Your Guide to Buying a Home in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home in Minneapolis, Minnesota

(The very modern Minneapolis skyline at dusk)

Minneapolis is located in Hennepin County

The present-day site of Minneapolis was once home to the Dakota Indians, who gave the city its name. French explorers arrived in the late 1600's, and included Father Louis Hennepin who discovered the St. Anthony Falls. These falls helped spur the growth of early industry as a sawmill and flower mill were eventually constructed in the early 1800's. As this industry developed it laid the foundation for two separate communities to develop, one on each bank of the Mississippi River. The village of St. Anthony occupied the east bank and the village of Minneapolis was situated on the west bank of the river. The two villages were later incorporated as a single city in 1872.

The St. Anthony Falls and the Mississippi River began to take on even more importance, as more mills were built for the purpose of producing superior Minnesota grain. These same mills became the international corporations of Pillsbury, General Mills and Cargill, which are still headquartered in Minneapolis. In fact, Minneapolis is currently home to 14 Fortune 500 companies and the city's modern skyline is direct evidence of the strength of its economy. A few of the more recognizable companies that call Minneapolis home are Target Corporation, 3M, Best Buy, and Northwest Airlines. The number of high-tech firms is always on the rise as Minneapolis looks to modernize and diversify its economy even more.

Visitors to Minneapolis will quickly notice that this is indeed a modern city. In fact, one of the city's tallest skyscrapers has been compared to sci-fi artists' renderings of what cities in the distant future will resemble. With this modern feel comes plenty of modern amenities and attractions, though a bit of room has been preserved for the city's antiquity. The Minnesota Historical Society preserves and tells the story of Minnesota's past through interactive and engaging museum exhibits, extensive libraries and collections, 24 historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. The arts are also quite well represented in Minneapolis, with the Minnesota Museum of Art, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Now, getting back to the aforementioned "modern" facilities...the Minneapolis Planetarium provides a journey into the wonders of our universe. For more science, the Science Museum of Minnesota features a 415-seat Omnitheater with a convertible IMAX Dome-the first in the country to include a domed screen and a flat screen. For sports fans, the MLB Twins, the NBA Timberwolves, and the NFL Vikings are sure to provide a nice day or evening of entertainment.

More practical amenities, such as shopping and dining, are virtually around every corner. Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs are home to the first enclosed shopping mall (Southdale Center), and the nation's largest enclosed shopping and entertainment complex (Mall of America). Department stores, specialty boutiques and unique shops are to be found throughout downtown and in numerous other shopping plazas in the metro area. Dining in Minneapolis ranges from casual to elegant, from hot dogs and burgers to linguini and sweet & sour chicken. Shops and restaurants are conveniently interspersed among major attractions, hotels, and local parks.

Speaking of parks and recreation, Minneapolis has more golfers per capita than any other city in the nation. In addition, the city has more than 20 lakes and averages one acre of parkland for every 57 residents. Many of the city's year-round festivities utilize this tremendous natural resource. A sampling of these events include the Holidazzle Parades, Winter Carnival, Minneapolis Aquatennial, Taste of Minnesota, Sommerfest, Uptown Art Fair, Minnesota Renaissance Festival, and Minnesota Winter Jam.

Minneapolis is half of the "Twin Cities", the other being St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota, which is only 10 miles down I-94. The University of Minnesota is not only a major employer for the city, but also provides excellent faculty and a large number of degree programs.