Plymouth

History

Plymouth's history can be traced to the pre-Columbian period. The original inhabitants were the Dakota. Their encampment was at the north end of Medicine Lake. The name Medicine Lake is derived from the Dakota word Mdewakanton, meaning "Lake of the Spirit." The Dakota named the lake after a warrior who overturned his canoe and his body was never recovered. Antoine LeCounte, a guide and explorer, was the first settler in this area. He arrived in 1848, but did not settle until 1852. He carried mail from the Red River of the North to points south, trading goods to Native Americans for horses on the way. LeCounte built the first cabin at what is now East Medicine Lake Boulevard at 29th Avenue North. Plymouth's beginning as a town occurred in 1855 on the northwest shores of what is now known as Parkers Lake. A gristmill and other structures were built in the area. In the spring of 1857, when Parkers Lake flooded, the mill was taken down and moved to Wayzata. This was used once at the town meeting, but for reasons not recorded, it was never used again. During the Dakota War of 1862 between white settlers and the Dakota at Fort Ridgely, near New Ulm, the settlers of Plymouth formed a militia. When the Civil War started, Plymouth paid its volunteers $25 to enlist. About this time, schools and churches were built and a post office was in Plymouth. By 1863, hotels were being built, with Medicine Lake becoming a local tourist destination. By 1880, Plymouth had a population of 1,074. Farming was the city's dominant profession and remained so until the mid-1900s. Roads were built across Plymouth, providing access to other towns. As the community's character evolved from rural to suburban, so did local government. Plymouth incorporated as a village on May 18, 1955. The city…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water. Interstate 494, U.S. Highway 169, and Minnesota State Highway 55 are three of the main routes in the city. Plymouth has 863 cul-de-sacs and 300 miles of city streets, which are maintained by the city's public works crews. Plymouth has a humid continental climate, typical of the Midwestern United States, with very cold winters, and relatively hot, often humid summer days. Summer daytime temperatures average 83 °F (28 °C), with a low of around 60 °F (15 °C), while winter temperatures average only 23 °F (-5 °C) and a low of 3 °F (-16 °C). The highest recorded temperature in Plymouth was 102 °F (39 °C) in 2012, and the lowest was -39 °F (-39.4 °C) in 1977. Rain falls throughout the year, with the highest concentration falling in the summer months, with June being the rainiest with 120.3 mm of rain.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  70,881
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  70,371
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  59,454
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  55,350
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  54,318
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  52,801
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  50,770
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  48,237

Largest nearby schools

• WAYZATA HIGH
  High · PLYMOUTH · 3,523 students · 22.9:1 ratio
• MINNETONKA SENIOR HIGH
  High · MINNETONKA · 3,508 students · 18.7:1 ratio
• MAPLE GROVE SENIOR HIGH
  High · MAPLE GROVE · 2,324 students · 23.5:1 ratio
• OSSEO SENIOR HIGH
  High · OSSEO · 2,280 students · 21.9:1 ratio
• PARK CENTER IB WORLD SCHOOL
  High · BROOKLYN PARK · 1,908 students · 17.2:1 ratio
• ROBBINSDALE ARMSTRONG SENIOR HIGH
  High · PLYMOUTH · 1,832 students · 30.5:1 ratio
• ROBBINSDALE COOPER SENIOR HIGH
  High · NEW HOPE · 1,630 students · 28.1:1 ratio
• Maple Grove Middle School
  Middle · MAPLE GROVE · 1,598 students · 21.6:1 ratio