Richfield History
As Richfield celebrates the centennial of being an incorporated village in 2008, it also celebrates the 150th anniversary of its first town meeting in 1858.
The first settlers who came to the Richfield area in 1852 found fertile soil, a fast running stream (Minnehaha Creek) and abundant unclaimed land. Once called Richland, they soon settled on the name Richfield in recognition of the fertile farm fields where they held their first town meeting in 1858. Richfield was the first town in Hennepin County to be settled permanently in 1858. Oddly enough, Bloomington, our immediate neighbor to the south, became a town on the very same day.
In the early years, Richfield extended to the north as far as Lake Street, to Highway 169 on the west, to Interstate 494 on the south, and to the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers on the east. This area included the present City of Edina and lakes Calhoun, Harriet, Nokomis and Hiawatha. Three annexations by Minneapolis brought the village to 62nd Street, its current northern boundary.
In 1888, Edina formed a separate community and the portion from 34th Avenue to the river was requisitioned by Fort Snelling in 1905. In 1941, a section of land in east Richfield became an airport and in 1955 all of the land known as Wold-Chamberlain Field was separated from Richfield. The airport has since moved its western boundary to Cedar Avenue (Highway 77) and is now known as Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
In 1908, Richfield was beginning to see growth and chose to incorporate as a village to take advantage of the benefits of an incorporated entity. It is this event 100 years ago we celebrate now. Richfield became a city in 1964.
Farming ruled as the occupation of choice in Richfield until the mid-1940s. Dairies and truck farms were common. The area even produced the World Champion Holstein dairy cow (Dutchess Skylark Ormsby) in 1915 whose milk had the highest butterfat content – a title held for six consecutive years until 1921. This farm was in the area of 73rd Street and Lyndale Avenue.
As World War II ended, farms gave way to housing developments as returning veterans streamed into Richfield to begin their family lives in new homes away from the crowded city. Between 1940 and 1950, Richfield’s population grew from 3,778 to 17,502. In a few years it would double again as population figures stabilized close to 35,000. Richfield homes have been carefully maintained and have increased in value, yet remain affordable. Richfield remains a highly desirable place for families and businesses to plant their roots. In 1954, Richfield was named an “All-American City.”
Richfield is fortunate to have several outstanding examples of early homes still well maintained and in solid structural shape. One of the earliest examples has been preserved by the Richfield Historical Society as the Riley Bartholomew House. This house, built on the shores of Wood Lake in 1852-53 by Riley Bartholomew, is listed on the national register of Historic Places. Bartholomew, a former General in the Ohio Militia, came westward with his family to establish residency in 1852. In subsequent years, he became the Richfield Justice of the Peace, a Minnesota State Senator and was one of the people who founded both the first school in Richfield, Wood Lake School, and the Richfield Methodist Church.
A History Center has been added to the grounds of the Bartholomew House and serves as the focal point for Richfield history encompassing its 150 years. The center is open on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, as well as on the second Saturday of each month. Other hours may be arranged. The center offers changing exhibits, history and genealogical information, and an award-winning video of Richfield history. For more information, contact the center at 612-798-6140 or see the website at www.richfieldhistory.org.
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