Hilltop, MN

Hilltop is one of the smallest and most unique municipalities in the Twin Cities. Covering only about sixteen blocks, this tiny Anoka County enclave is completely surrounded by Columbia Heights, sitting right along the Highway 65 corridor. Most of the city is made up of four quiet manufactured home communities that house around eight hundred residents in a footprint just a tenth of a square mile. The area grew quickly after World War II, providing practical, budget-friendly options for people who wanted a simple neighborhood minutes north of Minneapolis.

Hilltop owes its independent status to those roots. In the 1950s, when neighboring areas restricted mobile homes, local park residents banded together and voted to incorporate their own city to protect their community. Today, that history gives Hilltop a distinctive character as a self-governed, pocket neighborhood. Living here offers accessible housing in the northern metro, along with quick commutes down Central Avenue, local city services, and easy access to the parks and dining in surrounding Columbia Heights.