St. Louis Park, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Louis Park
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St. Louis Park City Hall
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| Nickname(s):
SLP
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| Motto(s):
"Experience Life in the Park"
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Location of the city of St. Louis Park
within Hennepin County, Minnesota |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Hennepin |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Incorporated | November 19, 1886 |
| Area | |
| • City | 10.85 sq mi (28.09 km2) |
| • Land | 10.63 sq mi (27.53 km2) |
| • Water | 0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2) |
| Elevation | 899 ft (274 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 50,010 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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48,827 |
| • Rank | US: 821st MN: 20th |
| • Density | 4,705.49/sq mi (1,816.82/km2) |
| • Urban | 2,914,866 (US: 16th) |
| • Metro | 3,693,729 (US: 16th) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
55416, 55424, 55426
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| Area code(s) | 952 |
| FIPS code | 27-57220 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0650797 |
St. Louis Park is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. It is located just west of Minneapolis. In 2020, about 50,010 people lived there. It is known as a "first-ring suburb," meaning it's one of the first towns you reach when leaving a big city.
Other cities next to St. Louis Park include Edina, Golden Valley, Minnetonka, Plymouth, and Hopkins.
The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting is in St. Louis Park. It has a large collection of old radio and television equipment. You can see radios made by local companies and even the system used for the audio in the first "talkie" movie, The Jazz Singer.
The famous Coen brothers, who are filmmakers, set their 2009 movie A Serious Man in St. Louis Park. The movie shows what the city might have looked like around 1967. They filmed some scenes in a nearby town, Bloomington, and at the B'nai Emet Synagogue in St. Louis Park.
Contents
History of St. Louis Park
How the City Began
The name "St. Louis Park" comes from the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway. This railway line ran through the area. The word "Park" was added to avoid confusing it with St. Louis, Missouri, a much larger city. The area became a village in 1886. For a few years, its post office was called "Elmwood."
In 1892, a wealthy businessman named Thomas Barlow Walker and other leaders from Minneapolis started a company. Their goal was to develop industries in St. Louis Park. Walker's company also helped build homes and businesses in the area.
The village grew outwards from its first center, where the railway met Wooddale Avenue. Minneapolis was also growing westward. But St. Louis Park becoming a village in 1886 helped it keep its own identity.
By 1893, downtown St. Louis Park had three hotels and many meeting halls. New companies were also setting up shop. Around 1890, over 600 industrial jobs were in the village. Most of these jobs were at the large Moline Plow Company factory, which made farming tools.
A financial crisis in 1893 slowed down the village's growth. Thomas Barlow Walker then moved on to other business projects.
In 1899, St. Louis Park became home to something very important: the Peavey–Haglin Experimental Concrete Grain Elevator. This was the world's first concrete, tube-shaped grain elevator. It offered a safer way to store grain than the old wooden elevators, which could easily catch fire. People first called it "Peavey's Folly" and thought it would burst. But the experiment worked, and concrete elevators have been used ever since!
Growth After World War I
After World War I, St. Louis Park had only a few stores. People could easily take streetcars to shop in Minneapolis. But between 1920 and 1930, the population doubled from 2,281 to 4,710. Many new homes were built in the late 1930s. This helped meet the need for housing that had built up during the Great Depression. However, when America joined World War II, all building stopped.
The city saw huge growth after World War II. In 1940, 7,737 people lived in St. Louis Park. By 1955, over 30,000 new residents had moved in. This means about 6.9 people moved to St. Louis Park every day between 1940 and 1955! A large number of homes (60%) were built in a short time, from the late 1940s to the early 1950s.
New stores and services quickly followed the new homes. In the late 1940s, Minnesota's first shopping center, Lilac Way, was built. It was located at Excelsior Boulevard and Highway 100. Lilac Way was later torn down for new development. Other shopping centers like Miracle Mile (built in 1950) and Knollwood Mall (opened in 1956) are still open today.
In the late 1940s, a group of 11 former army doctors started the St. Louis Park Medical Center. It was in a small building on Excelsior Boulevard. This medical center later joined with Methodist Hospital. Today, it is part of Park Nicollet Health Services, which is now part of HealthPartners. It is the second-largest medical clinic in Minnesota.
Between 1950 and 1956, 66 new housing areas were created for 2,700 new homes. In 1953 and 1954, the last two areas, Kilmer and Shelard Park, became part of St. Louis Park. These areas, originally in Minnetonka, joined St. Louis Park because the city could provide them with sewer and water services.
Becoming a City
In 1954, voters decided that St. Louis Park should become a city. This change helped the city manage its rapid growth. It allowed the city to hire a city manager. This person took on some of the duties that the part-time city council used to handle. Many bridges built during this time are now being repaired or replaced.
During this period, the main focus was on planning the city. This included updating rules for building, expanding water and sewer systems, paving streets, and building parks and schools.
Geography and Roads
St. Louis Park covers about 10.86 square miles (28.09 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Major roads that run through St. Louis Park include Interstate 394, U.S. Highway 169, and Minnesota State Highways 7 and 100.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 499 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,325 | 165.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,743 | 31.5% | |
| 1920 | 2,281 | 30.9% | |
| 1930 | 4,710 | 106.5% | |
| 1940 | 7,737 | 64.3% | |
| 1950 | 22,644 | 192.7% | |
| 1960 | 43,310 | 91.3% | |
| 1970 | 48,883 | 12.9% | |
| 1980 | 42,931 | −12.2% | |
| 1990 | 43,787 | 2.0% | |
| 2000 | 44,126 | 0.8% | |
| 2010 | 45,250 | 2.5% | |
| 2020 | 50,010 | 10.5% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 48,827 | 7.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Population in 2020
In 2020, St. Louis Park had 50,010 people. The city is home to a diverse population.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 38,599 | 36,745 | 38,573 | 87.48% | 81.20% | 77.13% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,893 | 3,319 | 3,957 | 4.29% | 7.34% | 7.91% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 182 | 175 | 240 | 0.41% | 0.39% | 0.56% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,394 | 1,734 | 2,064 | 3.16% | 3.83% | 4.13% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 21 | 36 | 28 | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 105 | 115 | 295 | 0.24% | 0.25% | 0.59% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 636 | 1,185 | 2,202 | 1.45% | 2.62% | 4.40% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,294 | 1,941 | 2,651 | 2.93% | 4.29% | 5.30% |
| Total | 44,126 | 45,250 | 50,010 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Jewish and Russian Communities
St. Louis Park has a notable Jewish population for Minnesota. It is home to the Sabes Jewish Community Center and several synagogues, which are Jewish places of worship. It's thought that about 38% of Jewish people in the greater Minneapolis area live in St. Louis Park.
The city also has a large Russian population, especially around the Aquila area. This is partly due to many people moving from former-Soviet countries. The Russian language is the second most spoken language in the city after English. The Hennepin County Library in St. Louis Park has a large section of books in Russian.
Education in St. Louis Park
Public Schools
The St. Louis Park School District (Independent School District 283) has seven public schools. They serve about 4,200 students from kindergarten to 12th grade. St. Louis Park is the only school district in Minnesota where every public school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. This is a special award for great schools.
Over the years, the number of school-aged children in St. Louis Park has changed. Because of this, some schools have been changed or closed:
- Ethel Baston Elementary School closed. Its building is now Groves Academy, a private school.
- Fern Hill Elementary School closed. Its building is now Torah Academy of Minneapolis, a private school.
- Oak Hill Elementary School opened in 1950 and closed in 1967. It only had students in first and second grade, plus one special education class.
- Park Knoll Elementary School was taken down to make Knollwood Mall bigger.
- Brookside, Lenox, and Eliot Elementary Schools closed as public schools. Brookside became condominiums. Lenox Community Center now has the SLP Senior Program and a preschool. Eliot was sold and torn down to build apartments in 2014.
- Central Community Center used to be Central Junior High School. Now it houses the Park Spanish Immersion School and other district programs. These include Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE). For some years, St. Louis Park had two junior high schools. The one now called St. Louis Park Middle School was once Westwood Junior High School.
- Peter Hobart Elementary School and Aquila Elementary School became Peter Hobart Primary Center and Aquila Primary Center. They only served grades K through 3. Susan Lindgren Elementary School and Cedar Manor Elementary School became intermediate schools. They served grades 4 through 6.
- In 1970, St. Louis Park Senior High School served grades 10 through 12 and had about 2500 students. Now it serves grades 9 through 12 and has about 1350 students.
- In 2010, Cedar Manor Elementary School closed. Peter Hobart Elementary, Susan Lindgren Elementary, Aquila Elementary, and Park Spanish Immersion became schools for Kindergarten through 5th grade. Grade 6 moved to St. Louis Park Junior High.
- In 2019, Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School moved its operations to the Cedar Manor building.
| Schools in the St. Louis Park School District | |||
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| Elementary Schools (K–5) | Middle School (6–8) | Senior High (9–12) | |
| Peter Hobart Elementary School | Susan Lindgren Elementary School | St. Louis Park Middle School | St. Louis Park Senior High School |
| Aquila Elementary School | Park Spanish Immersion School | ||
School Sports Teams
St. Louis Park's sports teams are called the Orioles. Their school colors are orange and black. In 2005, the school joined the North Suburban Conference. In 2013, they moved to the Metro West Conference.
The boys' state basketball team won the state tournament in 1962. The girls' basketball teams won two state championships in 1986 and 1990. The school also has a synchronized swimming program.
For many years, the school's dance line, the Parkettes, were cheerleaders for the Minnesota Vikings football team from 1964 to 1983.
Many athletes from St. Louis Park have gone on to play professionally or coach. These include NBA player Jim Peterson, NFL coach Marc Trestman, NHL player Erik Rasmussen, and baseball player T. J. Bohn. Bob Stein, a 1965 graduate, was an All-American football player and the youngest player to play in a Super Bowl. He later became the President of the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team. Jeff Diamond, a 1971 graduate, was a president for the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans football teams.
Private Schools
St. Louis Park also has several private schools:
- Academy of Whole Learning
- Benilde-St. Margaret's School: A Catholic school for boys and girls in grades 7 through 12.
- Groves Academy
- Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School (HMJDS): A private K–8 school connected to the Sabes JCC. It teaches Hebrew. Their team is the Lions, and their colors are Navy and Gold.
- Metropolitan Open School
- Torah Academy of Minneapolis
Businesses in St. Louis Park
There are over 2,700 businesses in St. Louis Park. Some of the larger employers include:
- Travelers Express/MoneyGram: Handles banking functions and employs about 450 people.
- Benilde-St. Margaret's School: Employs about 200 people.
- Nordic Ware (also known as Northland Aluminum Products): This company introduced the Bundt cake pan around 1950. They make household cooking equipment and employ about 135 people.
- Bridgewater Bank: Its main office is in St. Louis Park.
The city government employs 252 people, and the school district (District #283) employs about 762 people.
Notable People from St. Louis Park
Many interesting people have come from St. Louis Park:
- Michael Birawer, artist
- Paige Bueckers, basketball player
- The Coen brothers, famous filmmakers
- Charles Foley (1930–2013), who invented the game Twister
- Al Franken (b. 1951), former U.S. senator and comedian
- Thomas Loren Friedman (b. 1953), journalist and author
- Owen Husney, who discovered and first signed the musician Prince
- Sharon Isbin, guitarist and professor at the Juilliard School
- Sally Olsen (1934–2022), lawyer and state politician
- Ade Olufeko, a polymath and technologist
- Norman Ornstein, political scientist
- Michael J. Sandel, political philosopher
- Marc Trestman, football coach
- Kenneth W. Wolfe, former Minnesota state senator and mayor of St. Louis Park
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See also
In Spanish: St. Louis Park para niños
