Editing Bloomington, Minnesota (section)

==History==
[[Image:Gideon Pond House.jpg|thumb|left|Built in 1856 on the bluffs of the Minnesota River, the [[Gideon H. Pond House]] is now listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].]]

In 1839, with renewed conflict with the [[Ojibwa]] nation, Chief [[Cloud Man]] relocated his band of the [[Mdewakanton]] [[Sioux]] from [[Bde Maka Ska]] in [[Minneapolis]] to an area named Oak Grove in southern Bloomington, close to present-day Portland Avenue.<ref name="history-mpl">{{cite web|url=http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/history/eh1.asp |title=A History of Minneapolis: Mdewakanton Band of the Dakota Nation |author=JoEllen Haugo and Mary Jo Laakso |publisher=Minneapolis Public Library |year=2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104133936/http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/history/eh1.asp |archive-date=January 4, 2009}}</ref> In 1843, Peter and Louisa Quinn, the first European settlers to live in Bloomington, built a cabin along the [[Minnesota River]] in the area.<ref name="History of Bloomington">[http://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/departments/technology/ConTech/BLOOMING/BloomingtonHistory.htm History of Bloomington] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311024025/http://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/departments/technology/ConTech/BLOOMING/BloomingtonHistory.htm |date=March 11, 2007 }}</ref> The government had sent them to teach the Native Americans European-derived farming methods. [[Gideon Hollister Pond]], a [[missionary]] who had been following and recording the Dakota language from Cloud Man's band, relocated later that year, establishing Oak Grove Mission, his log cabin. Pond and his family held church services and taught the Dakota school subjects and Western farming. Passage across the Minnesota River in Bloomington came in 1849 when William Chambers and Joseph Dean opened the Bloomington Ferry. It remained operational until 1889, when the [[Bloomington Ferry Bridge]] was built.

After the [[Treaty of Traverse des Sioux]] in 1851, the territory west of the [[Mississippi River]], including Bloomington, was opened to settlers. A group of pioneers settled in Bloomington, including the Goodrich, Whalon, and Ames families. They named the area Bloomington after the city they were from, [[Bloomington, Illinois]]. Most early jobs were in [[farming]], [[blacksmithing]], and [[grist mill|flour milling]].<ref name="history-bps">{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/departments/technology/ConTech/BLOOMING/BloomingtonHistory.htm |title=Bloomington History Unit adapted from Bloomington on the Minnesota |publisher=Bloomington Public Schools |author=Adapted from Jessica Moe |year=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311024025/http://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/departments/technology/ConTech/BLOOMING/BloomingtonHistory.htm |archive-date=March 11, 2007 }}</ref> The Oxborough family, who came from Canada, built a trading center on [[Lyndale Avenue]] and named it Oxboro Heath. Today, the Clover Shopping Center rests near the old trading center site and the nearby Oxboro Clinic is named after them. The Baliff family opened a grocery and general store at what is today Penn Avenue and Old Shakopee Road, and Hector Chadwick, after moving to the settlement, opened a blacksmith shop near the Bloomington Ferry. In 1855, the first public school for all children was opened in Miss Harrison's house, with the first school, Gibson House, built in 1859.<ref name="history-bps" /> On May 11, 1858, the day Minnesota was admitted into the union and officially became a state, 25 residents incorporated the Town of Bloomington. By 1880, the population had grown to 820.<ref name="history-city">{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/main_side/history/history.htm |title=Bloomington History |publisher=City of Bloomington |year=2006 |access-date=November 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228165303/http://ci.bloomington.mn.us/main_side/history/history.htm |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1892, the first town hall was built at Penn and Old Shakopee Road. By then, the closest Dakota to Minneapolis lived at the residence of Gideon Pond.<ref name="history-mpl" />

===1900s to 1930s===
After 1900, the population surpassed 1,000 and Bloomington began to transform into a city. With rising population came conflict among citizens over social issues. Among the major issues during this period were parents' unwillingness to consolidate the individual schools into a single, larger school, and fear of mounting taxes. By 1900, there were six rural schools spread throughout the territory with over 200 students enrolled in grades first through eighth. In 1917, the school consolidation issue was settled when voters approved the consolidation. A year later, [[secondary education]] and [[school bus]] transportation began throughout the city. [[Telephone]] service and [[automobiles]] appeared.

===1940s to 1950s===
From 1940 to 1960, the city's population increased to nine times that of the population at the turn of the century. During the 1940s, the city's development vision was [[low-cost]], [[Single-family home|low-density]] housing, each with its own [[Water well|well]] and [[septic system]]. The rapid population growth was due in part to the post-World War II boom and subsequent birth of the [[baby boomer]] generation. In 1947, the first [[fire station]] was constructed and equipped at a cost of $24,000 and the Bloomington [[Volunteer Fire Department]] was established with 25 members.

[[File:Toro Headquarters.jpg|thumb|[[The Toro Company|Toro]] moved to Bloomington in 1952]]
The 1950s saw a considerable expansion of the city and its infrastructure, with the city shifting away from its small-town atmosphere and feel. In 1950, because of the increasing population, the first elementary school, Cedarcrest, was built. It was evident that one consolidated school could no longer serve the growing population, and ten new schools were built in this decade to meet the need. In 1952, the first large business, [[Toro Manufacturing Company]], moved to Bloomington. The significance of this can be seen in Bloomington today, which is home to hundreds of businesses of all types.

In 1953, Bloomington changed from a [[civil township|township]] to a village form of government. This more professional approach to government was accompanied by open council meetings, land use plans, and published budgets. The effects of this new form of government began immediately, first with the formation of the city police department (at a cost of $2 per taxpayer) and then with the first parkland acquisition. Both [[Bush Lake (Hennepin County, Minnesota)|Bush Lake]] Beach and Moir Park were established at a cost of one dollar to each residence. Today, about 1/3 of the city's land area is devoted to city and regional parks, playgrounds, and open space.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/pr/park-system-master-plan-2020 | title=Park System Master Plan 2020 | publisher=City of Bloomington | year=2020 | access-date=June 4, 2020 | archive-date=June 4, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604203319/https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/pr/park-system-master-plan-2020 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1956, the first city land-use plan was initiated with the construction of [[Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|Interstate 35W]] and [[Metropolitan Stadium]].

In 1957, [[Bloomington Lincoln High School|Bloomington High School]] opened at West 88th Street and Sheridan Avenue South.

In 1958, the city changed from a village government to a [[council-manager government|council-manager form]]. One of the first policies the council adopted was encouragement of commercial and industrial development, low-cost housing, and shopping centers. Due to the rapid population increase during this time, police and fire departments changed to a 24-hour dispatching system, and the fire department (now with 46 members) converted a garage into the second fire station.

===1960s to 1970s===
[[File:John F Kennedy High School Bloomington MN.jpg|thumb|[[Bloomington Kennedy High School]] was built in 1965]]
The 1960s saw accelerated school and business growth throughout the city. On November 8, 1960, Bloomington officially became a city as voters approved the city's organizing document, the city charter. The charter provides for a council-manager form of government in which the city council exercises the city's legislative power and determines all city policies (see [[#City Government|City of Bloomington Government]]). In 1965, a second high school, [[Bloomington Kennedy High School|John F. Kennedy High School]], was built, and Bloomington High School was renamed [[Bloomington Lincoln High School|Abraham Lincoln High School]]. In 1967, a second and third official fire station were approved and built to more effectively combat fires in the increasingly large city. In 1968, Normandale State Junior College opened with an initial enrollment of 1,358 students. In 1974, it was renamed [[Normandale Community College]] to reflect expanded courses of study.

[[Image:Metropolitan Stadium 1962.jpeg|thumb|right|Owned by the City of Minneapolis but located in Bloomington, major league teams played at the [[Metropolitan Stadium]] from 1961 until 1981. It was demolished in 1985 to make room for the Mall of America.]]
From 1961 to 1981, Bloomington was home to most of Minnesota's major sports teams. In 1961, after the completion of [[Metropolitan Stadium]] in 1956, both the [[Minnesota Twins]] and [[Minnesota Vikings]] began regular-season play. Though originally built for the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]] [[Minneapolis Millers]], a [[minor league]] baseball team, Metropolitan Stadium was renovated and expanded for [[Major League Baseball]] and the [[National Football League]]. The first Twins game was held on April 21 ([[Washington Senators (1961–71)|Washington]] 5, Twins 3) and the first Vikings game was held on September 17 (Vikings 37, [[Chicago Bears]] 13). On August 21, 1965, [[The Beatles]] played Metropolitan Stadium, their only stop ever in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. In 1967, with the expansion of the [[National Hockey League]], the [[Metropolitan Sports Center]] was built near Metropolitan Stadium and the [[Minnesota North Stars]] began play later that year.

A number of new city buildings were constructed in the 1970s. In 1970, [[Bloomington Jefferson High School|Thomas Jefferson High School]], Bloomington Ice Garden rink one, and a fourth fire station were built. In 1971, school enrollment peaked with 26,000 students, and the fire department had grown to a force of 105 men. (In 1974, after a six-hour city council meeting, women were allowed to join the Bloomington Fire Department, but the city's first female firefighter, Ann Majerus Meyer, did not join the department until 1984; she retired in 2013). In 1975, a second rink was added to the Bloomington Ice Garden and a fifth fire station built, with a sixth added in 1979.

===1980s to present===
[[Image:bloomingtonskyline.jpg|thumb|left| Bloomington skyline]] [[Image:BloomingtonIKEA.jpg|thumb|right|Bloomington [[IKEA]]]]The 1980s brought radical change to Bloomington with the departure of the Twins and Vikings. On September 30, 1981, the last baseball game was played at Metropolitan Stadium ([[Kansas City Royals]] 5, Twins 2) as the Twins and Vikings moved to the newly constructed [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] in [[downtown Minneapolis]] for the 1982 season. In 1985, the Bloomington Port Authority purchased the {{convert|86|acre|m2|adj=on}} Met Stadium site and in less than two years approved first site plans for [[Mall of America]]. Two years later, groundbreaking took place for the new megamall, and in 1992, it opened to the public. Today, tenants of Mall of America, when combined, constitute the largest private-sector employer in Bloomington, employing about 13,000 people.

In 1993, the Minnesota North Stars moved to [[Dallas]], and a year later the [[Metropolitan Sports Center]] was demolished. In 2004, an [[IKEA]] store opened on the west end of the former Met Center site. The remainder of the property is planned to be the site for Mall of America Phase II. In May 2006, the [[Water Park of America]] (now Great Wolf Lodge<ref>{{Cite web |last=Norfleet |first=Nicole |date=2017-01-11 |title=Water Park of America to close by end of January, reopen in November |url=https://www.startribune.com/water-park-of-america-to-close-by-end-of-january-reopen-in-november/410318465 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}}</ref>) opened.

In 2019, Bloomington passed an ordinance that forbade filming students of [[Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center]] in a public park. This led to a successful lawsuit in the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit]] against the city to reinstate the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights of the parties involved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/12/11/fight-over-filming-kids-outside-bloomington-mosque-heads-to-court|title=Fight over filming kids outside Bloomington mosque heads to court}}</ref> [[Keith Ellison]] had previously asked the court to drop the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lawandcrime.com/first-amendment/federal-court-strikes-down-local-law-in-minnesota-that-forbade-a-woman-from-photographing-kids-near-mosque-and-park/|title=Federal Court Strikes Down Local Law in Minnesota That Forbade a Woman from Photographing Kids Near Mosque and Park|date=September 3, 2021 }}</ref>

Bloomington was a potential site for hosting the [[Expo 2027]]. However, in June 2023, [[Belgrade]], [[Serbia]] was chosen for hosting the Expo 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Albertson-Grove |first=Josie |last2=Tribune |first2=Jessie Van Berkel Star |title=Minnesota loses 2027 Expo bid |url=https://www.startribune.com/bloomington-minnesota-loses-2027-expo-bid/600284158/ |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>