History of Golden Valley, Minnesota 

As late as 1851, Native Americans still camped on the banks of Bassett Creek. The Chippewa and Sioux created foot paths for what is now Golden Valley Road in their travels between their encampment on Medicine Lake and the trading post at St. Anthony Falls.  Soon, however, the land west of the Mississippi was opened to settlers.  By 1856, the settlement of the Minnesota Territory was on its way.  Some of the names of the first settlers in our area can be seen on the tombstones of the Golden Valley Cemetery at the corner of Winnetka and Medicine Lake Road.  This cemetery was organized in 1869 and even had a non-discrimination clause on the basis of race and religion in its bylaws.

The first school of Golden Valley was the Oak Grove School built in 1858. The first church was the Mission Church, built in 1882 and now the oldest public building in Golden Valley and home of the Golden Valley Historical Society.

In 1886 Golden Valley was incorporated as a Village.  In 1959 a vote of the citizens was taken giving the Village a “Plan B” system of government.  This plan calls for a city council to appoint a city manager as CEO of the staff.  Power in a Plan B system is supposed to flow from the people to the city council to the city manager.  In 1972 Golden Valley became a City when the Minnesota Legislature made all villages statutory cities. For further information on the history of our city see Golden Valley 1886-1986 produced through the efforts of the Golden Valley Historical Society and available in our Golden Valley public library.