The area that is now commonly known as Minikahda Vista was once the farm of Christopher Hanke. When he died in 1903, the land was parceled off among his children, Charles, Lydia, and Louise. It appears that subdividing the land into homesites began in the teens. The family hired John Reid of Wadsworth and Reid to sell the plats.

Hanke's Minikahda Terrace (platted by Charles Hanke on November 29, 1916), was so named because it overlooked the Minikahda Golf Course in Minneapolis, which dates back to 1898. Road grading was completed on September 1, 1917. An undated advertising pamphlet for the new development listed "Twelve Facts to Consider Carefully." One promised "Building restrictions of $5,500 to $6,500 to protect your home investment" - no shacks here. Also no apartments or duplexes, just single family homes that had to have two stories.

Neighborhood Characteristics

• The primary land use in Minikahda Vista is low density residential. Properties adjacent to Excelsior Boulevard serve retail purposes.
• Susan Lindgren School and Minikahda Vista Park are located in this neighborhood.
• Minikahda Vista occupies 244.1 acres with about 34 blocks of residential.
• Parks & open space - 4.1 percent
• Commercial- 8.3 percent
• Minikahda Vista has 829 housing units (796 single family homes, 5 apartment units and 28 duplex units).
• The average year built (single family houses) was 1944.
• Population - 1940 (2002 Census)