This map from 1898 shows the location that Greenwood was located. We know there was a hotel, a train depot with a side spur for loading/unloading and probably some form of a general store in that location prior to 1907. The community was settled first in 1855 not unlike the rest of Hennepin County and was organized as Greenwood Township in 1858. The township took its name from the town of Greenwood in the southwest corner of the township along the Crow River. The town of Greenwood was soon superseded as a trading center by Rockford and Greenwood died as a town. So at that time there was not a town of Greenwood but only a Township called Greenwood. There was another area down by Lake Minnetonka called Greenwood that incorporated in 1956, they were a city and used the name of Greenwood. Later in 1958 when the old Greenwood Township was incorporated as a fourth class city, it could not use the name of Greenwood anymore, so the name was changed to Greenfield.
Rockford winter scene
I am related to the Thompson’s, a descendant of Andrew. Are these tracts former farms?
Hi Brian, yes these would have been farms at that time. There was a school on the corner of Andrew Thompson’s property as well. We would welcome the opportunity to compare notes on your family history and learn more about them. Please email us at rockfordmnhistory@gmail.com if would like to work together on exploring the Thompson history. Thank you for commenting on the post.
One of Andrew’s sons (William, 1855-1945) had a decent business enterprise at Monticello. I’m the city historian and I’m currently writing an article about him for my weekly historical column in the Monticello Times. Should be out the week after next.