City of Brooklyn Center: A Brief History

Tagged: Brooklyn Township, community history, Crystal Lake Township, Earle Brown, Brooklyn Center, City of Brooklyn Center, Hennepin County,

The area known today as Brooklyn Center, Minnesota was originally owned by the government, and was not made public for residential use until after the treaty with the Dakota Indians had been set in place. This treaty allowed settlers to make their homes in the land that once belong to the Native Americans.  In the year of 1852, families became to settle the location and a small town community began.

Brooklyn Center was originally a part of the Brooklyn Township. Another portion of the area rested in Crystal Lake Township. Both of these townships were mainly agricultural. People made their living off of what they could grow. Most of the development in the area was a result from the growth of Minneapolis. This growth caused additional residents to seek more private areas to live, therefore, it caused places like Brooklyn Township to be residentially developed.

In January 1911, the citizens of southeastern Brooklyn Township and eastern Crystal Lake Township took the first legal action for the creation of the Village of Brooklyn Center. The same year, the county commissioners approved the petition to incorporate the village. Once this village was established, the community grew. They were able to build more schools and places of worship that added to the development.

One of the most influential people in this town’s history is Earle Brown. Brown willed his farm to the University of Minnesota in 1949 with the condition that he be allowed to live there until his death. Earle Brown passed away in 1963, giving the University the 750 acres to what was to become the Brooklyn Center Industrial Park Inc. Village Council meetings continued to be held at Howe’s Hall until the village constructed a building of its own. Elections were held in the hall until 1922, when they were transferred to the Earle Brown School.

The population has increased from 500 residents in 1911, to 4,300 in 1950. Yet another increase of more than 15,000 occurred in the next decade. Today, Brooklyn Center is a thriving city that still holds some of its agricultural roots, but is commercially developed as well.

If you have any questions regarding the city of Brooklyn Center, or if you would like to sell or buy a house in the area, please feel free to visit TwinCitiesPropertyFinder.com or call 1-800-909-1953.

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