BURNSVILLE
COMMUNITY GUIDE | 2025-26
Burnsville has rich, colorful history
The following was part of an exhibit celebrating Burnsville’ s 50 year history in 2014.
On Aug. 23, 1961, Township of Burnsville residents learned that their neighbor to the north – the City of Bloomington – had voted to annex the township’ s largest source of tax revenue, the Black Dog Power Plant. Two days later, nearly 500 Burnsville residents flocked to the town hall to protest what many described as a“ land grab” that would have a significant negative impact on Burnsville, and northern Dakota County. Over the next two-and- a-half years, the“ Battle for Black Dog” waged on in courtrooms – until April 1964, when the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of Burnsville.
Two months later, Burnsville officially became an incorporated City( referred to as the Village of Burnsville at the time). Having won the Supreme Court Battle for Black Dog, Burnsville residents voted on June 17, 1964, and the Village officially incorporated the next day. Becoming an incorporated City meant developing an official City Government.
Burnsville’ s original Town Hall was located on County Road 5 in the Ames Construction Building. In 1967, a new Village Hall was built at 1313 E. Highway 13( the current location of Eden Baptist Church). The current City Hall and Police Station at 100 Civic Center Parkway was completed in 1989.
In July 1964, former Minneapolis Police Inspector Ed
4 | BURNSVILLE | Community Guide 2025-26
Photo contributed by Mick Richards
Farrell was hired as Chief to start the new City’ s Police Department.
Until 1968, Burnsville’ s fire service was provided by the Savage volunteer Fire Department.
As the need for fire protection grew, Burnsville began the experiment of a“ Public Safety Department,” in which members were trained in both police and fire protection.
Public Safety Officers worked rotating shifts between police and fire work. Rather than typical uniforms, officers wore dark blue blazers, shirts, ties and French blue pants. The experiment lasted for 13 years, until the Public Safety Department was separated into individual Police and Fire Departments in 1981.
As a new and rapidly growing City, Burnsville’ s first City Councils made planning for the future a high priority.
The 1965 Comprehensive Guide Plan called for new zoning maps to prepare for future growth, regulations on subdivisions, laws regarding street development and utilities, a long-range budget plan and active citizen participation.
Burnsville’ s population more than doubled from 8,054 in 1964, to 19,940 by 1970. This was due to ample open space available for both residential and commercial developments.
More about the Burnsville Historical Society is at http:// www. burnsvillehistory. org.