History
The urban history of the Bancroft Neighborhood dates back to the early 1910s through the 1930s. More than 80% of the structures were built before 1940 and are today primarily owner-occupied. The neighborhood was named for Bancroft Elementary School, one of the oldest education buildings in the Minneapolis School District.
In the 1920s, Bancroft residents would hop on the Bloomington or Cedar Avenue street cars to go downtown or to work. Many neighbors would get visits from the Milkman, the Watkins Spice man, and the Fuller Brush man. Other shopping and business could be done right in the neighborhood. You could find a butcher, grocer, drug store, doctor's office and a nursery all within a few blocks. Organ grinders with monkeys would provide entertainment for local children along local streets. Children in the 1920s, same as children today, tore out of their homes to catch the ice cream man. In the winter and summer fun could be found at nearby Powderhorn Lake, Lakes Nokomis and Hiawatha.
In 1986, the city moved the northern boundary of the neighborhood from 36th Street to 38th Street, transferring 24 city blocks from Bancroft to the Powderhorn Park neighborhood. The significant population decline between 1980 and 1990 can mostly be attributed to this boundary change. Coordinates: 44°55′45″N 93°15′16″W / 44.9292°N 93.2545°W / 44.9292; -93.2545
Read more about this topic: Bancroft, Minneapolis
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