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DHistory
History · New Hope

New Hope dates to 1936

More historic than 5% of U.S. towns · #269 of 273 in Minnesota. What drives it

Most of New Hope was built recently: 1% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1969. Below: maps from 1902 on and the census since 1940.

1936founded
0on the National Register
1%homes built before 1940
3famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: Widgetkid · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers

How New Hope began

When was New Hope founded?

1936

New Hope dates its founding to 1936 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1940.

First census: 394 in 19402020 census: 21,98690 years

How historic is New Hope?

D

More historic than 5% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives New Hope’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, New Hope is more historic than 5% of U.S. towns, #269 of 273 in Minnesota. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.

D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of New Hope’s overall grade.
Founding era1936, from Wikidata: founded 1900–1944, an older era than 9% of U.S. townsDHomes built before 19401.2% of homes (±0.8) · typical MN town 8.1% · U.S. 8.4%DNational RegisterNo listings counted · typical MN town 2.1 per 10,000 · U.S. 2.4C−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 5%
NewerOlder
Minnesota towns of 2,500+ (273)#269 of 273

Minnesota towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Minnesota town has 2.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so New Hope’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (23% of Minnesota towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1936.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be D. The pre-1940 share (±0.8 points) is firm at this size.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about New Hope’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of New Hope are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19026 editions of the USGS map, 1902 to 1993. Watch New Hope change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start New Hope’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how New Hope’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

New Hope on the map, 1902 to 1993

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of New Hope. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

New Hope on the 1902 USGS mapNew Hope on the 1955 USGS mapNew Hope on the 1967 USGS mapNew Hope on the 1972 USGS mapNew Hope on the 1980 USGS mapNew Hope on the 1993 USGS map1902Anoka sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of New Hope.

The story

How New Hope came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of New Hope.

Read it all →

New Hope was originally a farming community called Hope in Crystal Lake Township. In 1936, rural residents of the township broke away and formed their own township, choosing the name New Hope. The area, originally part of the Crystal Lake Township, experienced significant growth and development following World War II, transforming the rural farmland into a suburban community. In 1953, the residents of the western part of Crystal Lake Township sought independence and municipal services, leading to New Hope's incorporation as a village. By 1974, New Hope had achieved city status, reflecting its expanding population and urbanization.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

New Hope, 1902 to 1964

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 20th century
  2. 1902On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  3. 1936
    FoundingNew Hope is established
  4. 1955Born hereLeslie Schumacher is born here
  5. 1962Born hereJim Johnson is born here
  6. 1964Born hereChris Olson is born here
By decade

New Hope, decade by decade

Today6 recent
Robinsdale Cooper High School2022Robinsdale Cooper High SchoolNew Hope Minnesota Home Holiday Lights2017New Hope Minnesota Home Holiday LightsCity of New Hope, Minnesota - Water Tower2017City of New Hope, Minnesota - Water TowerUS Navy 110127-N-5642P-018 U.S. Navy SEALs lead exercises at Cooper High School. The SEALs also held a2011US Navy 110127-N-5642P-018 U.S. Navy SEALs lead exerc…NewHopeHennepin2007NewHopeHennepinMNMap-doton-New Hope2005MNMap-doton-New Hope
People over time

New Hope, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00019401960198020002020Peak: 23,180

Between 394 and 23,180 people in every census since 1940.

9 censuses, 1940–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on New Hope’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

3 famous people were born in New Hope

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Jim JohnsonAmerican ice hockey player · b. 1962
C
Chris OlsonAmerican ice hockey player · b. 1964
L
Leslie SchumacherAmerican politician · b. 1955
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

CrystalIts storyC−PlymouthIts storyC−Brooklyn ParkIts storyC−

Questions about New Hope’s history

What year was New Hope founded?

In 1936, according to Wikidata. the census of 1940 counted 394 people here.

How does New Hope rank for history?

New Hope is more historic than 5% of U.S. towns, #269 of 273 in Minnesota. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

How old are the homes in New Hope?

1% of New Hope’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 8.1% for a Minnesota town; the median home was built in 1969.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.