Welcome to Mankato

When Mankato was first settled in 1852, development consisted of only a few small dwellings along the banks of the Minnesota River. By 1900, the city had boomed and its central business district stretched for 10 blocks. Today a diverse regional center, several decades of growth in population, commercial development, the number of highways and a corresponding reliance upon the automobile have pushed the city to the Hilltop area beyond the river bluffs.

Mankato's traditional river town character has not fared well from the last 50 years of growth. Contemporary development patterns, excessive use of signage, over-dependence upon the automobile and the construction of buildings that do not relate to their historical and architectural context have all contributed to its disappearance.

The design recommendations outlined in the Urban Design Guidelines will foster improvements to individual projects, strengthen the traditional character of Downtown, and shape the Hilltop area into a more cohesive marketplace and focus of community activity.