Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis

History

Developed mainly between 1905 and 1920, it is a residential area consisting of single-family homes, duplexes, and three-story brick apartment buildings. The neighborhood is located in Minneapolis City Council ward 9 and state legislative districts 62A and 62B.

In 2009, a group of residents started the Powderhorn365 program that documents the day-to-day life of the neighborhood, through a daily photograph from the neighborhood.

On May 25, 2020, the neighborhood was the site of the murder of George Floyd. In response, residents of the neighborhood have vowed not to call the police; "doing so, they believed, would add to the pain that black residents of Minneapolis were feeling and could put them in danger." Protesters converted the 38th and Chicago intersection into George Floyd Square, an occupation protest and memorial site for George Floyd that persisted into 2021.

Demographics

Approximately 8,500 people live in Powderhorn Park, down from about 9,000 in 2000. Since 2000, the proportion of residents who are non-Hispanic whites has increased to nearly 50%. Hispanic or Latinos of any race are 30% of the population. Along Lake Street, there are numerous Hispanic and African-American-owned businesses. Around 28% of residents speak a language other than English at home, and 16% are foreign-born residents.

Park

Main article: Powderhorn Park (urban park)

The Powderhorn Park neighborhood is named for the park in its center, run by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The name Powderhorn initially comes from Powderhorn Lake, which was curved in a powder horn shape until the mid-1920s, when its northern arm was filled. The park and lake are used as the setting for the last act in the city's annual May Day parade.

An encampment for people experiencing homelessness emerged at the park in mid-2020 as a result of civil disorder in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder. The Powderhorn Park encampment was considered the largest in the history of the Twin Cities metropolitan history.

Notable residents

• Alison Bechdel, cartoonist
• Peter Gross, comic book artist and writer
• Prof, rapper
• Chet Holmgren, NBA player

References

References

1. (2011). "Powderhorn Park neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota (MN), 55407 detailed profile". [[City-Data]].
2. "Powderhorn Park neighborhood data". Minnesota Compass.
3. "Find My Ward".
4. "Metro Area Legislative Districts".
5. (2020-05-26). "'Being Black In America Should Not Be A Death Sentence': Officials Respond To George Floyd's Death".
6. Dickerson, Caitlin. (June 24, 2020). "A Minneapolis Neighborhood Vowed to Check Its Privilege. It's Already Being Tested.". The New York Times.
7. "2000 - 2020 Minneapolis demographic changes by neighborhood dashboard".
8. Status, Disability. "Powderhorn Park".
9. "Powderhorn Park: History".
10. Rosengren, John. (2020-12-13). "In a Tumultuous Year, COVID Puts Homeless Crisis Front and Center". MplsStPaul.
11. Metheny, Dave. "March 1990: We profiled 'Fun Home' cartoonist Alison Bechdel during her Minnesota days". [[Minneapolis Star Tribune]].
12. (July 10, 2020). "Hundreds now living in Powderhorn Park as neighbors fret and leaders wrestle over next steps". [[Minnesota Star Tribune]].
13. (October 18, 2021). "The Evolution of Prof". High Plains Reader.
14. (May 24, 2025). "Thunder’s Chet Holmgren comes home to Minnesota, the place he learned to be himself". [[The Athletic]].