Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Eden Prairie, Minnesota
City

Eden Prairie City Center
Nickname(s): EP[1][2]
Motto: Live, Work, Dream[3]

Location of Eden Prairie
within Hennepin County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 44°51′17″N 93°28′15″W / 44.85472°N 93.47083°W / 44.85472; -93.47083Coordinates: 44°51′17″N 93°28′15″W / 44.85472°N 93.47083°W / 44.85472; -93.47083
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Hennepin
Founded 1858
Incorporated October 22, 1962 [4]
Founded by Robert Anderson
Government
 • Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens
Area[5]
 • City 35.19 sq mi (91.14 km2)
 • Land 32.45 sq mi (84.05 km2)
 • Water 2.74 sq mi (7.10 km2)
Elevation 886 ft (270 m)
Population (2010)[6]
 • City 60,797
 • Estimate (2013)[7] 62,603
 • Density 1,873.6/sq mi (723.4/km2)
 • Urban 2,650,890 (US: 16th)
 • Metro 3,459,146 (US: 16th)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) Central (CDT) (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 55344, 55346, 55347
Area code(s) 952
FIPS code 27-18116
GNIS feature ID 0643164[8]
Website City of Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie is an edge city 12 miles (19 km) southwest of downtown Minneapolis in Hennepin County, and the 12th-largest city in the State of Minnesota. It is on the north bank of the Minnesota River, upstream from its confluence with the Mississippi River. Eden Prairie and nearby suburbs form the southwest portion of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, the 15th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, with about 3.6 million residents. Eden Prairie had a population of 60,797 at the 2010 census, which made it the 7th-largest suburb in the Twin Cities and the 12th-largest city in Minnesota.[9]

Comprising many large lakes and ponds, the city has more than 170 miles (270 km) of multi-use trails, 2,250 acres (9 km2) of parks, and 1,300 acres (5 km2) of open space. A bedroom suburb in the 1960s, the city is now home to more than 2,200 businesses and the headquarters of Digital River, SuperValu, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, MTS Systems Corporation, and the Minnesota Vikings. Regionally known for Eden Prairie Center, it is also the hub for SouthWest Transit, providing public transportation to three adjacent suburbs. KMSP and WFTC are also based in Eden Prairie. Eden Prairie has been named one of Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live" in America since 2006;[10] the city earned first place in the 2010 survey.[11]

History

For most of its existence, Eden Prairie has been a slow-growing, pastoral village on the far southwest fringes of the Twin Cities. Between 1880 and 1960, Eden Prairie’s population grew by only 1,300, from 739 to 2,000.

Native Americans were the first to live in the area. Originally, the land was part of the Great Dakota Nation, but when the Ojibwa arrived from the Great Lakes region, the tribes began to clash over the land. The Ojibwa were armed with knives and guns traded to them by white settlers and fur traders, and after years of bloody warfare the Ojibwa had forced the Dakota to give up all their land east of the Mississippi River, and north of the Crow Wing River, land which did not include what is now Eden Prairie.[12] On May 25th, 1858, a battle was fought between the Dakota and the Ojibwa in the southern part of Eden Prairie, just north of the Minnesota River, an area referred to as Murphy's Ferry. The Ojibwa people wished to "avenge the murder" of one of their people committed the previous fall by the Dakota. The Ojibwa had 200 warriors, the Dakota somewhere between 60 and 70, but the Dakota proved victorious, wounding the young Chief of the Ojibwa tribe.[12] The tribes continued to fight over territory well into the 1860s, even after the "Sioux Uprising" of 1862, when most of the Dakota people were removed from Minnesota.

Portrait of Native American Chief Shoto taken in Shakpoee, Minnesota

Among the notable Native Americans who lived in the Eden Prairie area was Chief Shoto. Born into the band of Chief Wabash, he went on to be the chief of the Red Wing Dakota tribe for 15 years, leaving them and becoming Chief of the "Little Six" band of Dakota until the uprising in 1862, during which he became a scout for then Governor Sibley from 1862 to 1870, returning to the Little Six band in 1872. He died in 1899 at the age of 99 at his home in Eden Prairie.[12]

In 1851, a treaty opened land west of the Mississippi River to settlement allowing pioneers to settle in what is now Eden Prairie. Many early farmhouses are left in the town, and can be found on the National Register of Historic Places. One of these early settlers was John Cummins, an Irish-born immigrant who built what is now referred to as the "Cummins-Phipps-Grill House" with his wife Mattie in 1880.[13] Manuscripts indicate that John Cummins was an avid and respected horticulturist, scientist, and farmer; he used his farmland to experiment with different strains of apples and grapes to try and find one that could withstand the harsh climate in Minnesota.[14] The Cummins family sold this property to the Phipps family 1908.[12]

Eden Prairie's town board held its first meeting in a log schoolhouse on May 11, 1858, the same day Minnesota became a state. Eden Prairie's farming community grew slowly over the years. Flying Cloud Airport was the first sign of big development in 1946. The 1960s and 1970s were decades of growth for the city's parks and recreation system. In the mid-1970s, the community gained a higher profile with the addition of Interstate Highway 494 and the Eden Prairie Shopping Center. Eden Prairie became a village in 1962, and a statutory city in 1974. A popular lake in Eden Prairie is Staring Lake, named for Jonah Staring, who built the first house by the lake.

Etymology

Cummins' Cabin, pre-1860

Originally named "Eden" in 1853 by a Mrs. Elliot, she chose this name because of her admiration of the "beautiful prairie" that occupies the southern portion of the town. [15]

Current photo of the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House

Geography

Eden Prairie is approximately 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Minneapolis along the northern side of the Minnesota River. It is at 44°49′N 93°27′W / 44.817°N 93.450°W / 44.817; -93.450, with an elevation of 906 feet (276 m).

Interstate 494, U.S. Highways 169 and 212, and Minnesota State Highway 5 are four of the city's main routes.

Flailing out Beans at Cummins Farm

Eden Prairie's land consists of rolling hills and bluffs overlooking the Minnesota River, with zones of prairie and mixed (primarily deciduous) forests.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.19 square miles (91.14 km2), of which 32.45 square miles (84.05 km2) is land and 2.74 square miles (7.10 km2) is water.[5]

Bryant Lake, in Eden Prairie, originally named Bryant's Lake or one of many "Long Lake"s[16]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19706,938—
198016,263134.4%
199039,311141.7%
200054,90139.7%
201060,79710.7%
Est. 201463,228[17]4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]
2013 Estimate[7]

2010 census

As of the census[6] of 2010, there were 60,797 people, 23,930 households, and 16,517 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,873.6 inhabitants per square mile (723.4/km2). There were 25,075 housing units at an average density of 772.7 per square mile (298.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.7% White, 5.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 9.2% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 23,930 households of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.

The median age in the city was 37.6 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.6% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 8.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 54,901 people, 20,457 households, and 14,579 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,695.1 inhabitants per square mile (654.5/km2). There were 21,026 housing units at an average density of 649.2 per square mile (250.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.7% White, 2.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 4.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 20,457 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city, the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $54,328, and the median income for a family was $105,177. Males had a median income of $59,303 versus $37,196 for females. The per capita income for the city was $38,854. About 2.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Eden Prairie is located in Minnesota's 3rd congressional district, represented by Erik Paulsen, a Republican. City Council officials include Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens and Council Members Brad Aho, Ron Case, Kathy Nelson and Sherry Butcher Wickstrom. The city manager is Rick Getschow.

Economy

Eden Prairie is home to more than 2,200 businesses, including many that specialize in logistics/distribution, retail and wholesale trade, health care, industrial equipment, communications, and information technology. The unemployment rate as of 2010 is 5.1%.

Top employers

According to the City's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[19] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Optum 4,000
2 C. H. Robinson Worldwide 1,517
3 Eden Prairie Schools 1,500
4 Starkey Hearing Technologies 1,440
5 Cigna 950
6 Eaton 850
7 SuperValu 850
8 Kroll Inc. 808
9 MTS Systems Corporation 808
10 Dell Compellent 750

Education

Public schools

The first school in Eden Prairie was Anderson School, a schoolhouse near a farm. At the time of its construction, it was in the center of the city. The old Eden Prairie Consolidated School, built in 1924, is now the school district Administration Building and is next to Central Middle School.

Eden Prairie currently operates eight K-12 schools: six elementary (K-6) schools (including one Spanish immersion), one middle school (7-8), and one high school (9-12). Eden Prairie High School is the second largest high school in the state, with approximately 3,300 students, and is near the grounds of Round Lake Park. Some students attend public schools in other school districts chosen by their families under Minnesota's open enrollment statute.[20]

Charter schools

Eden Prairie has one publicly funded charter school, Eagle Ridge Academy. This college preparatory school currently offers a rigorous classical liberal-arts curriculum to grades K-12. The first graduating class at Eagle Ridge Academy was the Class of 2008.

Private schools

Eden Prairie has one private school, The International School of Minnesota, which offers a private, non-denominational, college preparatory education for students from preschool through grade 12. The school, founded in 1985, features non-selective admissions and year-round open enrolment, daily world language education beginning in preschool, and 19 AP courses at the upper school level. The student body consist of 85% local residents and 15% international students.

Colleges

There are two technical colleges in Eden Prairie:

Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial

Eden Prairie raised over $400,000 from the community to build a veterans memorial in 2008. The memorial has two components, service to country and world peace. It was constructed in Purgatory Creek Park near the intersection of Technology Drive and Prairie Center Drive. World-class sculptor Neil Brodin designed and constructed two bronze sculptures.[22] The service-to-country sculpture represents a wounded airman carried over the shoulders of a soldier in the battlefield. The world-peace sculpture depicts a woman servicemember touching a globe, honoring women who have served. Members of the community were able to purchase a place on the memorial for the names of loved ones who served in any branch of the U.S. service in any war or conflict. Minnesota-based Cold Spring Granite provided Mesabi black granite for the memorial's walls.

Notable people

References

[24]

  1. ↑ Ernie Shuldhiess. "Eden Prairie History". Eden Prairie History. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  2. ↑ self. "Google search on "EP" businesses in "Eden Prairie, MN"". Google. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  3. ↑ "About Eden Prairie". City of Eden Prairie. 2008.
  4. ↑ Warren Upham, Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2001) p227
  5. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  6. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  7. 1 2 "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  8. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  9. ↑ "Census releases population numbers for Eden Prairie [9] Data Set: 2006 Population Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. 2010.
  10. ↑ "Money Best Places to Live 2006". CNNMoney (Cable News Network). 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  11. ↑ "Best Places to Live 2010". CNN.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Wittenberg, Marie (2010-01-01). Eden Prairie: A Brief History. The History Press. ISBN 9781596299412.
  13. ↑ "Cummins House - The Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Historical Society". The Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Historical Society. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Historical Society. 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  14. ↑ Cummins, John. "JOHN R. CUMMINS: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society". Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  15. ↑ Upham, Warren (1820). Minnesota Geographic Names. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society. p. 221.
  16. ↑ "Collections". archive.org. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  17. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  18. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Year Ended December 31, 2013 City of Eden Prairie, Minnesota", City of Eden Prairie, 2013
  20. ↑ "Open Enrollment". Minnesota Department of Education. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  21. ↑ http://www.itt-tech.edu/
  22. ↑ http://www.epveteransmemorial.org
  23. ↑ "About Charlie Vig". Minneapolis Star Tribune. 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
  24. ↑ (2010, August). In Best Places to Live 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010, from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/PL2718116.html.

External links

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