80 miles (130 km) of paved, protected pathways in Minneapolis for use as transportation and recreation. The city's Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway parkway system accounts for the vast majority of the city's shared-use paths at approximately 50 miles (80 km) of dedicated biking and walking areas. By 2008, other city, county, and park board areas accounted for approximately 30 miles (48 km) of additional trails, for a city-wide total of approximately 80 miles (130 km) of protected pathways. The network of shared biking and walking paths continued to grow into the late 2010s with the additions of the Hiawatha LRT Trail gap remediation, Min Hi Line pilot projects, and Samatar Crossing. The city also features several natural-surface hiking trails, mountain-biking paths, groomed cross-country ski trails in winter, and other pedestrian walkways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Gorge Regional Park</span> Urban park in Minnesota, United States

Mississippi Gorge Regional Park is a regional park along the east and west bluffs of the Mississippi River in the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The two-city park area is between Mississippi river miles 848 and 852, from just south of Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9 to just north of Minnehaha Regional Park, and lies within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The park area protects scenic and natural areas of the Mississippi River gorge, the only true gorge along the entire length of the 2,320-mile (3,730 km) river.

References

  1. "Greater Longfellow neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota (MN), 55404, 55406, 55417 detailed profile". City-Data. 2011. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  2. "Longfellow community data". Minnesota Compass. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  3. 1 2 "About". What is Greater Longfellow?. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  4. "A History of Minneapolis: Governance and Infrastructure". Minneapolis Library. 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25.
  5. "A History of Minneapolis: 20th Century Growth and Diversity: Maps, 1930s". Minneapolis Library. 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  6. "The Longfellow House". Historic Homes of MN. March 14, 2008.
  7. Longfellow House at Mpls Park site Archived 2011-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Kuz, Martin (2021-05-19). "A year after Floyd unrest, a Minneapolis neighborhood emerges from ashes". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN   0882-7729 . Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  9. "Find My Ward". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  10. Northern Pacific Railway brochure
  11. Brooks, Jennifer (2021-12-25). "Minneapolis will change infamous street name to honor trailblazing firefighter". Star Tribune . Retrieved 2021-12-25.
  12. "After 22 years, Hiawatha Avenue grain elevator mural often goes unnoticed". Twin Cities Daily Planet . 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.
  13. Riemenschneider, Chris (July 20, 2016). "Nothing to Kid about: Prince bought the 'Purple Rain' house last summer". Star Tribune.
  14. "Metro Blue Line Interactive Map". Metro Transit. Retrieved 22 April 2024.