Fridley, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fridley
|
|
|---|---|
Fridley Civic Campus
|
|
| Nickname(s):
"Friendly Fridley"
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Anoka |
| Incorporated (village) | June 18, 1949 |
| Incorporated (city) | May 23, 1957 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.88 sq mi (28.18 km2) |
| • Land | 10.16 sq mi (26.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.72 sq mi (1.86 km2) |
| Elevation | 850 ft (260 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 29,590 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
|
30,289 |
| • Density | 2,911.26/sq mi (1,124.08/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
55421, 55432
|
| Area code(s) | 763 |
| FIPS code | 27-22814 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394826 |
Fridley is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota. In 2020, about 29,590 people lived there. It was first settled as a place called Manomin, where Rice Creek meets the Mississippi River. An old trail for oxcarts, called the Red River Oxcart trail, also crossed the creek here. Fridley became a village in 1949 and then a city in 1957. It is part of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, located just north of Minneapolis. Most of Fridley's growth happened between 1950 and 1970.
Contents
Geography and Climate
Fridley covers about 10.89 square miles (28.18 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part covered by water.
The city is long from north to south, following the Mississippi River and the highways next to it. It is narrower from east to west, between the Mississippi River and Spring Lake Park.
Fridley shares its borders with several other cities:
- To the north: Coon Rapids and Blaine
- To the northeast: Spring Lake Park
- To the east: Mounds View and New Brighton
- To the southeast: Columbia Heights
- To the southwest: Minneapolis
- To the west: Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center
Fridley is located at the southern edge of the Anoka Sand Plain. It has several lakes, including East Moore Lake, West Moore Lake, and Locke Lake. Rice Creek flows through the middle of the city, and Springbrook Creek flows through the northwest. The Mississippi River forms Fridley's western border. Some islands in the Mississippi River, like the Islands of Peace, are also part of the city.
Weather in Fridley
Fridley has a climate similar to Minneapolis. It experiences hot summers and cold winters. The temperature difference between the coldest winter month and the warmest summer month is quite large, about 60.1 degrees Fahrenheit.
History of Fridley
Early Settlement and Growth
Fridley's history began in 1844 with the building of the Red River Trails Woods trail. This trail was used by Red River ox carts to transport furs and supplies. Today, East River Road (Anoka County Highway 1) follows this historic route.
In 1847, John Banfill was the first European-American settler in the area, which was then called Manomin. The name "Manomin" comes from the Ojibwe word for wild rice. This area included what are now Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hilltop, and Spring Lake Park. The Banfill Tavern was built in 1847.
The area grew quickly. In 1851, Banfill planned the town of Manomin. A general store and a sawmill were built near Rice Creek. In 1853, the first post office opened, and a ferry across the Mississippi River started in 1854.
In 1855, Abram M. Fridley was elected as the first representative for the area. The city was later named after him.
In 1857, Manomin County was created, becoming the smallest county in the nation. However, it was joined with Anoka County in 1870 and became a township.
The Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad reached Fridley in 1864, connecting it to other cities. In 1879, the Minnesota Legislature officially changed the township's name to Fridley.
Becoming a City
In 1949, Fridley Township officially became the Village of Fridley. The Fridley Free Press newspaper also started. In 1957, the village became the City of Fridley. The city's population grew rapidly, reaching over 15,000 in the 1950s and peaking at over 30,000 by the 1970s.
The Totino's frozen pizza company opened a factory in Fridley in 1970. The company was later sold to Pillsbury in 1975.
Major Disasters in 1965
Fridley faced two big disasters in 1965. In April, a "500-year flood" hit Minnesota. The Mississippi River rose to record levels, causing severe flooding in areas like Riverview Heights.
Then, on May 6, 1965, two powerful tornadoes, rated F4, struck Fridley. One out of every four homes in the city was either destroyed or damaged. The second tornado was the deadliest storm in the Twin Cities' history, killing 13 people. Parts of the City Hall and fire station were also damaged.
Recovery and New Developments
After the disasters, Fridley began to rebuild. In 1967, a new Civic Center Building opened. Major companies like Medtronic, Inc. and Onan Corporation bought land in Fridley for their manufacturing facilities.
In 1970, Fridley started buying land to create the Springbrook Nature Center. In 1986, a tornado hit the Nature Center, destroying many old trees.
21st Century Events
In 2001, Medtronic opened its new World Headquarters in Fridley. It is still an important location for the company today.
On June 19, 2003, President George W. Bush visited the Micro Controls company in Fridley to talk about tax changes.
In 2005, strong winds, over 80 miles per hour, hit Fridley. Many large trees were knocked down, and dozens of homes and vehicles were damaged. Cleanup efforts took about a week.
Fridley is home to one of the first stations for the Northstar Commuter Rail line. This train connects the northwest suburbs to downtown Minneapolis and opened in 2009.
In 2011, heavy rains caused a train derailment over Rice Creek. In 2016, the Columbia Arena, a place where the Disney movie D3: The Mighty Ducks was filmed, was torn down to build a new City Hall. The new Fridley Civic Campus opened in November 2018.
In 2022, President Joe Biden visited the Cummins plant in Fridley. Cummins had announced plans to produce clean energy technology there.
Economy and Jobs
Fridley is an important business center. It is home to the Operational Headquarters of Medtronic plc, a large medical technology company. Other major employers include BAE Systems, Cummins, Unity Medical Center (part of Allina Healthcare), Minco Products, Inc, and Kurt Manufacturing Company. Fridley also has a Target Stores distribution center.
The cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul get their drinking water from the Mississippi River in Fridley. The City of Minneapolis Waterworks plant is located here.
Most people who live in Fridley work outside the city, often in Minneapolis or other nearby cities.
Top Employers in Fridley
Here are some of the largest employers in Fridley:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medtronic | 3,366 |
| 2 | Target | 1,301 |
| 3 | Unity Medical Center | 1,215 |
| 4 | Cummins Power (Onan) | 1,099 |
| 5 | Minco Products | 592 |
| 6 | Fridley Public Schools ISD #14 | 564 |
| 7 | BAE Systems | 550 |
| 8 | Kurt Manufacturing | 275 |
| 9 | Taylor Communications | 250 |
| 10 | Walmart | 212 |
Education in Fridley
Fridley's public schools are managed by Fridley Independent School District 14. The district includes:
- Fridley High School
- Fridley Middle School
- Hayes Elementary School
- Stevenson Elementary School
Over the years, some elementary schools in Fridley have closed due to fewer students. For example, Riverwood Elementary was torn down, and homes were built there. Parkview Elementary became the Fridley Community Center.
Fridley also has private schools:
- Totino-Grace High School, a Catholic high school
- Calvin Christian High School, a Christian high school
- Al-Amal School, an Islamic K-12 school
Some parts of Fridley are served by other school districts, like Anoka-Hennepin School District 11, Columbia Heights School District 13, and Spring Lake Park School District 16.
Parks and Recreation
Fridley has many parks and green spaces. The Springbrook Nature Center is a large park and nature reserve, covering 127 acres. In total, Fridley has 316 acres of park land. These parks offer:
- Baseball and softball fields
- Football and soccer fields
- Basketball courts
- Tennis courts
- Outdoor ice skating rinks with warming houses in winter
The western edge of Fridley is part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
Fridley also has several parks managed by Anoka County:
- Manomin County Park (where Rice Creek meets the Mississippi River)
- Rice Creek West/Locke Park and Regional Trail
- Islands of Peace County Park
- Anoka County Riverfront Regional Park
Transportation in Fridley
The main roads in Fridley are Interstate 694 and Minnesota State Highways 47 and 65. East River Road is one of the oldest roads in the state, once part of the Red River Trails. The I-694 Bridge is the only bridge that crosses the Mississippi River within Fridley, connecting it to Brooklyn Center.
The BNSF Railway has a major train line that goes through Fridley. The Fridley Station is part of the Northstar Commuter Rail line, which takes people into Minneapolis. The Amtrak Empire Builder train also passes through Fridley but does not stop there. Fridley is home to the large BNSF Northtown Classification Yards, where trains are sorted.
The Mississippi River in Fridley is not used by large barges, but small boats can travel upstream to the Coon Rapids Dam. There is a boat landing near Interstate 694.
The Anoka County–Blaine Airport is nearby in Blaine and serves the area.
City Nickname and Events
Fridley is known by the nickname "Friendly Fridley." This nickname became popular thanks to long-running radio ads for a local car dealership.
The city's festival is called "49'er Days." It celebrates Fridley becoming a village in 1949 and is usually held in mid-June.
Sister City
Fridley has a sister city:
Fourmies, Nord (France) - This connection exists because Medtronic plc has a factory in Fourmies.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 3,796 | — | |
| 1960 | 15,173 | 299.7% | |
| 1970 | 29,233 | 92.7% | |
| 1980 | 30,228 | 3.4% | |
| 1990 | 28,335 | −6.3% | |
| 2000 | 27,449 | −3.1% | |
| 2010 | 27,208 | −0.9% | |
| 2020 | 29,590 | 8.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 30,289 | 11.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
|||
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 136 | — | |
| 1870 | 103 | −24.3% | |
| 1880 | 257 | 149.5% | |
| 1890 | 476 | 85.2% | |
| 1900 | 443 | −6.9% | |
| 1910 | 523 | 18.1% | |
| 1920 | 533 | 1.9% | |
| 1930 | 693 | 30.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,392 | 100.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,279 | 63.7% | |
| U.S. Census for Fridley Township | |||
People in Fridley
In 2010, there were 27,208 people living in Fridley. About 75.2% of the people were White, 11.1% were African American, 4.9% were Asian, and 1.2% were Native American. About 7.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Fridley was 37.1 years. About 23.5% of residents were under 18 years old.
Notable People from Fridley
Many interesting people have connections to Fridley, including:
- Joe Alt, a football player in the NFL
- Mikey Anderson, a hockey player in the NHL
- Bill Antonello, a baseball player in Major League Baseball
- Brooke Elliott, an actress
- Abram M. Fridley, the politician for whom the city is named
- Sean Hjelle, a baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Warren Johnson, a drag racer
- Cory Wong, a guitarist
- Rose Totino, a businesswoman who founded Totino's frozen pizza
See also
In Spanish: Fridley para niños
