In the story of the Village of St. Louis Park, one is impressed by the changes which have taken place in the century since the first settlers came and claimed the land. One notes the heavy struggle which the pioneers made to provide food and clothing besides paying for the land. Even with these difficulties they found time to build schools, churches and plan for a bright future. After this period of subsistence farming had passed, the area found a major source of income in supplying garden produce and milk for the Twin Cities. Meanwhile, residents had seen the Civil War fought, the Indians subdued, and the three railroads built. Within thirty-five years a group began platting a village which was promoted by the Minneapolis Land and Investment Company which hoped to make an industrial suburb out of the place. This dream persisted through depression, fire, and war, but was declining about the time the first World War was won. With the decline of the dream of the industrial village, the vision of the residential suburb began to grow and has continued to this day. Some industry has returned but it is mainly of the light manufacturing type.
Though problems remain, the village can look back upon a century of rather successful solutions of past problems. One cannot help but feel that with thousands of villages like St. Louis Park solving their problems at the grass roots level that democracy in America is safe.
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