St. Louis Park

History

Early developments

The name "St. Louis Park" was derived from the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway that ran through the area; the word "Park" was added to avoid confusion with St. Louis, Missouri. The settlement was incorporated as a village in 1886, and from 1887 to 1890, its post office was called "Elmwood".

In 1892, lumber baron Thomas Barlow Walker and a group of wealthy Minneapolis industrialists incorporated the Minneapolis Land and Investment Company to focus industrial development in Minneapolis. Walker's company also began developing St. Louis Park for industrial, commercial and residential use.

Generally, development progressed outward from the original village center at the intersection of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway with Wooddale Avenue. But Minneapolis soon expanded as far west as France Avenue, and its boundary may have continued to move westward had it not been for St. Louis Park's 1886 incorporation.

By 1893, St. Louis Park's downtown, then located along Broadway (current-day Walker Street) near Lake Street, had three hotels and several fraternal meeting halls, and many newly arrived companies surrounded downtown. Around 1890, the village had more than 600 industrial jobs, mostly associated with agriculture implement manufacturing at the massive Moline Plow Company factory once located just south of downtown.

The financial panic of 1893 altered developers' plans and put a damper on the village's growth. Walker left St. Louis Park to pursue other business ventures.

In 1899, St. Louis Park became the home to the Peavey–Haglin Experimental Concrete Grain Elevator, the world's first concrete, tubular grain elevator, which provided an alternative to combustible wooden elevators. Despite being nicknamed "Peavey's Folly" and dire predictions that the elevator would burst like a balloon when the grain was drawn off, the experiment worked and concrete elevators have been used ever since.

Suburban boom

At the end of World War I, only seven scattered retail stores operated in St. Louis Park because streetcars provided easy access to shopping in Minneapolis. Between 1920 and 1930, the population doubled from 2,281 to 4,710. Vigorous homebuilding occurred in the late 1930s to accommodate the pent-up need created during the Depression. With America's involvement in World War II, however, all development came to a halt.

Explosive growth came after World War II. In 1940, 7,737 people lived in St. Louis Park. By 1955, more than 30,000 new residents had joined them. From 1940 to 1955, growth averaged 6.9 persons moving into St. Louis Park every day. Sixty percent of St. Louis Park's homes were built in a single burst of construction from the late 1940s to the early 1950s.

Residential development was closely followed by commercial developers eager to bring goods and services to these new households. In the late 1940s, Minnesota's first shopping center — the 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) Lilac Way — was constructed on the northeast corner of Excelsior Boulevard and Highway 100. (The Lilac Way shopping center was torn down in the late 1980s to make way for redevelopment.) Miracle Mile shopping center, built in 1950, and Knollwood Mall, which opened in 1956, remain open today.

In the late 1940s, a group of 11 former army doctors opened the St. Louis Park Medical Center in a small building on Excelsior Boulevard. The medical center merged with Methodist Hospital and today is Park Nicollet Health Services, part of HealthPartners, the second-largest medical clinic in Minnesota (after Rochester's Mayo Clinic).

During the period between 1950 and 1956, 66 new subdivisions were recorded to make room for 2,700 new homes. In 1953 and 1954, the final two parcels — Kilmer and Shelard Park — were annexed. These parcels (originally in Minnetonka) came to St. Louis Park because of their ability to provide sewer and water service. According to Al Franken, whose mother was a realtor there, in the Twin Cities the area was nicknamed St. Jewish Park, given that 20% of its residents were of Jewish background. He states also that there appeared to be a tacit agreement between bankers, developers and real estate agents to ensure redlining, in order to prevent the spread of Jewish and Afro-American families across streets like Texas Avenue into areas with a different ethnic composition.

From village to city

In 1954, voters approved a home rule charter that gave an overwhelmed St. Louis Park the status of a city. That enabled the city to hire a city manager to assume some of the duties handled by the part-time city council. Several bridges built during that time are now being repaired or razed.

In those days, the primary concerns were the physical planning of St. Louis Park, updating zoning and construction codes, expanding sewer and water systems, paving streets, acquiring park land and building schools.

Filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, who grew up in St. Louis Park, set their 2009 film A Serious Man in the city c. 1967. It was important to the Coens to find a neighborhood of original-looking suburban rambler homes as they would have appeared in St. Louis Park in the mid-1960s, and after careful scouting they opted to film scenes in a neighborhood of nearby Bloomington, as well as at St. Louis Park's B'nai Emet Synagogue, which was later sold and converted into a school.

In the mid-2020s, St. Louis Park experienced a significant surge in transit-oriented and commercial redevelopment, anchored heavily by the upcoming Southwest light rail line. The city's top-tier commercial spaces bucked broader metropolitan office vacancy trends; by late 2025, the West End district posted a vacancy rate of just 12.8%, the lowest major corridor vacancy in the Twin Cities metro. Major multi-family residential construction projects also advanced, including the $130 million, 380-unit Beltline Station project by Sherman Associates, and the 223-unit Terasă mixed-use redevelopment at the former 5401 Gamble Drive office site, which officially broke ground in early 2026. Additionally, municipal infrastructure updates during this period included the extensive Cedar Lake Road and Louisiana Avenue intersection improvements, which integrated new modern roundabout corridors.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.86 square miles (28.13 km2), of which 10.64 square miles (27.56 km2) is land and 0.22 square miles (0.57 km2) is water.

Interstate 394, U.S. Highway 169, and Minnesota State Highways 7 and 100 are four of the main routes in St. Louis Park.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, St. Louis Park had a population of 50,010. The median age was 34.6 years. 16.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.0 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 23,830 households in St. Louis Park, of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 34.6% were married-couple households, 23.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 25,047 housing units, of which 4.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 45,250 people, 21,743 households, and 10,459 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,252.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,642.0/km2). There were 23,285 housing units at an average density of 2,188.4 units per square mile (844.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.3% White, 7.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 3.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.

There were 21,743 households, of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 51.9% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the city was 35.4 years. 18.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 36.4% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 44,126 people, 20,782 households, and 10,557 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,122.5 persons per square mile (1,591.7 persons/km2). There were 21,140 housing units at an average density of 1,975.0 units per square mile (762.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.91% White, 4.37% African American, 0.45% Native American, 3.21% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.

There were 20,782 households, out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.2% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 37.7% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,260, and the median income for a family was $63,182. Males had a median income of $40,561 versus $32,447 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,970. About 3.0% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Russian and Jewish populations

The city has a relatively high Jewish population for Minnesota, and is home to the Sabes Jewish Community Center and several synagogues including Beth El Synagogue, Kenesseth Israel Congregation, and Congregation Bais Yisroel. It also is home to a thriving Yeshiva for boys and

Bais Yaakov for girls. It is estimated that around 38% of Jews in the greater Minneapolis area live in St. Louis Park.

Due, in part, to mass immigration from former-Soviet states, St. Louis Park has a large Russian population around its Aquila area. The Russian language is the second most spoken language in the city after English, and the Hennepin County Library's St. Louis Park location has an extensive Russian language section.

Government

St. Louis Park operates under the Council/Manager form of government. An elected City Council sets the policy and overall direction for the city. Then city workers, under the direction of a professional city manager carry out council decisions and provide day-to-day city services. The city manager is accountable to the City Council. St. Louis Park voters elect the mayor and six (two at-large and four ward) City Council members to four-year terms. The mayor and at-large council members represent all residents; the ward council members are primarily responsible for representing their ward constituents.

Politics

St. Louis Park is in Minnesota's 5th congressional district, represented by Ilhan Omar, a Democrat. The town was placed in this district, which includes traditionally liberal segments of Minneapolis, in the redistricting after the 1990 census. Before that, St. Louis Park had been part of the 3rd congressional district, along with Edina and other more conservative suburbs. The 3rd district was represented by Republicans Clark MacGregor and William Frenzel from 1961 until 1991.

Succeeding Jake Spano, mayor Nadia Mohamed is the first elected Somali American mayor of a US city. She won election to the position on November 7, 2023.

Education

Public schools

The St. Louis Park School District, Independent School District 283, is home to six public schools serving about 4,200 students in grades K–12 students. St. Louis Park is the only school district in Minnesota in which every public school has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.

In the 1960s, the proportion of school-age children in St. Louis Park was much higher than it is now, although the population has not changed much. Due to declining enrollment over the years, there have been several changes to schools in the district:

Ethel Baston Elementary School was closed; its building is now occupied by Groves Academy, a private school.

Fern Hill Elementary School was closed; its building is now occupied by Torah Academy of Minneapolis, a private school.

Oak Hill Elementary School opened in 1950 and closed in 1967. Oak Hill enrollment was limited to students in grades one and two, as well as one special education class.

Park Knoll Elementary School was demolished to expand the Knollwood Mall.

Brookside Elementary School, Lenox Elementary School, and Eliot Elementary School were closed as public school buildings: Brookside was procured by a developer who converted the school into condominiums; Lenox Community Center has the SLP Senior Program and preschool on the main floor, with nonprofits on the second; Eliot was sold to a developer who tore it down to build apartment buildings in 2014.

Central Community Center, formerly Central Junior High School, housed the Park Spanish Immersion School until it moved in 2019 to its current location at Cedar Lake Road and Highway 169 in the building formerly known as Cedar Manor. It also housed other ISD 283 programs, including Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), and Community Education programs including gymnastics and swimming. It now is the home to the District offices. For some years, there were two junior high schools in St. Louis Park. The one now called St. Louis Park Middle School was then Westwood Junior High School.

Private schools

Academy of Whole Learning

Benilde-St. Margaret's School is a Catholic, co-educational school serving students in grades 7–12

Groves Academy

Metropolitan Open School

Smith Jewish Academy, formerly Heilicher/Minneapolis Jewish Day School (MJDS), is a private K–8 school on the Barry Family Campus. It teaches a dual curriculum of general and Judaic studies. The school team is the Lions. Its colors are blue and gold.

Torah Academy of Minneapolis

Bais Yaakov High School of the Twin Cities

Yeshiva of Minneapolis

Businesses

There are over 2,700 businesses in St. Louis Park, including:

Travelers Express/MoneyGram, deposit banking functions — 450 employees

Benilde-St. Margaret's School — 200 employees

Nordic Ware (also known as Northland Aluminum Products), which introduced the Bundt cake in about 1950, household cooking equipment — 135 employees

Bridgewater Bank (headquartered in St. Louis Park)

Wheels For Wishes and Car Donation Foundation, a nonprofit organization

The city employs 252 people and the school district (District #283) employs about 762.

The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting, which has a major collection of antique radio and television equipment, is also in the city. Items range from radios produced by local manufacturers to the Vitaphone system used to cut discs carrying audio for the first "talkie", The Jazz Singer.

Notable people

Michael Birawer, artist

Paige Bueckers, basketball player

The Coen brothers, filmmakers

Charles Foley (1930–2013), inventor of the game Twister (lived in a special care facility in St. Louis Park at the time of his death from Alzheimer's disease)

Al Franken (b. 1951), U.S. senator and comedian

Thomas Loren Friedman (b. 1953), journalist and author

Owen Husney, manager who discovered and first signed Prince to Warner Brothers

Sharon Isbin, guitarist and professor at the Juilliard School

Sally Olsen (1934–2022), lawyer and state legislator

Ade Olufeko, polymath, technologist

Norman Ornstein, political scientist

Michael J. Sandel, political philosopher

Dan Stoneking, journalist and Minneapolis Star sports editor

Marc Trestman, football coach

Kenneth W. Wolfe, Minnesota state senator and mayor of St. Louis Park

Joey Molland (1947–2025), guitarist and vocalist of the British rock band Badfinger (died in St. Louis Park)

Peggy Flanagan, current lieutenant governor of Minnesota