Minnesota's Biggest Cities 150 Years Ago Will Shock You

None of us were around back then, but in 1870, Minnesota looked completely different. The Twin Cities were just getting started. Rochester was basically a small dot on the map. Some of the towns that were rising to fame...well, there are a few you might not even know about today.

Minnesota's Population Then vs Now

1870 - 439,000 people
Today - according to USAFacts, there are 5.83 million people in Minnesota as of 2025

What Were People Doing For Work In Minnesota In 1870 vs. Today?

Farming. According to Stacker, the #1 job in Minnesota back in the late 1870s was farming or a planter. In fact, about 54,623 people had this as a career. The #2 job was closely related - an agricultural laborer.

Fast forward to today, the most common jobs in Minnesota are in healthcare, office and administrative support, and education.

That occupational shift perfectly mirrors how Minnesota's biggest cities changed, too. One specific city in Minnesota almost didn't make the list of the top 10 biggest back in 1870. Today, that city, Rochester, is expanding at a rapid rate and is visited by millions of people every year, thanks to Mayo Clinic.

Top 10 Cities In Minnesota In 1870 vs. Today

In 1870, Minnesota ran on land. Today, it runs on people. Below are the top 10 Cities in Minnesota back in 1870 vs. today.

Biggest cities in Minnesota 150 years ago

Stacker compiled a list of the biggest cities in Minnesota 150 years ago using data transcribed from the 1870 U.S. Census.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

Minnesota didn't just grow. It completely reinvented itself. In 1870, the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers drove everything - lumber, trade, and settlement. It is obvious, looking at that list above, that if your city was on the water, you thrived.

Fast forward to the future, and we are seeing that highways, hospitals, and universities are helping drive growth.

Top 10 Cities In Minnesota In 2026

Based on data from the World Population Review, here are the top 10 cities in Minnesota for 2026 based on population:

1. Minneapolis - 430,162 people

2. St. Paul - 305,585 people

3. Rochester - 14,696 people

4. Bloomington - 88,673 people

5. Duluth - 88,642 people

6. Brooklyn Park - 82,772 people

7. Woodbury - 82,765 people

8. Lakeville - 81,280 people

9. Plymouth - 78,393 people

10. Blaine - 77,819 people

11 of the Most Devastating Weather Disasters in Minnesota Throughout The Years

We might be full of lakes and "nice" but Minnesota has had its fair share of horrible and nasty weather. Throughout the years we've had floods, fires, storms that have crushed stadium roofs flat, and tornadoes that have destroyed lives.

Gallery Credit: Jessica Williams