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1910 Minneapolis Street Layout

The following description of the sub-divisions and street layout of the city of Minneapolis should help you to locate a house number on Minneapolis streets and avenues. It describes the general layout of streets and avenues in Minneapolis. For streets and avenues that do not conform to this general layout, see the Street Index that is provided.

Mississippi River Division

The city of Minneapolis is divided into two parts by the Mississippi River; one part east of the river and one part west of the river. The part of Minneapolis on the east side of the Mississippi river is called the East Division (E. D.) and is comprised of Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis. The part of Minneapolis on the west side of the Mississippi river is called the West Division (W. D.) and is comprised of North and South Minneapolis.

East Division - Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis

In the East Division, Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis are divided along Central Avenue and Division Street 1. The portion west and north of Central Avenue and Division Street is known as Northeast Minneapolis. The portion east and south of Central Avenue and Division Street is known as Southeast Minneapolis. Nicollet Island is also considered to be part of Northeast Minneapolis.

Northeast Minneapolis

All avenues and streets in Northeast Minneapolis are given a Northeast (N.E.) designation, for example, Marshall St. N.E. or 17th Ave. N.E. Northeast Minneapolis contains Wards 1 and 9.

Streets

In general, streets run north-south. Numbered north-south streets increase in number as you progress east from the Mississippi River. House numbers on streets begin with number 1 at Central Avenue and Division Street, and increase as the streets progress north. Northeast Minneapolis also has north-south streets named in honor of the U. S. Presidents. These streets begin east of 6th Street N. E., starting with the first president, Washington, and progressing east through the presidents in order of their service.

Avenues

In general, avenues run east-west. Numbered east-west avenues increase in number as you progress north from Central Avenue. House numbers on these avenues begin with number 1 at the river and increase as the streets progress east from the river.

Southeast Minneapolis

All avenues and streets in Southeast Minneapolis are given a Southeast (S.E.) designation, for example, 4th St. S.E. or 12th Ave. S.E. Southeast Minneapolis contains Ward 2.

Streets

Numbered streets generally run southeast-northwest, increasing in number as you progress from the Mississippi River. House numbers on numbered streets begin with number 1 at Central Avenue and increase as the streets progress southeast from Central Avenue.

Avenues

Numbered avenues generally run north-south, increasing in number as you progress from Central Avenue. House numbers on avenues begin with number 1 at the Mississippi River, and increase as the avenues progress northeast and north.

West Division - North and South Minneapolis

In the West Division, North and South Minneapolis are divided along Hennepin and Superior Avenues 2. The portion north of Hennepin and Superior Avenues is known as North Minneapolis and the portion south of Hennepin and Superior Avenues is known as South Minneapolis.

North Minneapolis

All avenues and streets in North Minneapolis are given a North (N.) designation, for example, 16th Ave. N. or N. 6th St. North Minneapolis contains Wards 3, 10 and part of 4.

East-West Avenues

North Minneapolis contains numbered avenues that run east and west. The avenue numbers increase as you go north from Hennepin and Superior Avenues. House numbers on these avenues begin with number 1 at the Mississippi river and increase as the avenues progress west.

North-South Streets

Most north-south streets are numeric (N 1st St, N 2d St,...) and follow the conformation of the Mississippi River. The street numbers increase as you go west from the Mississippi River. House numbers on north-south streets begin with house number 1 at Hennepin Avenue and increase as these streets progress north.

North-South Avenues

North-south avenues are named, rather than numbered. The majority of these avenues are part of the 'first alphabet' of avenues. The 'first alphabet' is a series of 26 named avenues west of Lyndale Avenue N, There is one avenue for each letter of the alphabet as you travel west, starting with Aldrich and ending with Zenith. House numbers on north-south avenues begin with house number 1 at Superior Avenue and increase as the avenues progress north.

South Minneapolis

South Minneapolis contains Wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 and part of 4.

Streets - Downtown

Downtown streets, starting at Hennepin Avenue and running southeast, are given a South (S.) designation, for example, S. 3d St. These streets number 1st through 13th. House/building numbers begin with 1 at Hennepin and Superior Avenues, the dividing line between north and south Minneapolis, and increase as the streets progress southeast.

Streets - Outside of Downtown

Nicollet Avenue, south of Grant Street, divides South Minneapolis into eastern and western portions. Streets running west of Nicollet Avenue are given a West (W.) designation, for example, W. 42d Street. Streets running east of Nicollet are given an East (E.) designation, for example, E. 26th Street. These streets start with 14th Street and generally increase in number each block as the streets progress south to 54th Street (the 1910 city limits). House numbers on both West and East Streets begin with house number 1 at Nicollet Avenue and increase as the streets progress west and east, respectively.

Avenues

Avenues in South Minneapolis start at the Mississippi River and progress southwest and south. These avenues are given a South (S.) designation, for example, 16th Ave. S. East of Nicollet Avenue, the majority of avenues are numeric and increase in number as you go east. West of Nicollet Avenue, the majority of the avenues belong to the 'first' alphabet or the 'second' alphabet. The 'first alphabet' is a series of 26 named avenues west of Lyndale Avenue S. There is one avenue for each letter of the alphabet as you travel west, starting with Aldrich and ending with Zenith. The 'second alphabet' is a second series of 26 named avenues that start right after Zenith Avenue. This series of avenues starts with Abbott Avenue and continues west past the city limits. House numbers begin with house number 1 at the Mississippi river, and increase as the avenues progress south.

House Numbers

In general, each block in Minneapolis contains house numbers in groups of 100. For blocks bordered by numeric streets and avenues, house numbers are prefixed by the street or avenue number. For example, a building at 200 S. 4th St. would be at the corner of 2d Avenue S. and S. 4th St. A building at 2718 E. 26th St. would be on E. 26th St. between 27th and 28th Avenues S.

Footnotes
(1) Division Street is currently East Hennepin Avenue.
(2) Superior Avenue no longer exists. It ran north of Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake near what is now Kenwood Parkway and Interstate 394.



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