More historic than 21% of U.S. towns · #212 of 273 in Minnesota. What drives it
Most of St. Anthony was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1972. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1902 on, and the census since 1850.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, St. Anthony is more historic than 21% of U.S. towns, #212 of 273 in Minnesota. Its age holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.
C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of St. Anthony’s overall grade.
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 St. Anthony’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 1861.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be C−. The pre-1940 share (±2.1 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 St. Anthony’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
St. Anthony's origins date to 1838, when Franklin Steele, a storekeeper at Fort Snelling, made a claim on the land east of St. Anthony Falls. Steele did not begin developing the land until 1848, but it quickly became a center of milling and trade much like the neighboring town of Minneapolis on the land west of the falls. In 1858 the town was formally organized as the Township of St. Anthony.
Passages that mention St. Anthony, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota1914 · page 76Read the page →
Read the text
In 1848 the population of the village of St. Anthony had increased until a postoffice %\;as demanded and made necessary. A petition to the National Postoffice Department was favorably considered ami the office established. T^pon the recommendation of Frank Steele, and nearly every citizen of the village. Ard Godfrey. Steele's millwright, was appointed postmaster, and he held the position until in 1850.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Compendium of history and biography of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, Minnesota1914 · page 125Read the page →
Read the text
The creation of St. Anthony County, with the town of St. Anthony as the county seat, having been prevented by Governor Gorman, in IMarch, 1855, the citizens of the town and those who sympathized with them determined to have satisfaction and redress from the Governor and from St. Paul. The members of the Legislature from that town opposed the new county, because it would take away St. Anthony and
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota1881 · page 366Read the page →
Read the text
Anthony bears record February 23d, 1850, and the plat is entitled "St. Anthony and Steele and Hassell .Vddition to St. Anthony," by William R. Marshall. The bounds of this plat are Fifth street on the north-east, and the river on the south. Tlic nld names of the streets were Marshall. Rollins, Dacotah (so spelled on the plat), Todd, Dana, Wood, etc.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
St. Anthony, 1854 to 2020
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1861, according to Wikidata. the census of 1850 counted 656 people here.
How does St. Anthony rank for history?
St. Anthony is more historic than 21% of U.S. towns, #212 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 St. Anthony?
5% of St. Anthony’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.1 points), against a typical 8.1% for a Minnesota town; the median home was built in 1972.
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 (4), the Library of Congress (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1854
1867