Northwest Minneapolis Suburbs
Maple Grove, Plymouth, Robbinsdale, & Other Twin Cities Communities
The northwest suburbs of Minneapolis are booming! Here's what's going on in these Minnesota towns.
The Twin Cities metro area is developing rapidly, and much of the population is moving to the northwest. The first ring suburbs are older and more affordable, and they offer easy access to Minneapolis and St. Paul. In the newer suburbs, there's a population explosion, and more and more old farming communities are slowly becoming part of the metro area. There's talk of a light rail transit line from downtown Minneapolis all the way to St. Cloud because so many people are moving in that direction..
Here's the northwest Minneapolis suburbs in a nutshell. Be sure to check out the southwest suburbs as well.
Robbinsdale. Founded in 1893, Robbinsdale has the distinction of being Minneapolis’ oldest suburb. It borders the northwest corner of the city and has an older feel than first ring suburbs that popped up after World War II. There’s plenty of affordable and well-maintained homes in Robbinsdale, and it’s a good place to live if you want to be very close to the city but still ive in a town that has its own history and character.
Golden Valley. Located to the west of Minneapolis, Golden Valley is an older first- ing suburb that's only about five miles from downtown and has great freeway access. Considering its proximity to the city, this town is surprisingly wooded and filled with parks and trails. This is a good place to live if you want a balance between easy urban access and quiet neighborhood living.
Brooklyn Center/Crystal/New Hope. Located to the west and northwest of Minneapolis, these former farming communities fought the encroachment of the city for as long as they could, and still retain an older feel despite its proximity to Minneapolis. These communities are more working-to-middle class than the nearby communities of Plymouth and Maple Grove. Housing is affordable, and this is a good place to buy a beautiful new home for less than it would cost in other burbs.
Plymouth. Located to the northwest of Minneapolis, this second ring suburb is one of the Twin Cities' largest communities. Plymouth is the all-America, quintessential suburb-- families, big box stores, more Republicans than Democrats, and lots of places for children to play. The city has 40 parks and about 70 miles of trails, and it's also home to plenty of industry. There's quite a bit of affluent housing, but older, more affordable housing as well.
Maple Grove. Located north of Plymouth, Maple Grove is quite a bit like its southern neighbor, but newer, more affluent, and a bit more conservative. New developments and stores are cropping up everywhere as the population moves to this rapidly expanding community. However, despite the bustling freeways and all the trappings of urban sprawl, Maple Grove hasn't lost it's rural past, and there are plenty of quiet parks and lakes to enjoy.
Brooklyn Park.Located west of Brooklyn Center and east of Maple Grove, the large suburb is an odd mix of the modest housing you might find in Brooklyn Center and the starter mansions in nearby Maple Grove. It's located in the banks of the Mississippi. Like Maple Grove, the newer portions of Brooklyn Park are expanding rapidly.
See also:
Should you move to Minneapolis?
