The neighborhood is named for its founder, Minnesota frontiersman Pierre Bottineau, who purchased land in the area in 1845.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s the neighborhood became more residential (aided by an expansion of the city's streetcar system up 2nd Street NE).

Bottineau suffered somewhat during the white flight of the 1950s and 1960s as many of the neighborhood's small businesses closed and single family homes were converted into multiple unit rental properties.

Today the neighborhood is a mixture of housing, studios/offices, and small businesses and is considered part of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District.

[7] Bottineau is served by Metro Transit bus routes 11 (2nd Street NE) and 32 (Lowry Avenue).