Editing Fridley, Minnesota (section)

==History==

===19th century===
Fridley's post-European/American settlement history began with the construction of the [[Red River Trails]] Woods trail for the [[Red River ox carts]] in 1844.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fridley Historical Society |date=December 2008 |title=Fridley, Minnesota Its History and People |location=United States of America  |publisher=Fridley Historical Society |page=<!-- or pages= -->}}</ref> The trail traveled through Minnesota Territory from [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]] to [[Pembina, North Dakota|Pembina]] in present-day [[North Dakota]]. It was used to transport furs to the south and other supplies to [[Red River Valley]] [[settler]]s in the north. The East River Road (Anoka County Highway 1) follows this route today within Fridley, from the border with Minneapolis to the border with Coon Rapids. 
[[File:AbramMFridley1848.jpg|left|thumb|upright|[[Abram M. Fridley]], for whom the city is named.]]
{{seealso|Manomin County, Minnesota}}
In 1847, John Banfill became the first settler in the township area, which was known at the time as Manomin. Manomin is a variant spelling of ''manoomin'', the [[Ojibwe language|Ojibwe]] word for [[wild rice]], a staple of their diet. It comprised the modern-day municipalities of Columbia Heights, Fridley, [[Hilltop, Minnesota|Hilltop]], and Spring Lake Park. The [[Banfill Tavern]] was built in 1847.

The area soon grew quickly in size. In 1851, Banfill platted the actual town of Manomin. There, a general store and sawmill were built next to Rice Creek, named after [[Henry Mower Rice]], a settler who two years earlier had acquired land in the area. In 1853, the first town post office was in operation, and a year later, a ferry crossing the Mississippi River was established.

In 1855, [[Abram M. Fridley]], for whom the city is named, was elected as the first territorial representative for the area.<ref name="MNH5">Minnesota History (Volume 5). United States: Minnesota Historical Society, 1923.</ref>

In 1857, the area separated from [[Ramsey County, Minnesota|Ramsey County]]; [[Manomin County, Minnesota|Manomin County]] was established, and it became the smallest county in the nation, with only 18 sections.<ref name="MNH5"/> This distinction was short-lived; it was annexed by Anoka County in 1870 and became a township with the same name.<ref name="MNH5"/>

The [[Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad]], which joined St. Paul to St. Anthony across from Minneapolis in 1862, began extending rail to Anoka, reaching it through Fridley in 1864.<ref>Frank G. O'Brien, Minnesota Pioneer Sketches (Minneapolis: H. H. S. Rowell, 1904), 287-288; ―‗Dud‘ Condit, Who Saw railroads Supplant Stage Coaches in Northwest, Declares Conductor‘s Job Was Happiest in World,‖Minneapolis Journal, February 13, 1921</ref><ref>City and State,‖ Minnesota State News (Minneapolis), July 26, 1862; ―First Time Table of the St. Paul and Pacific, Minnesota Historical Society Collections‖; Ralph W. Hidy, Muriel E. Hidy, Roy V. Scott, Don L. Hofsommer, The Great Northern Railway: A History (repr., Minneapolis, London: University of Minnesota Press, 2004), 12; ―A Railroad Excursion Without an Accident,‖ Saint Paul Pioneer, January 19, 1864. The First TimeTable of the St Paul and Pacific does not state the amount of fares charged.</ref><ref>RAPIDS, REINS, RAILS: TRANSPORTATION ON THE Prepared for MINNEAPOLIS RIVERFRONT Marjorie Pearson, Ph.D. Principal Investigator Penny A. Petersen Researcher Hess, Roise and Company. May 2009</ref>

In 1879, the [[Minnesota Legislature]], of which Abram Fridley was still a member, changed the township's name to bear his name.

===20th century===
In 1949, Fridley Township voted to be incorporated as the Village of Fridley.<ref name="2016factsheet">[http://www.ci.fridley.mn.us/documentcenter/view/1538 City of Fridley combined city hall fact sheet]. City of Fridley, October 2016</ref> The ''Fridley Free Press'' was also established. Northern Pump, whose factory was within the village's boundaries, sued to challenged the village's incorporation.<ref>[https://law.justia.com/cases/minnesota/supreme-court/1951/35-061.html STATE EX REL. NORTHERN PUMP COMPANY AND ANOTHER v. SO-CALLED VILLAGE OF FRIDLEY AND OTHERS] Minn 233 M 442, 47 NW(2d) 204.</ref> This caused the village funds to be frozen. Minnesota state law allowed cities to operate municipal liquor stores after [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition]] ended.<ref>Minnesota Statutes 340A.601 ESTABLISHMENT OF MUNICIPAL LIQUOR STORES.</ref> Fridley's liquor store proceeds were the primary funding for daily city operations until the lawsuit was resolved in 1950. Minnesota has both private liquor stores and city-owned municipal liquor stores.<ref name="MNCITY">Stemmer, Irene - [http://www.wayzata.org/DocumentCenter/View/707 History of the Muni] Wayzata Heritage Preservation Board, City of Wayzata, MN. 2009</ref> Fridley is the location of the headquarters of the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association (MMBA), a lobbying coalition for municipalities with city-owned liquor stores. In conjunction with the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, it lobbied against Sunday liquor store sales in Minnesota until they were finally permitted in 2017.<ref>Coolican, J. Patrick - [https://www.startribune.com/state-senate-passes-bill-to-end-ban-on-sunday-liquor-store-sales/414885874 State Senate passes bill to end ban on Sunday liquor store sales.] Star Tribune, February 27, 2017</ref>

The [[Totino's]] frozen pizza company opened a factory in Fridley in 1970 as it was growing to a national business.<ref>Johnston, Louis D. - [https://www.minnpost.com/macro-micro-minnesota/2021/04/how-totinos-secured-minnesotas-slice-of-the-frozen-pizza-market/ How Totino’s secured Minnesota’s slice of the frozen pizza market]. MinnPost April 29, 2021</ref> The business was sold to Pillsbury in 1975.

====Growth====
In 1957, the village became the City of Fridley, a "[[home rule]] [[charter city]]". City Hall, at 6431 University Avenue Northeast, has a fire station, city services and council meetings. A newer fire station was built in 1964. Fridley's population grew past 15,000 in the 1950s and peaked over 30,000 by the 1970s.<ref name="Census"/>

====1965 flood and tornadoes====
Two of Fridley's worst disasters happened within weeks of each other. In April 1965, Minnesota was affected by a "500-year flood". The spring flood on the Upper Mississippi is still the flood of record for from about 100 miles north of Minneapolis to Hannibal, Missouri. The crests that April exceeded previous records by several feet at many river gauge sites. Those crests still exceed the second-highest crest by a foot or more at many of those sites.<ref>Boyne, Jeff - [https://www.weather.gov/arx/flood1965 1965 Mississippi River Flood] United States National Weather Service (La Crosse Bureau) {{PD-notice}}</ref> An ice jam rising 24 feet over the river broke up when it rammed a series of ice breakers above the Sartell Dam.<ref>Marc Hequet - [https://www.bigrivermagazine.com/br.story.c.htmlThe Mississippi Flood of 1965 —Part 1]{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Big River Magazine, March 1994</ref> The Riverview Heights area where Springbrook creek enters the river was severely flooded.
[[File:Fridley City Hall July 2017-2.jpg|thumb|Former Fridley City Hall and Fire Station Number 1 in July 2017]][[File:Fridley City Hall July 2017.jpg|thumb|Former Fridley City hall in July 2017]]
On May 6, 1965, Fridley was hit by two F4 [[tornado]]es.<ref>Curt Brown - [http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-tornado-outbreak-still-vivid-50-years-later/302311331/ Minnesota tornado outbreak still vivid, 50 years later]. Star Tribune, May 6, 2015</ref> One of every four homes in the city was destroyed or damaged. The second twister to hit was the [[Early May 1965 tornado outbreak|deadliest storm in Twin Cities history]], killing 13 people.<ref>[http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/HistoricalEvents/1965May06/index.php Summary of May 6, 1965 Tornado Outbreak - NWS Twin Cities]</ref> Parts of City Hall and the fire station were damaged.<ref name="2016factsheet" />

====Post disaster recovery====
In 1967, a new Civic Center Building opened at the City Hall location, with a plaza to the south. This building was remodeled in 1989<ref name="2016factsheet" /> and demolished in 2019. The acreage around 73rd and (old) Central was purchased by growing Minneapolis-originated companies, Medtronic, Inc. and Onan Corporation, for manufacturing facilities.<ref>Minnesota Progress. United States: Minnesota Department of Economic Development, 1968.</ref>

====Springbrook Nature Center and tornado====
In 1970, Fridley began purchasing land that became the [[Springbrook Nature Center]]. On July 18, 1986, a widely photographed tornado spent 16 minutes in Springbrook Nature Center, destroying thousands of century-old trees and extensive areas of mature forest habitat. Well-known aerial footage of the tornado was filmed by a [[KARE (TV)|KARE]] 11 television news helicopter passing through the area.<ref>Heidi Wigdahl - [https://www.kare11.com/article/news/30-years-ago-sky-11-captures-incredible-tornado-footage/276056859 30 years ago: Sky 11 captures incredible tornado footage]. KARE 11 TV, July 18, 2016</ref>

===21st century===
[[File:Medtronic OHQ Fridley MN 2017.jpg|thumb|Medtronic Operational<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.medtronic.com/about-us/company-profile/locations/index.htm?loc=MDTHomeRefresh_B_InPage_Footer_About1 |title=Medtronic Company Profile - locations|access-date=January 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032720/http://www.medtronic.com/about-us/company-profile/locations/index.htm?loc=MDTHomeRefresh_B_InPage_Footer_About1 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Headquarters is a major employer in Fridley.]]

In 2001, [[Medtronic]] opened its new World Headquarters on the site of the 100 Twin Drive-in at Interstate 694 and Minnesota Highway 65.<ref>[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20051207005640/en/Medtronic-Breaks-Ground-Cardiac-Rhythm-Management-Headquarters Medtronic Breaks Ground on New Cardiac Rhythm Management Headquarters]. BusinessWire, December 7, 2005 Initially Housing More Than 3,000 Employees, New Facility Will Be Medtronic's Largest in the World</ref><ref>Architecture Minnesota. United States: Minnesota Society American Institute of Architects, 2005. "Medtronic World Headquarters" pg. 86</ref> As of 2019, it is still the Operational Headquarters for Medtronic, PLC, which reorganized as an Irish company in 2015.

On June 19, 2003, President [[George W. Bush]] visited the Micro Controls company in Fridley. He was promoting one of the tax relief changes made during his administration.<ref>Bumiller, Elisabeth - [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/20/us/in-minnesota-bush-makes-another-economic-sales-call.html In Minnesota, Bush Makes Another Economic Sales Call]. New York Times, June 30, 2003</ref><ref>[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/06/20030619-2.html President Discusses Tax Relief in Minnesota] White House Archives. June 19, 2003</ref>

In the early 2000s, the Minnesota Sports Cafe was a notable venue for [[mixed martial arts]] competitions. Fighters who have claimed victories in Fridley include [[Sean Sherk]], [[Nick Thompson (fighter)|Nick Thompson]], [[Brock Larson]], [[Marcus LeVesseur]], [[Brian Ebersole]], and [[Harry Moskowitz]].

On September 21, 2005, Fridley was struck by straight-line winds exceeding {{convert|80|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}, toppling many old growth trees as large as {{convert|2.5|ft|m}} in diameter and destroying dozens of homes and several vehicles. Cleanup efforts took a week, leaving hundreds of residents stranded in their homes without power, unable to drive until streets were cleared of debris. The storm also affected [[Brooklyn Center, Minnesota|Brooklyn Center]], [[New Brighton, Minnesota|New Brighton]], [[Brooklyn Park, Minnesota|Brooklyn Park]], [[Coon Rapids, Minnesota|Coon Rapids]], [[Spring Lake Park, Minnesota|Spring Lake Park]], [[Blaine, Minnesota|Blaine]], and other communities in the surrounding North Metro area.

Fridley has [[Fridley Station|one of the first six stations]] of the [[Northstar Commuter Rail]] line connecting the northwest suburbs and downtown Minneapolis; the line opened in November 2009.<ref name=ST121107>Paul Levy, [http://www.startribune.com/local/north/12389261.html Northstar set to roll, but how far?], ''Star Tribune'', December 11, 2007.</ref>

On July 17, 2011, heavy rains washed out the BNSF rail bridge over Rice Creek. A train derailed there and sent hopper cars containing corn into the creek.<ref>[http://www.wday.com/news/minnesota/2603654-2-injured-after-train-derails-fridley Two Injured after Train Derails in Fridley] WDAY, July 17, 2017</ref> Traffic was rerouted for several days. In 2013, a jury awarded damages from BNSF to the train's engineer and conductor.<ref>ABBY SIMONS AND PAUL WALSH - [http://www.startribune.com/jury-awards-2-6m-for-emotional-damage-to-worker-in-fridley-derailment/229792471/ Jury Awards $2.6m for Emotional Damage to Worker in Fridley Derailment] Star Tribune, October 29, 2013</ref>

The Columbia Arena, filming location for the Disney Movie [[D3: The Mighty Ducks]], was demolished in 2016 to make way for a new City Hall.<ref>[http://history.vintagemnhockey.com/page/show/1424332-columbia-arena Vintage MN Hockey: Columbia Arena]</ref> This was controversial because it was expected to cost $50 million and increase homeowner taxes by 19%.<ref>Covington, Hannah - [http://www.startribune.com/fridley-residents-at-odds-over-new-city-hall-complex/404362146/ Fridley residents at odds over new city hall complex.] Star Tribune, December 2, 2016. Some say time is right to replace the facility, while others want plan brought to a referendum.</ref> The Fridley Civic Campus dedication at 7071 University Avenue NE was held on November 17, 2018.<ref>[http://fridleymn.gov/1386/Fridley-Civic-Campus-Opening-Dedication Fridley Civic Campus Opening & Dedication.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125204210/http://fridleymn.gov/1386/Fridley-Civic-Campus-Opening-Dedication |date=November 25, 2018 }} City of Fridley, November 17, 2018</ref> The staff had moved from the previous city hall over Veteran's Day weekend and began working there on November 12. The city council approved the project in December 2016 after nearly three years of studies, meetings and workshops. The council raised the levy to pay for the project, increasing city taxes about 16% for the average homeowner.<ref>[http://www.startribune.com/metro-briefs-fridley-s-new-50-million-civic-campus-opens-this-week/500207461/ Metro Briefs Fridley's new $50 Million civic campus opens this week.] Star Tribune, November 10, 2018</ref> A number of other Twin Cities suburbs updated their civic facilities during a 2018 "building boom of sorts", including Eagan, New Hope, Minnetonka, and Burnsville.<ref>[https://kstp.com/news/minnetonka-fire-police-facility-upgrades-proposed-plan/5145272/ Minnetonka Fire, Police Departments Could Soon Get Facility Upgrades.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125204404/https://kstp.com/news/minnetonka-fire-police-facility-upgrades-proposed-plan/5145272/ |date=November 25, 2018}} KSTP TV, November 14, 2018</ref>

Fridley received an allocation of $1.52 million from the [[American Rescue Plan Act of 2021]] (ARPA).<ref name="ARPA">Adler, Erin and Kim Hyatt - [https://www.startribune.com/how-twin-cities-suburbs-are-spending-the-windfall-theyve-received-from-the-american-rescue-plan-act/600155406/How Twin Cities suburbs are spending a windfall from the American Rescue Plan Act]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Star Tribune, March 12, 2022</ref> The money was used to upgrade and repair its water distribution system and wastewater and storm water infrastructure.<ref name="ARPA"/> The city plans in 2022 to use the next allocation of $1.52 million to improve security at water treatment plants, rebuild its water distribution system, and on sanitary sewer and water quality projects.<ref name="ARPA"/>

President [[Joe Biden]] visited the Cummins plant in Fridley on April 3, 2022, as part of his "Investing in America" tour.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/president-biden-brings-investing-in-america-tour-to-fridley-business-monday/ President Biden brings "Investing in America" tour to Twin Cities business]. CBS News, April 3, 2023</ref> Cummins had announced a $1 billion initiative to produce clean energy technology, including [[electrolyzer]]s for hydrogen cells in Fridley.<ref>[https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/cummins-to-invest-over-1-bln-to-upgrade-u-s-facilities-to-new-clean-energy-tech/ar-AA19qc4B Cummins to invest over $1 bln to upgrade U.S. facilities to new clean energy tech]. Reuters, April 3, 2023<</ref><ref>[https://www.cummins.com/news/releases/2023/04/03/cummins-announces-investments-more-1-billion-across-us-manufacturing Cummins U.S. CUMMINS ANNOUNCES INVESTMENTS OF MORE THAN $1 BILLION ACROSS U.S. MANUFACTURING NETWORK - Electrolyzer Product in Fridley, Minnesota] Cummins, April 3, 2023, Columbus, Indiana</ref>