transracial family needs a good neighborhood to move to in MSP (Minneapolis: middle-class, house)

[hmiller285]

We are a middle-class, transracial family in the market for a house and neighborhood in the Twin Cities/metro area. We're looking for a neighborhood with good black/white diversity that is family-friendly. Ideas? Thanks!

[Minnehahapolitan]

Famioly-friendly probable means something different to me than most people; and a family-frieldly area tends to be less diverse here. Trying to find the ideal mix of the two is hard. I would start looking into the Camden area of North Mpls., some of the inner suburbs that border the Northern side of the city (Brooklyn Park, Robbinsdale). Perhaps Richfield. Beyond that you are looking towards Saint Paul and the more urban Mpls. neighborhoods. They are good areas also, but not the big back-yard type areas. Hopefully this is a start.
---Minnehahapolitan

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by hmiller285

We are a middle-class, transracial family in the market for a house and neighborhood in the Twin Cities/metro area. We're looking for a neighborhood with good black/white diversity that is family-friendly. Ideas? Thanks!

I agree with Minnehahapolitan - I've lived in the Camden area for the past several years now and I think you would feel very comfortable in this part of Minneapolis. Camden is comprised of a number of neighborhoods and each has its own feel. The area itself is highly integrated, I don't know exact stats but I believe the ZIP code itself (55412) is one of the most integrated in the region and I thought I had heard that it made some lists on a national level. Persons in the area, depending on which neighborhood or niche you're looking in, generally are in the moderate to middle income range (but of course there are lower income and upper income families as well).

Camden comprises the areas north of Lowry Ave (32nd), west of the Mississippi River, and its western and northern boundaries are the Mpls city limits (western border is Xerxes Ave N, northern is somewhere in the 50s). Most Camden students attend Patrick Henry High School, which is very diverse (large population of white, black, and Hmong students), was ranked in the top 5% of the nation this past year and has a strong IB program.

I live in the Victory neighborhood, it is not quite as diverse as some other Camden neighborhoods, but there is a still a lot of diversity here- especially when you compare it to other comprable (in terms of quality of living/ family friendliness) neighborhoods in the Metro. There is tons (literally dozens of miles) of park/ green space around, a number of nice local businesses in the neighborhood, several lakes within walking distance, a strong neighborhood association that organizes many events throughout the year, good neighborhood schools, it's extremely QUIET, and there's easy access to everything (several shopping centers, downtown, Interstates/ Hwys 94, 694, 100, 55). For more info, you could check out: www.victoryneighborhood.org and/or Victory - Minneapolis Neighborhood Profile.

You may also want to check out other neighborhoods around Theo Wirth Parkway (Willard Hay), Victory Memorial parkway (Cleveland, Victory, Robbinsdale), and you will find a lot of younger families in the Shingle Creek and Lind-Bohanon neighborhoods, also in Camden area of Mpls (these are filled with more postwar ranches and one and a half story homes so the housing stock isn't quite as diverse or old as in other neighborhoods). Otherwise if you prefer first-ring suburbs, Robbinsdale is right across the way from here and there are some beautiful neighborhoods there that also have more diversity than the average MSP suburb (but I personally would choose Minneapolis!). Good luck with your home search, if you have specific questions about areas, neighborhoods, or addresses feel free to Direct Message me and I could try and provide more information for you.

[nick is rulz]

Webber-Camden is pretty decent and its diverse. Whittier isnt bad, also diverse.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Whittier is one of the best examples of true diversity in Mpls. I couldn't say either way if the orig. poster would consider it family friendly. The primary schools in the area are relatively good. The high school for the area is Southwest. It prob. isn't considered a middle-class neighborhood either (yet).

[hmiller285]

Thank you so much for all of your advice!

[missannie]

Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Maple Grove. People around here are mostly nice and open minded. Not sure who people are further out though.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Further out than Champlin? Maple Grove is no Harlem on the prairie either.

[missannie]

No, but people are nice and accepting. Further out to me is like....Isanti.

[earthwar]

I'm not so sure Minnesota is the place for you. The racial tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. EW