The Urbanization of Minnesota: Connecting Geography and

History

David A Lanegran PhD

Macalester College

Nature of Historical Geography

• Historical Geography has several themes– Geography of past landscapes or geography

of the past.– Preservation of place – how location

decisions of the past have influenced the geography of the present.

– Relict landscapes and landscape features– Impact of landscape tastes or values

developed the past on the geography of the present

Development of cities in Minnesota

• Selection of sites for urban development

• Nature of city plans

• Effect of technology on development of cities

General types of cities

• Resource extraction sites

• Water power sites

• Fords and bridge points

• Entrepots - Ports or cities that connect places to the rest of the urban system

• Central places – trade or market towns

• Sites selected for political or cultural factors

Geographical Definition of cities

• Cities are nodes in the circulation system– Assemble – Process– Store– Redistribute

Goods people and ideas

The size and wealth of a city is detrmined by

• The size of the city’s hinterland or proximate trade area

• The degree to which the city is connected to the global system of cities

The Size and wealth of the hinterland and degree of connectivity are determined by

– Circulation ( transportation and communication technology

– Industrial technology– Information technology– Resources in hinterland - resources are

cultural achievement

Innovation waves and urbanization

Early settlement was focused on river ports, fords and waterpower sites for mills

Ferry Over Rum River.ca. 1860

Mississippi River and bridge, Anoka.ca. 1905

Ramsey Mill on Vermillion River in Hastings

Vermillion Falls and Mill

Dam on the Rum River at Anoka.1894

Champlin Mill on the Mississippi River, Anoka.ca. 1910

Lincoln Mill, Anoka, Minnesotaca. 1890

The Washburn Mill Companyposter 1889

Twin City Milk Producers Association creamery at Anoka

10/1/1929

Lamberton Stockyard and packing plant

Flax mill at Windom

Corn and Potato Palace, Anoka.1907

Most towns in Minnesota were plated on the rail lines

Preston courthouse square plan

Itasca vs Albert Lea

State Capitol

• St Paul’s early size and political power secured function which has gained importance over time.

St. Paul looking toward State Capitol.

1857

View of St. Paul showing second Capitol building.ca. 1890

State Capitol.ca. 1905

Leif Erikson Statue Dedication, St. Paul10/9/1949

Merriam Parkca. 1886