Rondo was a predominantly African-American neighborhood known for its vibrant community and cultural richness in the 19th and early 20th centuries. From 1956 to 1968, the construction of Interstate 94 in St. Paul, Minnesota, intersected and severely impacted the thriving African-American community residing along Rondo Avenue. Redlining practices had confined Rondo residents to this area, resulting in a diverse, mixed-income community with a robust middle class, various housing options, and locally owned businesses.
However, the arrival of the interstate devastated community life and personal wealth, leading to the closure or demolition of 700 homes and 300 businesses, with families receiving insufficient compensation for their losses. This loss deeply affected those connected to the neighborhood, dispersing Rondo residents across the country and forming a Rondo diaspora. Nonetheless, those who remained retained a strong local identity and connection to their roots.
Recently, initiatives to rectify past injustices, uplift underserved populations, and ensure that future developments benefit everyone, regardless of race, income, or geographical location, have started across the nation and in St Paul. Rondo may be designated as a historic district, and a land bridge has been proposed to reconnect the Rondo community. You can learn more about Rondo from the following resources:
- Meet the woman who preserves and catalogs St. Paul's Rondo memories
- Rondo Neighborhood (St Paul Historical)
- Rondo Neighborhood & I-94: Overview (Minnesota Historical Society)
- Rondo Center of Diverse Expression Plaza (327 N Fisk St, St Paul)
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