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1901 Map of Minneapolis

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of Minneapolis
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Minneapolis and its burgeoning southwestern suburbs are documented here during a period of rapid transit-driven growth. The expansion of the city grid is particularly evident near the chain of lakes, including Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, and Calhoun Lake. This era predates the widespread motorcar, evidenced by the prominence of the St. Paul and Minneapolis Electric R.R. and heavy rail lines like the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul R.R. which connected the core to outlying industrial hubs like West Minneapolis and Hopkins.

Southward, the landscape transitions into a patchwork of wetlands and smaller farm communities. Significant early landmarks such as the Washburn Home and the critical river crossing at Bloomington Ferry highlight the region's pre-highway infrastructure. Waterways like Minnehaha Creek and the numerous Anderson Lakes define the natural boundaries between emerging townships such as Edina and Eden Prairie, offering a detailed view of the terrain before mid-century suburbanization reshaped these agricultural fields.