Imagine walking down the street to your home. Maybe you’re walking back from school or a friend’s house. Maybe you stop to talk to a neighbor or to pet a dog passing by. Now, imagine someone walking down your street 100 years ago, just like you are now. Chances are they wouldn’t recognize it, and not just because of the updated houses or the newly paved streets. A person from 100 years ago likely wouldn’t recognize their street because it has a new name, completely changing its identity.
Streets can be renamed for a variety of reasons. In some countries, they are often renamed after revolutions or changes in political regimes. In the U.S., name changes often occur to amend historical damage or to honor influential, though sometimes controversial, figures. For example, in 1873, Minneapolis streets were renamed to honor past presidents. Much of the local history attached to the old names was lost in the process. This is not an uncommon occurrence. Throughout Twin Cities history, street names have been changed for better and for worse.
In 1964, the construction of I-94 devastated the thriving Rondo community in St. Paul. Shortly afterward, Rondo Avenue, which ran through the neighborhood, was renamed Concordia Avenue, destroying the community and erasing Rondo’s importance in name. In 2024, the city changed the name back to Rondo in an effort to repair the damage and restore the legacy of the community. It was an important change that took a small step toward correcting historical wrongs.
There have also been many instances of streets being renamed to honor people who have positively impacted the community. A segment of West Pullman Avenue, a street leading to the Mississippi River, was renamed Robinson Avenue to honor Alice Robinson, who touched the hearts of St. Paul residents with her lifelong dedication to politics and community betterment.
A segment of St. Paul’s Marshall Avenue became Montgomery Avenue to honor Debbie Montgomery, the first female police officer in St. Paul. Throughout her life, Montgomery has fought for both women’s and civil rights. By renaming even just portions of these streets, the stories of Robinson and Montgomery are cemented in local history, at least until the street is renamed once more.
In some instances, street names memorialize controversial people who brought harm to the community, and renaming them is best for the neighborhood and its legacy. Edmund Boulevard in Minneapolis is named after Edmund Walton, the real estate agent who first brought legal racial segregation to Minnesota neighborhoods. Recently, citizens have pushed to rename the street and stop honoring the man who has become a symbol of Minnesota’s often invisible racism. In situations like this, it is important to understand the history behind a street’s name and how it can change how outsiders and residents view its neighborhood.
While we may not always notice street names, they play an essential role in shaping the neighborhoods we live in. Street names might not seem like the most important thing you could look into, but once you do, you may learn the hidden history behind your community.
Now, imagine walking down your street 100 years from now. Do you recognize it?
