Robbinsdale, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robbinsdale
City
Nickname(s):  Birdtown
Location of the city of Robbinsdale within Hennepin County, Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Hennepin
Founded	1893
Area
• City	2.99 sq mi (7.74 km2)
• Land	2.79 sq mi (7.24 km2)
• Water	0.19 sq mi (0.50 km2)
Elevation	873 ft (266 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	14,646
• Density	5,240.07/sq mi (2,023.25/km2)
• Metro	3,524,583
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central)
ZIP code	55422
Area code(s)	763
FIPS code	27-54808
GNIS feature ID	0650164
Website	City of Robbinsdale

Robbinsdale is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. It's part of the larger Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. The city is right next to the northwest part of Minneapolis. In 2020, about 14,646 people lived here.

Geography of Robbinsdale

Robbinsdale covers a total area of about 2.98 square miles (7.72 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 2.79 square miles (7.23 square kilometers). The rest, about 0.19 square miles (0.49 square kilometers), is water.

Two important roads run through the city. These are Minnesota State Highway 100 and County Road 81. They help people travel in and out of Robbinsdale.

History of Robbinsdale

Early Days and Railroads

Hennepin County was created in 1852. Soon after, John C. Bohanon made the first land claim in the Crystal Lake area. Railroads didn't reach this area until 1880. A small train stop, called a flag station, was set up near Alfred Parker's farm. Six years later, Parker gave land for a proper train depot. The community that grew around it became known as Parker's Station.

In 1887, the city of Minneapolis tried to expand its borders. They wanted to include nearby townships to gain more taxable property. To avoid this, farmers in Crystal Lake decided to officially form their own village, called Crystal.

Andrew Bonney Robbins' Influence

Later in 1887, a businessman named Andrew Bonney Robbins came to Parker's Station. He was a former state senator and a real estate developer. Robbins bought 90 acres (about 360,000 square meters) of land west of Lower Twin Lake. He planned to create a new neighborhood called Robbinsdale Park.

Andrew Bonney Robbins was a key figure in the city's early development.

By 1888, new businesses started moving into the area. A large Lutheran Seminary was also built. In 1890, Robbins built a big 16-room house for his family on Lower Twin Lake. He then found investors to start the Hubbard Specialty Manufacturing Company. This company made chairs and wheelbarrows.

Robbins wanted to extend the streetcar line from Minneapolis to his new development. When the Minneapolis Street Railway Company didn't agree, he started his own company in 1891. He built a streetcar line from the Minneapolis city limits to Robbinsdale Park. At first, horses pulled the streetcars, but later they were changed to run on electricity.

Founding the Village of Robbinsdale

Robbins' development efforts caused some disagreements between the farm families and the people living closer to the village center. A special election was held to decide the future of the Village of Crystal. Everyone voted to dissolve it. On April 19, 1893, the new village of Robbinsdale was officially formed. It covered about 2.9 square miles.

Fawcett Publications and Whiz Bang Days

Fawcett Publications started in Robbinsdale in 1919. Their first publication was a magazine called Captain Billy's Whiz Bang. In 1922, Fawcett launched True Confessions, which became very popular with female readers. Robbinsdale's yearly summer festival, Whiz Bang Days, is named after this early magazine history.

In 1929, Fawcett also started Modern Mechanics magazine. This magazine focused on inventions and do-it-yourself projects. The first issue even had a cover line saying, "Build your own airplane!" Modern Mechanics was later renamed Mechanix Illustrated. In 1930, Fawcett Publications moved its offices to downtown Minneapolis.

North Memorial Medical Center

In 1940, Samuel Samuelson built Victory Hospital in Robbinsdale. The original building had three stories, five operating rooms, and 70 beds. In 1954, Victory Hospital became a non-profit organization and was renamed North Memorial. Over the next 50 years, North Memorial grew into a large medical center with 518 beds.

Today, North Memorial Medical Center is a major trauma center. It has eight helicopters and 120 ambulances. It is one of Minnesota's Level 1 Trauma Centers, meaning it can handle the most serious injuries. It also runs AirCare, an air medical transport service with five flight bases across Minnesota.

Terrace Theatre

In 1951, Sidney and William Volk hired architects to redesign the Terrace Theatre. This theater was located on a hill overlooking Crystal Lake. It was known for its mid-century modern design. The building had a 1300-seat auditorium, a large lobby, and a lounge with a big copper fireplace.

The Terrace Theatre closed in 1999. The owner did not take care of the building after it closed. In May 2016, both the City of Robbinsdale and the State of Minnesota recognized the Terrace as an important historic landmark. However, after some discussions and a lawsuit, the theater was torn down in 2016. A 96,000 square foot Hy-Vee grocery store was built in its place.

Education in Robbinsdale

Students in Robbinsdale attend schools within the Robbinsdale Area Schools district.

The city has three schools within its borders:

• Lakeview Elementary School: This school serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade.
• Robbinsdale Middle School: This school is for students in 6th through 8th grades.
• Sacred Heart Catholic School: This is a private school for students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade.

Robbinsdale Population Data

2020 Census Information

In 2020, Robbinsdale had a population of 14,646 people. There were 6,505 households, with an average of 2.19 people per household.

The racial makeup of the city was:

• 67.3% White
• 16.4% Black or African American
• 9.9% Hispanic or Latino
• 4.7% Asian
• 0.2% Native American
• 6.7% from two or more races

About 21.0% of the population was 18 years old or younger. 18.1% were 65 years or older. About 6.8% of residents were five years old or younger.

Most adults in Robbinsdale have a good education. 94% of residents aged 25 and older had at least a high school diploma. Also, 36.8% of residents aged 25 and older had a Bachelor's degree or higher.

2010 Census Information

According to the census in 2010, Robbinsdale had 13,953 people living there. There were 6,032 households and 3,375 families. The city had about 5,001 people per square mile (1,931 people per square kilometer). There were 6,416 housing units, with about 2,299 housing units per square mile (888 per square kilometer).

The racial makeup of the city in 2010 was:

• 76.5% White
• 13.8% African American
• 0.5% Native American
• 3.3% Asian
• 0.1% Pacific Islander
• 1.9% from other races
• 3.9% from two or more races
• 4.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 6,032 households, 28.0% had children under 18 living with them. 39.6% were married couples living together. 12.5% had a female head of household with no husband present. 3.9% had a male head of household with no wife present. 44.0% were not families. About 35.7% of all households were single individuals. 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.28 people, and the average family size was 2.99 people.

The average age in the city was 36.9 years. 22% of residents were under 18. 7.4% were between 18 and 24. 32.3% were from 25 to 44. 26% were from 45 to 64. And 12.4% were 65 years of age or older. The city's population was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

Notable People from Robbinsdale

Images for kids

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  Location of the city of Robbinsdale within Hennepin County, Minnesota

See also

In Spanish: Robbinsdale (Minnesota) para niños