"Minneapolis - City of Water" a Minneapolis Travel Page by emoja

The land from which the city of Minneapolis now rises originally belonged to the Dakota Indians, although the Ojibwe (Chippewa)were very close by. This land later passed through French, Spanish and English rule before finally becoming part of the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

Hennepin County, which contains Minneapolis, was named after Father Louis Hennepin, a Belgian Friar. He explored the area in the late 1600s and wrote a book about his experiences here when he returned to Europe.

The name Minneapolis derives from the Dakota Indian word for laughing waters = Minnehaha, and the Greek word for city = polis. Minne-apolis. The literal translation then is 'city of water.' It is the only city name in the entire U.S. that is a combination of Native American and Greek words.

The complete word Minnehaha is still in use - we have the Minnehaha Falls, and an avenue named Minnehaha.

Minneapolis sprouted off the banks of the Mississippi River. Our economy was originally based around flour and textile mills. Until the 1930s, Minneapolis led the world in flour production. Many of the old mills still remain along the river and have been converted to condominiums and a museum.

The first elite class in Minneapolis was, of course, the owners of the flour and textile mills. They branched out from downtown Minneapolis and began building mansions in the late 1800s in the area now known as Loring Park/ Loring Heights. The mansions on this page are all built in that era, and all by factory owners. I'm lucky enough to live in the same neighborhood as these beautiful homes.

Today, the Minneapolis metro area has the 15th largest economy in the country. We are lucky to have our hands in such diverse industries that if one fails, the others quickly pick up the slack.

Minneapolis is incredibly diverse as well - our largest immigrants were originally Scandinavian, but take a stroll down Nicollet Avenue today and you will pass Hmong, Somalian, Puerto Rican, Vietnamese, Chinese, Ugandan, Mexican, Haitian, Russian, Tanzanian and Native American, among many others.

Minneapolis is a truly beautiful city with a rich history and its own culture. Drop by when you get a chance (although it's always better to come in the summertime ;-).