Brooklyn Center is a first-ring suburban city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 33,782 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 31,755 in 2024. It is part of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area.

On February 18, 1911, the area became a village formed from parts of Brooklyn Township and Crystal Lake Township. On December 8, 1966, Brooklyn Center became a charter city. The city has commercial and industrial development. The majority of land use is single-family homes. and the city has become the most ethnically diverse community in the state.

History

Pioneers organized town governments for Brooklyn Township and Crystal Lake Township when Minnesota became a state in 1858. Osseo Road was a main thoroughfare that brought settlers to an area centered around their school, post office, store, meeting hall, and Baptist and Methodist churches. That location thrived as a market gardening community. It abutted the encroaching development of Minneapolis to the south.

Steps were taken to protect the area from annexation by Minneapolis and to retain "simpler public business methods, and extra police protection" by incorporation. The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners accepted a petition to incorporate the Village of Brooklyn Center on January 16, 1911. An election followed, the boundaries were set, and documents filed with the state on February 18, 1911. P.W. Reidhead was the first president. The population was 500.

By 1940, the village saw a need for more organized planning to deal with issues such as sewage and traffic. In 1942, a Planning Commission was established. Farmers were selling their valuable land to housing developers. The decade saw unprecedented population growth, reaching 4,000 by 1950. Brookdale, a new shopping concept by Dayton’s, was constructed in 1960 when the population had grown to over 24,000. In 1963, even more new opportunities for commercial development were presented with the estate of Earle Brown, deceased, the heir of Captain John Martin who had been one of the wealthiest men in Minneapolis.

Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center was the former Cap Martin country estate, built in 1878 and willed to his grandson Earle Brown in 1901. The buildings included the family home, office and garage, housing for the workers, a pump house, multiple barns, a hippodrome, an antique carriage collection, and a restored lumber bunkhouse and cook shanty. It is now a historic site in Brooklyn Center owned by the city and developed into a conference and event center.

In April 2021, Daunte Wright was killed by a city police officer. Due to elevated racial tensions and anti-police sentiment because of the concurrent Derek Chauvin trial, riots and looting broke out. California Congresswoman Maxine Waters traveled to the city to hold a rally for the protestors, encouraging further protests should Chauvin not be found guilty. The city worked with Juxtaposition Arts on a permanent memorial to Wright.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (4.51%) is water.

All of Brooklyn Center is in the Upper Mississippi Watershed Basin. The Mississippi River is the eastern boundary of the city and is part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area of Minnesota. The North Mississippi Regional Park, at 5700 Lyndale Avenue North, is managed by Three Rivers Park District Board, on which Brooklyn Center is represented in District 3.

Southwestern Brooklyn Center includes Upper Twin Lake (117 acres) and connects to a chain of lakes that discharge into Shingle Creek, which discharges into the Mississippi River. Shingle Creek also runs through Palmer Lake. The city is a member of Shingle Creek and West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission, which manages the lakes, streams, and wetlands in this area. Palmer Lake Park is a natural environmental preserve of lake and marsh habitat on over 200 acres.

All of Brooklyn Center is in the state's Deciduous Forest Biome. The Plant Hardiness Zone is 4B, with an average minimum extreme temperature of −25 to −20 Fahrenheit. The city has developed and maintains 26 parks and a 20-mile trail system. The majority of land use is single-family homes. The historical route, Osseo Road, was renamed Brooklyn Boulevard by both Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park in 1969. Interstates 94 and 694 and Minnesota State Highways 100 and 252 are four of the main routes in Brooklyn Center.

Demographics

According to realtor website Zillow, the average price of a home as of February 28, 2026, in Brooklyn Center is $293,538.

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 11,164 estimated households in Brooklyn Center with an average of 2.87 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $72,535. Approximately 12.3% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Brooklyn Center has an estimated 65.7% employment rate, with 24.6% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 88.1% holding a high school diploma. There were 11,572 housing units at an average density of .

The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (69.7%), Spanish (13.3%), Indo-European (1.2%), Asian and Pacific Islander (11.0%), and Other (4.7%).

The median age in the city was 33.5 years.

Racial and ethnic composition +Brooklyn Center, Minnesota – racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)Population1990Population2000Population2010Population2020 Number Percent Number Percent Number PercentNumberPercent White alone (NH) 26,067 90.24% 20,530 70.38% 13,815 45.89% 11,105 32.87% Black or African American alone (NH) 1,483 5.13% 4,088 14.01% 7,744 25.72% 9,340 27.65% Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 262 0.91% 229 0.78% 182 0.60% 245 0.73% Asian alone (NH) 667 2.31% 2,549 8.74% 4,291 14.25% 6,401 18.95% Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 4 0.01% 11 0.04% 7 0.02% Other race alone (NH) 41 0.14% 70 0.24% 70 0.23% 162 0.48% Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 879 3.01% 1,102 3.66% 1,848 5.47% Hispanic or Latino (any race) 367 1.27% 823 2.82% 2,889 9.60% 4,674 13.84% Total 28,887 100.00% 29,172 100.00% 30,104 100.00% 33,782 100.00%

2024 estimate As of the 2024 estimate, there were 31,755 people, 11,164 households, and _ families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 11,572 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 31.5% White (30.6% NH White), 31.5% African American, 1.4% Native American, 15.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 10.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 16.5% of the population.

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Brooklyn Center had a population of 33,782. The median age was 33.1 years. 27.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.8 males age 18 and over.

There were 11,309 households and 7,413 families residing in the city. Of these households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 37.2% were married-couple households, 21.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The population density was . There were 11,665 housing units at an average density of , of which 3.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%.

All residents lived in urban areas, while none lived in rural areas.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 11,628 34.4% Black or African American 9,449 28.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 458 1.4% Asian 6,425 19.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 7 0.0% Some other race 2,774 8.2% Two or more races 3,041 9.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 4,674 13.8%

2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 30,104 people, 10,756 households, and 7,010 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 11,640 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 49.12% White, 25.94% African American, 0.77% Native American, 14.31% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 5.37% from some other races and 4.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.60% of the population.

There were 10,756 households, of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.8% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.43.

The city's median age was 32.6. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.1% were from 25 to 44; 22.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 29,172 people, 11,430 households, and 7,383 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 11,598 housing units at an average density of . 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 some other races and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.82% of the population.

There were 11,430 households, 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 or older. The median age was 35. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The city's median household income was $44,570, and the median family income was $52,006. Males had a median income of $36,031 versus $27,755 for females. The city's per capita income 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 65 or older. Economy

Notable businesses include Surly Brewing Company, and Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, a mixed martial arts training center. The FBI's Minneapolis field office is located in Brooklyn Center.Baca, Maria Elena. "New FBI field office in Brooklyn Center seen as a catalyst." Star Tribune. August 31, 2010. Retrieved on October 29, 2011

Top employers According to the City's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees Percentage 1 PROMEON Inc., A Division of Medtronic 1,100 7.65% 2 Luther Auto Group 555 3.86% 3 City of Brooklyn Center 398 2.77% 4 Brooklyn Center Schools ISD #286 396 2.75% 5 University of Minnesota Physicians 330 2.29% 6 Walmart 278 1.93% 7 Caribou Coffee Headquarters 240 1.67% 8 Presbyterian Homes, Maranatha Care Center 215 1.50% 9 Cass Screw Machine Products 124 0.86% 10 HealthPartners 97 0.67%—Total employers3,73325.96%

Government Brooklyn Center is in Minnesota's 5th congressional district.