How did Dinkytown get its name? The unusual moniker for the commercial district near the University of Minnesota dates back to the 1940s. Other theories relate to a theater that existed where the Varsity Theater stands or from Gopher football player Frank “Dinky” Rog. Find the full Curious Minnesota piece at the link in our bio. Reporting by Erin Adler. Video by Casey Darnell. Streetcar photo by waltarrrrr/Flickr. #minnesota #dinkytown #umn #universityofminnesota #minneapolis