Edina, Minnesota

Settlement

Edina began as part of Richfield Township, Minnesota. By the 1870s, 17 families, most of them immigrating as a result of the potato famine in Ireland, had come to Minnesota and claimed land in the southwest section of what was then Richfield Township. They were followed by settlers from New England and Germany, who claimed additional land near Minnehaha Creek. The Baird and Grimes neighborhoods (which are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places), and the Country Club District (then known as Waterville Mills) are located in the northeast part of Edina, and were among the first areas to be established. The area then known as the Cahill Settlement, at West 70th Street and Cahill Road, was also an early community center and the home of Cahill School.

In 1888, the residents of the township held a meeting to consider founding a new village, thus separating themselves from Richfield Township. The idea was favorably accepted by those within the community and a committee was established to oversee the transition.

Naming

After the decision was made to form a new village, a debate ensued regarding the naming of the new village. Several town meetings were held in the Minnehaha Grange Hall, during which the names Hennepin Park, Westfield and Edina were suggested. Minutes taken by Henry F. Brown, a farmer and future owner (1889) of the Edina Mill, are summarized as follows:

A long debate ensued with regard to the name by which the corporation shall be called. A motion was made and passed to reconsider the vote taken at the previous meeting of the name of the proposed village, Westfield. Another motion was then made by Andrew Craik to call the proposed village Edina (upon moving to the township in 1869 from Edinburgh, he bought and renamed the mill to the Edina Mill). Before the motion could be decided, James A. Bull, a member of the five person committee, made another motion to adjourn, which was seconded by the majority. However, the chairman of the meeting called this motion out of order, at which time disorder ensued with Baird, Wilson, Ryan and Bull declaring their intent to no longer serve as members of the committee if a gag law was to prevail. During this heated moment the meeting became somewhat boisterous until, after a few minutes order was restored. Seeing that no more work could be done at this time, a final motion was made and passed to reschedule the meeting to a future date.

At the next meeting, the name Edina was finally chosen with a vote of 47 for and 42 against.

There has been a prevailing myth about the decision to name the new village Edina, which states that two opposing communities—the Irish Cahill community and the Scottish Mill community—fought about whether to give the community an Irish name (Killarney Lakes) or a Scottish name (Edina). The 1860 census, however, indicates that there were no Scottish people in Edina in 1860, and only a couple were present at the time of Edina's founding (1888).

Morningside

The first suburban development in Edina occurred during the early 1900s in Morningside, a neighborhood in the northeastern part of the village. As Morningside grew, conflict arose between its residents who wanted more city services, and the residents of the rest of the village who wanted to maintain Edina's rural character. As a result of that conflict, Morningside seceded from Edina in 1920 and became a separate village. In 1966, however, the Village of Morningside once again became part of Edina.

Historical racial discrimination

According to historian Deborah Morse-Kahn, the Quaker village that existed where Edina would be built included African Americans who "became very involved in community life—especially as leaders." At the November 1898 general election, J. Frank Wheaton, a Republican African-American, was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 42, which included all of Edina. Wheaton beat his white Democratic opponent in every city of Minneapolis ward and in every village within the legislative district, including Edina, even though the legislative district had only approximately 100 African Americans residents out of a total of 40,000 residents.

In the early 20th century discriminatory policies led nearly all of the African Americans who had been living in Edina to move away. James W. Loewen described the suburb as a sundown town. Researchers point in particular to Samuel Thorpe's development of the Country Club district, which used deed restrictions as means to exclude non-whites, stating explicitly that:

No lot shall ever be sold, conveyed, leased, or rented to any person other than one of the white or Caucasian race, nor shall any lot ever be used or occupied by any person other than one of the white or Caucasian race, except such as may be serving as domestics for the owner or tenant of said lot, while said owner or tenant is residing thereon.

Other developments, like that built by N. P. Dodge Corporation just a mile away, followed suit in attempting to protect land values through racial policies. Though the Supreme Court ruled these kinds of discriminatory housing clauses unenforceable in its Shelley v. Kraemer decision of 1948, reports of discrimination persisted through the 1950s and 1960s. According to the Edina Historical Society's story about the first black family in Morningside (then a separate village) in 1960, attempts to keep them out included tactics like trying "to get [their] lot condemned for drainage." In response, then-mayor Ken Joyce wrote a note dismissing the drainage concern and challenging citizens "to live the Golden Rule". Shortly thereafter the village voted in favor of inclusion.

Jewish residents were also affected by exclusionary deed covenants. In the 1960s, some residents boasted that Edina had "Not one Negro and not one Jew."

Geography

Many major highways run through or are close to Edina, making it readily accessible to those within the metropolitan area. Minnesota State Highways 62 and 100 divide the City into four sections. U.S. Highway 169 and Minnesota State Highway 100 extend north and south. Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 62 extend east and west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.97 square miles (41.36 km²), of which 15.45 square miles (40.02 km²) is land and 0.52 square miles (1.35 km²) is water. Residential areas comprise the largest portion of the City, which is now more than 95 percent developed. Within Edina are many different neighborhoods; Highlands, Indian Hills, Morningside, Country Club District, Cahill Village, Chapel Hill, South Harriet Park, Interlachen, Rolling Green, Presidents, Sunnyslope, White Oaks, Parkwood Knolls, Braemar Hills, Birchcrest, Dewey Hill and Hilldale.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 47,941 people, 20,672 households, and 12,918 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,103.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,198.1/km²). There were 22,560 housing units at an average density of 1,460.2 per square mile (563.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.1% White, 3.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 6.1% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 20,672 households of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 45.2 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21% were from 25 to 44; 29.6% were from 45 to 64; and 20.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

Edina is one of the most affluent suburbs of Minneapolis. The median household income in Edina in 1999 was $66,019, compared to the averages of $37,974 for Minneapolis and $47,111 for the state of Minnesota. According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $76,805, and the median income for a family was $114,673. Males had a median income of $67,011 versus $41,742 for females. The per capita income for the city was $44,195. About 2.0% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Edina is home to a few billionaires, most notably Richard M. Schulze and the late Carl Pohlad.

Public schools

Edina Public Schools is the public school district (ISD 273) that serves Edina families. There are approximately 8,500 K-12 students served by 1139 teachers and support staff.

Edina has only one high school, Edina High School. As of 2015 it is listed as U.S. News and World Reports highest ranked school in Minnesota and #197 nationally. Newsweek's list of America's Best High Schools also ranked Edina highest in the state, #121 nationally. According to Newsweek, the graduate rate is 99% and 96% go on to attend college.

The area is served by two middle schools (South View Middle School and Valley View Middle School) and six elementary schools (Concord, Creek Valley, Cornelia, Highlands, Countryside, and Normandale).

Private schools

There are four private schools in Edina: Our Lady of Grace Catholic School, St. Peters Lutheran School, Chesterton Academy and Calvin Christian School.

Economy

Edina serves as headquarters for several large companies: Jerry's Foods, Lund Food Holdings, Regis Corporation, and of Dairy Queen, and Orange Julius.

The town's most notable shopping centers are Southdale Center and 50th & France, which it shares with Minneapolis.

According to the city's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are Fairview Southdale Hospital, Macy's, BI Worldwide, Edina Public Schools, Promenade Salon Concepts, Regis Salons, Regis Franchise, Regis, MasterCuts, and SmartStyle, the last six of which are part of Regis Corporation.

Parks

Edina's parkland and open space totals more than 1,550 acres (6.3 km²). The Edina Park and Recreation Department oversees 44 parks, which include amenities such as baseball, football and soccer fields; softball diamonds; basketball and tennis courts; outdoor skating rinks; playground equipment for young children; and picnic shelters. The Department also maintains eight miles (13 km) of scenic pathways for bicycling, walking, jogging, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Besides overseeing the parks, the Edina Park & Recreation Department is also responsible for the operation of 10 arts, community, and recreation facilities within the city including Braemar Golf Course, Braemar Ice Rink, Centennial Lakes Park, and Edinborough Park.

Private country clubs

There are two country clubs located in Edina, the Edina Country Club and the Interlachen Country Club.

Notable people

The following people were born in, or have resided in, Edina:

In popular culture