Who We Are

Hawthorne Neighborhood Council (HNC) is a neighborhood nonprofit based in North Minneapolis.

Hawthorne Neighborhood Council (HNC) is a neighborhood organization that helps connect people to resources related to health, housing, and safety. We work with residents, community organizations, and local partners, and we create spaces, like the Hawthorne Huddle, where neighbors can share ideas and be part of decisions that affect the community. Our work is rooted in long-standing relationships and a shared commitment to a healthier, safer Hawthorne.

The Hawthorne neighborhood is located in North Minneapolis, bordered by Lowry Avenue North to the north, West Broadway to the south, the Mississippi River to the east, and Emerson Avenue North to the west. It is named in honor of 19th-century American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. The neighborhood is home to a diverse mix of residents, families, businesses, and community organizations, and is part of Minneapolis Ward 5.

Hawthorne Neighborhood Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Map of Four Hawthorne Quadrants with color-coded sections and labels showing geographic boundaries from Broadway to 26th Avenue, Mississippi River to Lyndale.

Mission

Hawthorne Neighborhood Council seeks to improve the quality of life in the Hawthorne neighborhood through empowering the residents in order that they can address the physical, cultural, social and economic needs of the community.

Vision

Our vision is to draw together all available resources to improve the quality of life for the residents of the Hawthorne Neighborhood.

Goals

Our goal is to create a community of residents and business owners, with well-maintained properties, living and working with pride in a neighborhood that has earned a positive image.

History & Demographics

A man with glasses and a beard holding two children, one on his shoulders and one in his arms, outdoors in front of a white fence and trees, smiling.

Crowd of people at a concert or event, some are smiling and cheering, with one man in the center raising his arm and smiling broadly.

Hawthorne has long been shaped by its location along the Mississippi River, its strong residential character, and community gathering places such as Farview Park—the oldest park in Minneapolis—as well as the Nellie Stone Johnson School and Orvin Olson Park. These places have helped anchor neighborhood life for generations.

Community leadership has always been central to Hawthorne. In the 1970s, residents formed the Hawthorne Area Community Council as a nonprofit organization to represent and serve the neighborhood. Governed by a board, the council has played an ongoing role in neighborhood advocacy, communication, and connection through programs, events, and its long-running community newsletter.

A person wearing a black and tan cap with the words "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR" embroidered in yellow, at an outdoor gathering with blurred people in the background.

Over time, Hawthorne has experienced significant demographic change. Between 1980 and 2000, census data show the neighborhood became more racially and culturally diverse, with growth in Black and Asian populations and a decline in the white population.

During the same period, Hawthorne also became “younger,” with a large increase in children and school-age residents. While the total population decreased slightly, households grew larger, reflecting the neighborhood’s evolving family and community life.