Brooklyn Park is a suburban city on the west bank of the Mississippi River, upstream from (north of) downtown Minneapolis in northern Hennepin County. It is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 86,478 at the 2020 census.[4] The city still has undeveloped land and farms, including the historic Eidem Homestead, a 1900s working farm that is a popular tourist attraction for families and school field trips.[7] Brooklyn Park is considered both a second- and third-tier suburb of Minneapolis, because much of the land north of 85th Avenue was developed after 2000.
Brooklyn Park is listed as a "Tree City USA" and is home to 47 miles (76 km) of trails and 67 parks, including Rush Creek Regional Trail and the northern section of Palmer Lake Park. The city is also known for Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, on the west side of Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park. Rasmussen University, North Hennepin Community College and a campus of Hennepin Technical College are in the city.
History
Settlers from Michigan formally organized town government in 1858 and named the area after their hometown of Brooklyn, Michigan.[8] Formerly Brooklyn Township, the township split in 1911 when the southeast community incorporated into Brooklyn Center.[9] Brooklyn Township incorporated as the Village of Brooklyn Park in 1954, and incorporated as a city in 1969.[10]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.549 square miles (68.76 km2), of which 26.076 square miles (67.54 km2) is land and 0.473 square miles (1.23 km2), or 1.89% are water.[2] The Mississippi River forms the eastern boundary of the city, separating it from Coon Rapids and Fridley in Anoka County.
Interstates 94 and 694 are located in the far southern portion of Brooklyn Park. U.S. Route 169 is located near the western part of the city. State Highway 252, a 4.5-mile (7.2 km) north–south highway, is located near the eastern portion of the city. State Highway 610 runs east–west through the northern portion of Brooklyn Park. County Road 81 also serves as one of the main routes.
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the 2010 census, there were 75,781 people, 26,229 households, and 18,763 families living in the city. The population density was 2,906.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,122.2/km2). There were 27,841 housing units at an average density of 1,067.9 per square mile (412.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 52.2% White, 24.4% African American, 0.5% Native American, 15.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.6% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.4% of the population.
There were 26,229 households, of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.5% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.40.
The median age in the city was 32.5 years. 29% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 7.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 67,388 people, 24,432 households, and 17,346 families living in the city. The population density was 2,586.1 people per square mile (998.4 per km2). There were 24,846 housing units at an average density of 953.5 per square mile (368.1 per km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.44% White, 14.33% African American, 0.57% Native American, 9.22% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.49% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race totaled 4,481 residents in the city. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.88% of the population.
There were 24,432 households, out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the city, the age distribution of the population showed 28.8% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median household income/owner occupied was $88,972. The median household income/renter occupied was $42,541. The combined median income for a household in the city was $64,297. The per capita income for the city was $23,199. About 3.8% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Top employers
According to the City's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[17] the largest employers in the city are:
#
Employer
# of Employees
Percentage
1
Manufacturing
8,238
24.83%
2
Health Care and Social Assistance
4,810
14.50%
3
Retail Trade
3,513
10.59%
4
Educational Services
2,820
8.50%
5
Admin and Support and Waste
1,924
5.80%
6
Accommodation and Food Services
1,661
5.01%
7
Wholesale Trade
1,564
4.71%
8
Transportation and Warehousing
1,538
4.64%
9
Professional, Scientific, and Tech
1,427
4.30%
10
Construction
1,404
4.23%
11
Other Services (except Public Admin)
1,133
3.42%
12
Finance and Insurance
866
2.61%
13
Public Administration
762
2.30%
14
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
702
2.12%
15
Management of Companies and Enterprises
493
1.49%
16
Arts, Entertainment, and Rec
196
0.59%
17
Information
93
0.28%
18
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
29
0.00%
19
Utilities
2
0.01%
20
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas
1
0.00%
—
Total employers
33,176
100.01%
Parks and recreation
The Three Rivers Figure Skating Club operates out of the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center.[18][19]
Government
Brooklyn Park is served by a seven-member city council, two members for each voting district within the city plus the mayor elected by the entire city. The three districts are West, East, and Central. The mayor is Hollies Winston.[20]
^"Open Enrollment". Minnesota Department of Education. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
Further reading
Hoisington, Daniel John (2001). The Brooklyns: A History of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Brooklyn Center Historical Society, ISBN 978-0970843906.
