Bloomington history
It was in the spring of 1843, with snow still deep on the ground, that Gideon Pond built
his log mission house in Oak Grove, which later became part of Bloomington. He came to
administer to Cloudman's band which had settled there. Close by was the village of Karboka (the
Drifter); the village of Pennesha, now under Chief Good Road, also was near.
(From Bloomington on the Minnesota, edited by Judith A.
Hendricks, 1976)
1800s | 1900-1939 | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | More
1800s
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Photos: Gideon Pond, 1810 - 1878; Gideon Pond House; Bloomington Town
Hall, 1892.
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1843
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Gideon Pond established Oak Grove Mission. Peter and Louisa Quinn - first European
settlers - built cabin near 10th Avenue Circle. Quinns taught farming methods to
Dakota Indians.
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1851
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Territory west of Mississippi, including Bloomington, opened to settlers.
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1855
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First public school organized. Met in Harrison home.
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1856
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Gideon Pond House built on Minnesota River bluffs.
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1858
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Town of Bloomington organizational meeting on May 11. The 25 organizers approved a
$100 budget.
Minnesota became a state.
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1859
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First schoolhouse built near France Avenue and Old Shakopee Road.
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1860
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39 votes cast in favor of levying $50 for town expenses and purchase of a road
scraper.
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1861
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Residents vote to let horse and cattle run at-large during the summer.
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1864
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Ground set aside for town cemetery.
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1880
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Population - 820.
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1892
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First town hall built at Penn and Old Shakopee Road.
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1900 to 1939
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Issues: Location of consolidated school; unwillingness to
dissolve individual schools as social centers, when a small schoolhouse had been
"good enough for the parents". Fear of mounting taxes.
 
Photos: St. Martin children, 1931; Pahl family's rhubarb truck, 1930
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1900
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Six rural schools with over 200 students in grades 1 - 8.
Population - 1,085.
Per capital vehicle travel - 500 miles/year.
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1903
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First telephone service installed.
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1915
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Dan Patch rail line extended to downtown Minneapolis for passenger and freight
service.
Jack Stewart elected Town Constable and Fire Department.
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1916
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Large number of automobiles start to appear around town.
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1917
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Voters approved school consolidation.
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1918
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Five rural schools consolidated into School District 142.
Bloomington School for first through twelfth grades built.
Beginning of secondary education and school bus transportation.
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1920
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Population - 1,330.
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1930
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Population - 2,645.
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1940s
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Development vision: Low-cost, low-density housing, each
with its own well and septic system.
  
Photos: School and buses, 1945; Fire Department in action, 1947; washing the
puppy, 1945.
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1940
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Population - 3,647.
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1945
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School enrollment was 700.
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1947
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Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department established with 25 members. Fire Station #1
and equipment cost $24,000.
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1949
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School enrollment grew so fast that split schedule adopted for grades 1 and 2.
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1950s
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Issues: Private liquor licenses. Professional approach to
government with open Council meetings, land use plan and published budgets. Rapid
growth replacing peaceful, small town atmosphere. Six new schools built.
  
Photos: Site of the Met Stadium, mid-1950s; A&W Comanche Drive-In opens at
corner of 78th and Lyndale; Bloomington Police examine confiscated liquor,
1957.
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1950
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Population - 9,902.
First elementary school built - Cedarcrest.
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1952
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Toro Manufacturing Company moved to Bloomington.
Chamber of Commerce organized as a booster club.
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1953
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Changed from township to village form of government.
Police Department formed at cost of $2 per taxpayer.
First traffic signal installed at "very dangerous" intersection of 98th Street and
Lyndale Avenue.
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1954
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First park land acquired - Bush Lake Beach and Moir Park. Each village parcel
assessed $1 for acquisition.
First edition of the Bloomington Sun; first letter to the editor about
drive-in theater.
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1955
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Population - 28,934.
85 businesses.
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1956
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First City Land Use Plan.
I-35W completed.
$8.5 million Metropolitan Stadium built. Opened in April to a record crowd of
18,366 for a Triple-A Minneapolis vs. Wichita baseball game.
Bush Lake Beach constructed.
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1957
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Lincoln High School built.
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1958
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Village government changed to council-manager form.
Septic system contaminated wells - central sewer and water system needed costing
over $20,000,000.
Ordinance passed requiring residential subdivisions to make 10 percent park
dedication.
Council adopted policy of encouraging commercial/ industrial development, low-cost
housing and shopping centers.
Police and Fire Departments go to 24-hour dispatching system.
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1959
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Voters approved $8,800,000 waterworks and distribution system bond. City debt
jumped to 25 percent of assessed value.
Fire Department has 46 members. A garage is converted into Fire Station #2.
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1960s
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Issues: Accelerated school growth - 21 new buildings
opened. Business growth - city's slogan is "All the Business That Will Fit".
  
Photos: Bloomington Municipal Building, mid-1960s; Bloomington Athletic
Association athletes celebrate All-American City award, 1960; armed robbery
suspect, 1962.
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1960
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Population - 50,498.
Overall real estate market value - $270 million.
Typical Bloomington home's market value - $19,000.
Bloomington became a city as voters approved home rule charter on third attempt.
City received All-American City Award.
Ward's Southtown built.
I-494 completed from CSAH 18 to airport. I-35W completed through city and over
Minnesota River.
95 full-time City employees.
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1961
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Control Data Corporation, Donaldson, Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland Company moved
to Bloomington.
Chamber hosted breakfast for 160 new teachers and hired first full-time staff
member.
City attempted to annex NSP power plant and Burnsville.
First Twins game on April 21 (Twins 3, Washington 5).
First regular season Vikings game on September 17 (Vikings 37, Chicago Bears 13).
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1962
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Control Data Tower built.
Voters approved "on-sale" liquor licenses.
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1964
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First half of City Hall constructed.
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1965
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Kennedy High School built.
200 full-time City employees.
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1967
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Met Sports Center built.
New Fire Station #2 and Fire Station #3 built.
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1968
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Normandale Junior College opened with 1,358 students.
Last elementary school built - Normandale Hills.
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1970s
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Issues: Extending 98th Street through Hyland Lake Park;
leveling off of population growth; major parkland expansion.
  
Photos: Met Stadium, 1974; Council Chambers, 1974; Summer Fete, 1978.
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1970
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Population - 81,971.
43,000 people employed in city.
Jefferson High School built.
Fire Station #4 built.
Bloomington Ice Garden Rink One built.
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1971
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City Council endorsed idea of a Convention Bureau and approved $35,000 funding.
School enrollment peak of 26,000 students.
Bloomington Fire Department has 105 men, 4 stations and 13 pieces of equipment.
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1972
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Reynolds Park water tower built.
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1973
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Norwest Financial Center built.
2,470 acres of parkland in City.
Per capita auto travel - 8,000 miles/year.
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1974
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Overall real estate market value - $900 million.
Water treatment plant completed.
Voters approved $6,300,000 bonds for buildings and parks.
City Hall expanded.
Normandale Community College renamed to reflect expanded courses of study.
Creekside converted from elementary school to senior center.
After six-hour meeting, Council approved women as firefighters.
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1975
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Typical Bloomington home's market value - $43,700.
385 full-time City employees.
Fire Station #5 built.
Bloomington Ice Garden's Rink #2 built.
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1979
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Fire Station #6 built at a cost of $210,000.
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1980s
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Issues: Property taxes. Traffic. Redevelopment.
Infrastructure investment. Environment. Education quality. School special levy
referenda (4 succeed, 4 fail). Sixteen school closings (1 senior high, 3 junior
high and 12 elementary).
  
Photos: BPD, 1983; Oxboro Shops, 1985; 8500 Tower, 1985.
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1980
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Population - 81,831.
54,000 people employed in city.
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1981
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Last baseball game at Met Stadium (Twins 2, Kansas City 5).
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1982
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Lincoln High School closed.
Normandale Office Park constructed -- first of four office buildings.
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1983
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Overall real estate market value rises to $2.8 billion.
HRA and Council approved Oxboro Redevelopment plan.
Normandale College expanded community services and continuing education.
Neighborhood Watch Program begins.
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1984
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Trammel Crow built 8500 Tower.
City's first female firefighter, Ann Majerus.
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1985
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Port Authority purchased 86-acre Met Stadium site.
460 full-time City employees.
Elementary enrollment started to grow again.
BFD has 132 active members and a class 3 fire insurance rating.
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1987
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Port Authority approved first site plans for Mall of America.
1,800 residential permits (worth $9 million) for additions and remodeling issued.
First issue of City newsletter, Bloomington News, published in July.
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1989
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Overall real estate market value - $4.3 billion.
7,850 acres of parkland in city.
Mall of America groundbreaking.
9,300 enrolled at Normandale College.
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1990s
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Issues: Inadequate and outdated municipal and park
facilities. Redevelopment and enhancement of older, east Bloomington. Major
transportation projects.
  
Photos: Mall of America, 1992; Pavement Management Program, 1995, Bloomington
Sister City, 1990s.
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1990
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Population - 86,355.
Median age - 33 years.
Typical Bloomington home's market value - $100,400.
70,000 people employed in Bloomington.
11,376 students enrolled in Bloomington schools.
Referendum to improve Municipal Building fails.
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1991
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Ordinance prohibiting sale of tobacco products by vending machines passed.
TH77 (Cedar Avenue) improvements completed.
BE-Line neighborhood circulator bus service began.
With over 100 deer per square mile (recommended 25 per square mile), Deer
Management Program launched.
Average home value in Bloomington is $90,000.
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1992
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Mall of America opened.
Bloomington and Izumi City, Japan, started Sister City Partnership.
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1993
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Computerized Pavement Management Program for sealcoating, overlaying and
reconstructing streets began.
South Hennepin Household Hazardous Waste Center opened.
Police Bicycle Patrol Unit formed.
Bloomington Ice Garden built Olympic-size rink (#3).
New Fire Station #1 at 95th Street and Nicollet Avenue.
Door-to-door Smoke Detector Inspection program started.
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1994
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Met Sports Center demolished December 13.
Recreational Vehicle Ordinance regulating storage and parking of RVs begins.
Community Enhancement Program began with home improvement activities in two
neighborhoods of 1,000 homes.
Smoke-free Restaurant Recognition Program began.
79th/80th Street Ring Route Project started.
City's Web site went online in March with under 200 files.
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1995
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Overall real estate market value - $5.1 billion.
Time-of-Sale Inspections began.
First River Rendezvous held at Pond-Dakota Mission Park.
One third of city's eateries smoke-free.
County Road 18 over Minnesota River completed.
City's bond rating upgraded with Moody's from Aa to Aa1, with Standard and Poors
from AA to AA+.
Real estate market value reached $5.18 billion.
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1996
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Extension to existing airport runway 4-22 completed.
Bush Lake Beach facilities rebuilt.
Underwater World aquarium at Mall of America opened.
Sign ordinance enacted.
City of Bloomington Internet site went on-line.
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1997
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Gideon Pond House renovation completed.
Volunteer, 145-person Bloomington Fire Department turned 50 years old.
Bloomington Ice Garden rinks renovated.
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1998
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Population - 88,375.
98,300 people employed in Bloomington. Largest employer was Mall of America (13,000
people).
Galaxy Youth Center opened.
Eight neighborhoods participated in the Community Enhancement Program.
Systematic Inspection Program for nuisance complaints expanded to cover entire
city.
Major May 30 storm cost $1.2 million for cleanup with 10,000 truck loads of debris.
Permits reached record 26,600 for total value of $240 million.
Citywide Curbside Cleanup Program began, collecting 2,427 tons of trash, 572 yards
of brush and 3,643 appliances in the first year.
Neighborhood Watch Program involved 306 Bloomington neighborhoods.
Light Rail Transit from Downtown Minneapolis proposed to end at Mall of America.
City awarded top Aaa bond rating from Moody's.
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1999
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500 full-time City employees, 300-400 seasonal workers.
Reconstruction of South Parallel Runway at airport completed.
First Bloomington Clean Water Festival celebrated.
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2000 to present
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Issues: Aging municipal facilities and housing stock.
Traffic congestion on both Interstate and neighborhood roads. Aging population.
  
Photos: Bloomington Civic Plaza, 2003; LRT trains at Bloomington Central
Station (BCS), 2004; 263-unit condo project Reflections at BCS, 2007.
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2000
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Population - 85,172.
Median age - 40.1 years.
106,993 people employed in Bloomington.
Special $7.2 million bond for a center for the arts approved.
City received highest bond ratings - AAA from Standard & Poor's; Aaa from
Moody's.
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2001
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Overall real estate market value - $7.8 billion.
Normandale Bandshell opened at Summer Fete on July 3.
Mall of America Police Station opened.
Groundbreaking held for new Police/City Hall/Art Center in October.
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2002
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Metropolitan Airports Commission and Mall of American swap land to make way for
Phase II of Mall development.
Ring Route streets, an alternate route to I-494, renamed American Boulevard.
New $8.5 million Public Works facility added 88,340 square feet of vehicle
equipment storage, repair garage and office space.
New $3.6 million Bloomington Family Aquatics Center opened.
Water Treatment Plant's $14.9 million renovation completed.
Smith Park renovation completed.
Mall of America celebrated 10th year with annual sales of $900 million, producing
$900,000 in revenue for City.
After 35 years of white vehicles, Police cars went retro with black-and-white
models.
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2003
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The 44,000 square-foot Bloomington Civic Plaza completed within its $38 million
budget.
Southwest Metropolitan Joint Public Safety Training Center opened.
Sister City Organization celebrated 10 years.
Penn Avenue and I-494 bridge completed.
City's Web site attracted 31,000 visits per month.
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2004
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City started String of Pearls redevelopment projects.
Oxboro Library renovation completed.
IKEA retailer opened first part of Mall of America Phase II.
Construction of American Boulevard bridge over I-35W began.
Hiawatha Light Rail line service opened, offering transportation between Mall of
America and downtown Minneapolis.
313 neighborhoods participated in National Night Out; Bloomington was 8th best in
nation among cities with populations from 50,000 to 99,999.
Bloomington received triple-A bond rating from Fitch, one of only 20 cities out of
87,000 local governments in the U.S. to achieve triple-A ratings from all three
bond rating agencies.
In the General Election, Bloomington experienced a record turnout of 85.3 percent
of the city's registered voters.
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2005
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Population - 84,347.
Overall real estate market value - $10.3 billion. Values doubled in 10 years.
Typical Bloomington home's market value - $231,200.
New north/south runway opened in October.
I-35W and I-494 interchange had highest rate of crashes on I-494/I-694 beltway.
(432 crashes since 2002.)
Lyle Berg Bridge over I-35W, last link in American Boulevard beltway, completed.
Costing $12.5 million, the bridge is 387 feet long.
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2006
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First phase of McGough's Bloomington Central Station -- Reflections -- completed.
Transit-oriented development project encompassed 43 acres.
New housing built at a rate comparable to fast-growing suburbs with more than 1,000
housing units on drawing board.
Bloomington's number one industry -- hospitality -- picked up after 9/11 slump.
Employed more than 20,000 with 10,000 visitors each day.
Bush Lake, rated one of the 10 best metro area lakes in a field of 186, earned an A
for water quality from the Metropolitan Council.
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2007
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Bloomington Farmers Market debuted at the Civic Plaza's east parking lot.
1.6 Acre urban park in the center of Bloomington Central Station opened in June.
2,500 Square-foot mural by Erik Pearson completed on Bloomington Civic Plaza's
exterior flyloft.
115-Year old Old Town Hall exterior renovation completed.
Bloomington Ice Garden's 37-year-old original rink number one, which seats 1,800,
was reconstructed.
Severe August 11 storm had Public Works crews picking up and recycling more than
7,000 truckloads of storm-damaged trees and brush.
Neighborhood Watch Program involved 360 Bloomington neighborhoods.
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2008
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Bloomington celebrated its Sesquicentennial.
Public school enrollment - 10,368, with four colleges, 10 elementary schools, three
middle schools, two high schools and seven parochial schools.
City boasted 97 parks, 93 ballfields and 55 playgrounds.
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