City of Shoreview: A Brief History

Tagged: Socrates A. Thompson, Village of Shoreview, City of Shoreview, Mounds View Township, Ojibwe, Native American History, CIty History,

The city of Shoreview, Minnesota shares its rich history with many of its surrounding neighbors. Before being colonized by white settlers, the area in which modern-day Shoreview exists was primarily owned by the Ojibwe and Dakota tribes. This was also the case for many of the neighboring cities. It wasn’t until 1837 that the land was opened up to non-Native American settlers. This was the year in which the Ojibwe ceded the land over to the United States Government.

It wasn’t until 1850 that the first settler moved into the area. Socrates A. Thompson left St. Paul in search of good farming land. He was accompanied by a Native American friend, and eventually he settled in the modern-day Shoreview area. After he began to farm the land, many other followed suit. Pretty soon people from all over the country and the world began to farm there as well

By 1858 the population in the area had grown to the point that the Mounds View Township was organized. This big step led to an increase in infrastructure and commercial development. By the 1880’s, the Shoreview area saw the first railroad lines being built. With the railroad came increased population growth. This continued for the next century.

By 1957, nearly 100 years after the Mounds View Township was formed, the residents of the Shoreview area felt that the Township model was not working. The area had grown significantly, and there was need for smaller governing bodies over more geographic specific areas. Members of the community called for the incorporation of the Village of Shoreview. While some supported this move, others opposed it and a vote was cast. The final vote was 853 for, 748 against. By this narrow margin, the Village of Shoreview was formed. Today, Shoreview is a city of over 26,000 residents. It has seen massive growth since its humble beginnings, but its history can still be seen and felt throughout the community.

If you have any questions regarding the city of Shoreview, Minnesota, 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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