Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

Brooklyn Center is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies on the west bank of the Mississippi River on the northwest border of Minneapolis in Hennepin County. Brooklyn Center is one of the oldest inner-ring suburbs of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, the sixteenth largest metropolitan area in the United States, with about 3.2 million residents. The U.S. Census Bureau the city's population at 30,104 in 2010 census.

Formed as the center of local trade in Brooklyn Township since 1873, the rural area farmed market gardening for the nearby growing population of Minneapolis. The village incorporated in 1911, splitting from Brooklyn Township, to avoid annexation from the expanding city of Minneapolis. The city became a bedroom community and industrial job center following postwar growth. It was the site of the regional mall Brookdale Center. The headquarters of Caribou Coffee moved into the city in 2004.

History
Known as the center of local trade in Brooklyn Township since 1873, the rural area farmed market gardening for the nearby growing population of Minneapolis. With fears the downtown city would continue annexation, the village established in 1911.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21.6 km²), of which, 7.9 square miles (20.6 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (4.80%) is water.

Interstates 94 and 694 and Minnesota State Highways 100 and 252 are four of the main routes in the city.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 30,104 residents in Brooklyn Center. The racial makeup of the city was 49% White, 26% African American, 1% Native American, 14% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 5% from other races, and 4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino comprised 2,289 residents.

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,172 people, 11,430 households, and 7,383 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,672.0 people per square mile (1,418.6/km²). There were 11,598 housing units at an average density of 1,459.9 per square mile (564.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.39% White, 14.09% African American, 0.87% Native American, 8.79% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.49% from other races, and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.82% of the population.

There were 11,430 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,570, and the median income for a family was $52,006. Males had a median income of $36,031 versus $27,755 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,695. About 4.7% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Brooklyn Center has a Liberian community as of 2009.

Politics
Brooklyn Center is located in Minnesota's 3rd congressional district.

Economy
The Global Operations Center of MoneyGram is in Brooklyn Center.

When MECC existed, its headquarters were in Brooklyn Center.

Education
Globe University/Minnesota School of Business, a private career college, offers master's, bachelor's and associate degree programs in business, information technology, health sciences and legal sciences at its Brooklyn Center campus.

Notable natives

 * Marcus Harris, Fred Biletnikoff award winning receiver at Wyoming in 1997