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Robbinsdale
City of Robbinsdale, Minnesota - Water Tower, Minnesota (33702172680).jpg
Nickname(s): 
Birdtown
Location of the city of Robbinsdalewithin Hennepin County, Minnesota
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. The population was 13,953 at the time of the 2010 census. The city is located in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area and is adjacent to the northwest portion of Minneapolis.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.98 square miles (7.72 km2), of which 2.79 square miles (7.23 km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.49 km2) is water.

Minnesota State Highway 100 and County Road 81 are two of the main routes in the city.

History

Shortly after the Minnesota Territorial Legislature created Hennepin County in 1852, John C. Bohanon filed the first claim in the Township of Crystal Lake. Railroads did not reach the area until 1880. A flag station was established near the farm of Alfred Parker and six years later he donated land for a depot. The community that grew around it came to be known as Parker's Station. In 1887 Minneapolis made an effort to secure more taxable property by annexing neighboring townships. In response, Crystal Lake farmers incorporated the Village of Crystal.

Andrew Bonney Robbins (American Biography - A New Cyclopedia, 1921)
Andrew Bonney Robbins

Later that year, entrepreneur, civil war veteran, and real estate developer, Andrew Bonney Robbins came to Parker's Station on behalf of an Illinois business interest. Robbins was a former state senator and the brother-in-law of lumber baron, Thomas Barlow Walker. Robbins purchased 90 acres (360,000 m2) to the west of Lower Twin Lake to incorporate into the Robbinsdale Park subdivision.

From 1888, new industries moved in and a large Lutheran Seminary was built. In 1890 the Robbins built a 16-room Queen Anne-style mansion on Lower Twin Lake. After he moved his family in, Robbins found investors to build the Hubbard Specialty Manufacturing Company. This firm made chairs and wheelbarrows. Despite his connections, Robbins was unable to persuade the Minneapolis Street Railway Company to extend a streetcar line up West Broadway. In 1891 he organized the North Side Street Railway Company and built his own line from the Minneapolis city limits to Robbinsdale Park. The street cars were pulled by horses until the line was converted to electricity.

Robbins' development efforts led to tension between farm families and residents near the village center. A special election was held and a vote to dissolve the Village of Crystal carried unanimously. On April 19, 1893, the new 2.9 square mile village of Robbinsdale was organized.

Fawcett Publications was founded in 1919 in Robbinsdale with the publication of Captain Billy's Whiz Bang. In 1922 Fawcett introduced True Confessions magazine, which was popular among female readers. The city's pulp magazine history is echoed in Robbinsdale's annual summer celebration, Whiz Bang Days. In 1929 Fawcett launched Modern Mechanics, a magazine on ingenuity and do it yourself projects. The first issue's cover line was "Build your own airplane!". Modern Mechanics was later renamed Mechanix Illustrated. In 1930, Fawcett Publications relocated to the Sexton Building in downtown Minneapolis.

In 1940 Samuel Samuelson built Victory Hospital on property he already owned in Robbinsdale. The original marble faced, three story building had five operating rooms and 70 beds. In 1954, Victory Hospital was reorganized as a non-profit and renamed North Memorial. Over the next 50 years North Memorial grew into 518 bed medical center. Today, North Memorial Medical Center is a regional trauma center with eight helicopters, 120 ambulances, and 725 employees. Besides being one of the state's Level 1 Trauma Centers, it also operates AirCare, an air medical transport service. They have five flight bases around Minnesota.

In 1951, Sidney and William Volk hired the architectural firm of Liebenberg and Kaplan to redesign the Terrace Theatre. Situated on a rise overlooking Crystal Lake and Bottineau Boulevard, the theater was considered to be an example of mid-century modern design. The building's rectangular volumes originally contained a 1300-seat auditorium, an expansive lobby, sunken garden style lounge with a large copper fireplace, sweeping foyers and two snack bars.

The Terrace closed in 1999 and its owner did not take care of the property. In May 2016 the City of Robbinsdale and State of Minnesota passed resolutions commemorating the Terrace as an important historic landmark. Nevertheless, after some debate and a lawsuit, the Terrace was torn down in 2016 to be replaced by a 96,000 sq. ft. Hy-Vee grocery store.

Education

Robbinsdale is served by Robbinsdale Area Schools.

There are two public schools and one parochial school located within the city limits:

  • Lakeview Elementary School (PreK through 5th grade)
  • Robbinsdale Middle School (6th though 8th grades)
  • Sacred Heart Catholic School (PreK through 8th grade)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 1,074
1900 520 −51.6%
1910 765 47.1%
1920 1,369 79.0%
1930 4,427 223.4%
1940 6,018 35.9%
1950 11,289 87.6%
1960 16,381 45.1%
1970 16,845 2.8%
1980 14,422 −14.4%
1990 14,396 −0.2%
2000 14,123 −1.9%
2010 13,953 −1.2%
2020 14,646 5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the population of Robbinsdale totaled 14,646 people, 6,505 households, and 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, and 6.7% from two or more races.

The population numbers for age included 21.0% aged 18 and under, 18.1% aged 65 and older, and 6.8% aged five and under.

94% of residents age 25 and older held a high school diploma or higher degree, while 36.8% of residents age 25 and older held a Bachelor's or higher degree.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 13,953 people, 6,032 households, and 3,375 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,001.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,930.9/km2). There were 6,416 housing units at an average density of 2,299.6 per square mile (887.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.5% White, 13.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 3.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.6% of the population.

There were 6,032 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.0% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.99.

The median age in the city was 36.9 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 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 gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

Gun Sales

From 2017 to 2021, the federal Alcohol and Firearms (ATF) traced more guns used in Minnesota crimes to Robbinsdale as a point of origin more than any other city in Minnesota.

Notable people

  • David Backes (born 1984), National Hockey League player
  • Barry Darsow (born 1959), professional wrestler
  • Greg Gagne (born 1948), professional wrestler
  • Verne Gagne (1926–2015), professional wrestler
  • Dennie Gordon, film and television director
  • James C. Heap (1935–2013), Minnesota state representative
  • Larry Hennig (1936–2018), professional wrestler
  • Curt Hennig (1958–2003), professional wrestler
  • Marjorie Johnson, award-winning baker
  • Nikita Koloff (born 1959), professional wrestler
  • Leonard Lilyholm (born 1941), ice hockey player
  • Bam Neely (born 1975), professional wrestler
  • Scott Norton (born 1961), professional wrestler
  • Gene Okerlund (1942–2019), announcer and interviewer for the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling
  • Mike Opat (born 1961), politician
  • Brady Boone (1958–1998), professional wrestler
  • Alec Richards (born 1987), professional ice hockey player
  • Rick Rude (1958–1999), professional wrestler
  • Leah Thorvilson (born 1979), American racing cyclist, and former long-distance runner
  • Tim Vakoc (1960–2009), first U.S. military chaplain to die from wounds received in the Iraq War
  • Bee Vang (born 1991), actor
  • Rashad Vaughn professional basketball player
  • Sean Waltman (born 1972), professional wrestler,
  • Rodney Williams (basketball) (born 1991) professional basketball player
  • Blake Wheeler (born 1986), professional hockey player
  • Steve Zahn (born 1967), actor,
  • Tom Zenk (1958–2017), professional wrestler

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Robbinsdale (Minnesota) para niños

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