Residential and Commercial Development Along Highways
Highways made non farm residential development viable and attractive. During the early auto era, the strongest suburban growth occurred in the western suburbs extending from wealthy sectors of established street car neighborhoods in Minneapolis. (The auto era development map below shows dominant pre-WWII growth extending south and southwest of the Cities.) Growth in the northern suburbs was comparatively latent. Slowly, but steadily, commercial and residential buildings developed at low density along established highways. The maps at the bottom of the page provide a glimpse into the early northern suburban landscape; pre-subdivisons and other such mass-development. |
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The map below illustrates the development in the Twin Cities. Notice that during the railroad and early auto eras, development concentrated in tight rings and sectors on the edge of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Suburban growth favored the southwestern edge of Minneapolis, extending from the Lakes District and wealthy streetcar neighborhoods established during the railroad era. Significant growth and development would not occur in the northern suburbs until later in the early auto era (post WWII) and most predominantly during the advanced auto era. |
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Early auto era homes along highway 65, between Ham Lake and Blaine. Notice the sparse development on 65 through Blaine on the map below. Highway 65 is now a main commercial strip.(When built, these homes bordered a low traffic, undivided rural Highway 65; not the high-traffic beast of a highway that runs through their front yards today.) |
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| Commercial development along Highway 65, 1940. Notice proximity to the road side and the pedestrian friendly sidewalks; both features that would die out through the auto eras. | |
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The map at left shows early development along highways in Blaine. The red circle highlights a sparsely developed Raddison Road (a center of commerce and residential development in Blaine today). Place mouse over the map to view a 1914 map of approximately the same location. Although the maps differ in orientation and scale, the change in highway and building development between the beginning and end of the early auto era is visible. The map below illustrates the same development pattern in Anoka, Coon Rapids, and Champlin. |
1948 Map of Anoka |
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