Neighborhoods can be formed naturally over time or carefully designed by a city planner. These two neighborhood types are called evolved and planned. Evolved - The neighborhood forms over time and is based on a particular language, occupation, and/or economic status. It may contain a business, industry, school, church, and/or service. Planned - The concept for the neighborhood is created by an individual or corporation for a purpose. The houses, streets, utilities, and other services may be included in the design of the neighborhood.

Evolved Neighborhood

Swede Hollow is an example of a neighborhood that was formed naturally over a period of time.

Swede Hollow
In the 1860s, skilled granite craftsmen living in Sweden began hearing of the emerging granite industry in the new state of Minnesota. In Europe, increased use of machines in industry was replacing the need for skilled craftsmen. The craftsmen were having a difficult time maintaining steady work to support their families. This, along with the opportunity to own land, encouraged the Swedish granite craftsman to journey to central Minnesota. Approximately 25 Swedish workers came to work at the Breen quarry which was located on the outskirts of St. Cloud, near the present-day St. Cloud Reformatory.

When they arrived, they knew very little English and found it difficult to interact with the Scottish, Irish and German immigrants who were already established in the area. They stayed together and lived in a temporary squatters settlement near the quarry. Living close to each other was comforting and eased home sickness in their strange new home. As they learned the language and traditions of their new culture, they also earned enough money to buy property in a wooded hollow near their temporary settlement. This area was nicknamed Swede Hollow after the ethnic origin of its residents.

Planned Neighborhood

St. Cloud’s Pan Town is a good example of a planned neighborhood.


		Pan Town Neighborhood

Pan Town
Sam Pandolfo came to Stearns County in 1917. He wanted to make Stearns County one of the greatest automobile centers in the United States, rivaling the work of Henry Ford. His creation, the Pan Car, would be made and assembled from the large factory site he secured in St. Cloud. After building the factory and hiring employees to manufacture the new automobile, Sam Pandolfo began creating a unique working and living environment for his employees. Knowing that happy, content people make good workers, he designed a residential area adjacent to the plant. This would make life convenient for his workers. He hired California architect Arthur C. Clausen to design and build 58 homes that employees could buy at low interest rates. In addition to the houses, Pan Town had its own sewer, water and electric systems, a volunteer fire department, police protection, a school and hotel. If the Pan Car had been a success, Sam Pandolfo would have added a hospital, athletic field, and community center. Unfortunately, Sam Pandolfo was convicted of mail fraud and the company was forced to close in 1922. Although no longer a company town, most of the quality-built bungalow homes remain in their original locations in St. Cloud.

	Do you live in a planned or evolved neighborhood?
	How did your neighborhood develop?

		Parades bring neighbors together to celebrate community

Neighborhood Components

A neighborhood is made up of residential units, businesses, industries, places of worship, and/or services (hospitals, schools, fire departments, parks). Some neighborhoods are strictly residential while others consist of only industries, such as an industrial park. People often choose to live in a neighborhood based on the components that exist in the neighborhood. For example, a young family might choose to live within a neighborhood that has a good elementary school within walking distance for their children. In another instance, a retired couple might choose to move to a scenic hamlet in the country to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Do an inventory of the components found in your school's neighborhood. Once your list is made, identify who might choose to live in this neighborhood and explain why.

Economy of Neighborhoods

The economic status of a neighborhood could also be considered an important component. In a residential neighborhood, the amount of money property owners pay for taxes and mortgage is connected to the neighborhood’s economic status. A mansion built on a large expanse of land will most likely have higher mortgage and property taxes than a two-bedroom bungalow built on a single city lot in the same city. Property values and taxes vary from community to community. It is usually more expensive to own property in a large city than in a smaller town. People choose where they live based on what they can afford.

Imagine you are the person/people described below. Find the letter of the description that identifies the most practical living situation for you.

Neighborhood Inventory

Conduct an inventory of your neighborhood. List the types of residences, businesses, industries, places of worship, and/or services that exist in your neighborhood.

	Residences (single family homes, duplexes, apartment buildings, condominiums, mobile homes, etc.)
	Business (grocery stores, bakeries, implement dealer, nursery, gas station, etc.)
	Industry (large scale manufacturer using raw ingredients such as a granite quarry, a chicken processing factory, or an electronic assembly plant)
	Service (schools, libraries, fire departments, parks, etc.)
	Places of Worship (churches, synagogues, temples)
	How many residential dwellings are on your block?
	Neighborhoods change over time as the community changes. What was in your neighborhood before it developed into the area it is today?