CARVER COUNTY
County Offices
600 East 4th Street
Chaska 952-361-1510
www.co.carver.mn.us
Chamber of Commerce
7925 Stone Creek Drive
Chanhassen 952-474-3233
www.swmetrochamber.com
Situated southwest of Hennepin County and Minneapolis, beautiful Carver County offers a scenic terrain dotted by sparkling lakes. During the last two decades of the 20th century, the county was the third fastest-growing in Minnesota behind Sherburne and Scott counties. In spite of this brisk and continuing development, Carver County remains the least densely populated county of the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, offering wide expanses of undeveloped land. Newcomers will find a panoramic region that effortlessly harmonizes small-town charm with easy access to urban conveniences.
Single-family homes dominate the county’s communities, representing nearly 90 percent of the housing starts since 1980. The lion’s share of new homes built since 1990 appeal to those in the upper-middle income brackets, and Carver County claims one of Minnesota’s highest per capita income levels. Growth of business and industry is equally impressive, ranking among the strongest of the counties is experiencing rapid expansion of non-farming industries such as retail-wholesale trade and services. Manufacturing also represents a significant segment of the regional economy.
Services
Newcomers to Carver County can look forward to the outstanding amenities and services available locally and within the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Highway 212 provides a convenient connection to Interstate 494 and 35W into Minneapolis or 35E into Saint Paul. Impressive resources are also available in nearby well-developed cities like Bloomington, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Bloomington, Shakopee, Eden Prairie, and Richfield. Local healthcare facilities include the Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, which offers an array of general and specialized medical and surgical services. This acute-care, independent hospital is conveniently located along Highway 5 and serves as the heart of a regional network of clinics, emergency services, and specialty programs. The entire network has earned a reputation for clinical excellence and patient-centered service. St. Francis Medical Center, where all the patient rooms are private, provides another major regional healthcare facility close to home in Shakopee.
In addition to a quality public school system on elementary and secondary levels, residents can choose from a wide selection of opportunities for higher education. Career schools, community colleges, and public and private colleges and universities dot the area surrounding Carver County. Eden Prairie’s Hennepin Technical College and Normandale Community College in Bloomington combine to offer a wide range of vocational and career programs as well as college-track degrees and continuing education. Suburban private institutions close to home for Carver County residents include Alfred Adler Graduate School in Hopkins and Cardinal Stritch University in Edina, although Minneapolis and St. Paul are both rich in state-supported and private institutions.
Lifestyle
Once a vast expanse of patchwork farmland, modern Carver County has seen an explosion of residential development in communities like Chanhassen, Chaska, Waconia, Carver, and Victoria. As transportation efficiencies opened the world of suburbia around the Twin Cities, many families and young professionals realized in Carver County the potential for a country lifestyle within an easy commuting distance of metropolitan amenities. Many handsome homes and upscale residential neighborhoods continue to spring up throughout the county, where the attention of respected builders to aesthetics often results in the preservation of native trees for additional privacy and natural beauty. Abundant wildlife and breathtaking lakefront or sunset views add to the attraction of this area for continued growth and development.
Recreational opportunities are exceptionally rich in Carver County, where county parks like Baylor Park, Lake Waconia County Park, and Lake Minnewashta Regional Park complement a growing number of municipal and township parks and sports facilities. Carver County parks provide swimming beaches, hiking trails, tennis courts, tot lots, and volleyball courts for a family-friendly appeal. Attractions that appeal to all ages are available in the Twin Cities metro area, from amusement parks and zoos to cultural and historic centers.
As convenient as the Twin Cities may be for Carver County residents, newcomers will find some exceptional cultural and entertainment attractions much closer to home. In fact, the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres were largely responsible for transforming the rural community of Chanhassen into a fast-growing suburb. The 600-seat theater complex with four separate stages has achieved worldwide recognition, drawing more than 300,000 visitors each year to its musical, comedy, and light drama productions. All of the Carver County communities provide the perfect blend of natural beauty and small-town ambiance, crowning an enviable quality of life with a growing number of contemporary amenities.
Carver
Municipal Offices
952-448-5353
www.cityofcarver.com
Chamber of Commerce
952-474-3233
www.swmetrochamber.com
Gaining rapidly in population during the 1990s with a phenomenal 70-percent growth rate, the oldest city in Carver County has stabilized with an annual growth rate of approximately 14 percent. Covering less than four square miles, historic Carver features nearly 100 homes and other structures in the heart of the city that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In contrast, the city features many contemporary residential developments with lyrical names like Hilltop Estates, Carver Bluffs, Eagle Ridge, Riverview Estates, and Hidden Bluff Estates. Closely aligned with the county seat of Chaska, Carver features schools that are encompassed in the public school district headquartered in Chaska. Carver residents often take advantage of the Chaska Community Center and the wide variety of programs available for everyone from preschoolers to adults and seniors, including theater and dance. The center features an indoor swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts, an ice arena, and exercise equipment. Carver’s parks provide a wealth of additional facilities including ball fields, an ice-skating rink, sports courts, picnic areas, a boat ramp to the Minnesota River, and walking trails. Each year the city celebrates its rich heritage with a “Steamboat Celebration,” drawing residents and visitors to a spectacular fireworks show, competitive events, live entertainment, and great food.
Chanhassen
Municipal Offices
952-227-1100
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
Chamber of Commerce
952-474-3233
www.swmetrochamber.com
Discover the charm and appeal of the community recently ranked Number One in Minnesota and 16th in the nation by Money Magazine on the list of “Best Places to Live.” This rapidly growing, family-oriented city is just 17 miles southwest of the Twin Cities, offering a thriving business and residential community with a traditional downtown district that serves as the hub of activity. Exquisite parks graced by serene lakes, miles of bike trails, and recreational opportunities for all ages combine with efficient services for an exceptional quality of life. Newcomers will delight in the year-round festivals and celebrations that infuse vitality into every season, drawing neighbors and friends together. More than 600 businesses in the retail, service, and manufacturing sectors anchor a diverse local economy. Southwest Metro Transit provides commuter services between Chanhassen and the downtown Twin Cities areas. Several large lakes, Lake Minnewashta Regional Park, and the popular Chanhassen Dinner Theater are just a few of the highlights in this friendly community. Nearby Eden Prairie expands the shopping opportunities, while Shakopee’s St. Francis Medical Center is available for major healthcare services.
Chaska
Municipal Offices
952-448-9200
www.chaskamn.com
Chamber of Commerce
952-474-3233
www.swmetrochamber.com
Located in the beautiful Minnesota River valley in the southwestern Twin Cities metro area, the city of Chaska manages to blend reverence for the past with a progressive attitude regarding the future. Chaska was established in the 19th century along the Minnesota River and serves as the seat of government for Carver County. Originally known for its rich clay resources and brick-making trade, the city still features yellow brickwork as a dominant architectural theme in its vintage structures. Today, the city is booming with its historic downtown City Square, a magnificent and expansive $9 million community center complex with its own theater, and a natural trail system. Additional shopping is available in the stores of nearby Eden Prairie, while St. Francis Medical Center in Shakopee meets healthcare needs. Chaska is home to Jonathan, a contemporary planned community that offers townhouses and single-family homes. Other attractions include the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and championship local golf courses. Designed by renowned golf course architect Arthur Hills, the award-winning Chaska Town Course sprawls over 285 acres of oak groves, open prairie, and marshlands.
Victoria
Municipal Offices
952-443-4210
www.ci.victoria.mn.us
Chamber of Commerce
952-474-3233
www.swmetrochamber.com
The welcoming city of Victoria is located off Highway 5 on the western edge of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Newcomers will find an exceptionally beautiful community that features nine lakes and more than 2,000 acres of parkland within its borders, including Carver Park Reserve. Few small cities in Minnesota or across the nation can claim more lush parks, sparkling lakes, or scenic areas of sheer natural beauty than Victoria. This quiet community is also home to the Victoria Nature Center and the University of Minnesota Horticulture Research Farm. For expanded retail amenities, residents often make the short trip to the shops of Eden Prairie Center. Nearby Waconia provides healthcare services at the Waconia Ridgeview Hospital. Victoria is located between Waconia and Chanhassen, about 25 miles west of downtown Minneapolis. The popularity and demand for quality housing has been on the rise for the past decade, and new construction activity continues to be brisk. The selection of available housing varies greatly, from unassuming story-and-one-half bungalows to spectacular million-dollar lakeside estates.
Waconia
Municipal Offices
952-442-2184
www.waconia.org
Chamber of Commerce
952-442-5812
www.destinationwaconia.org
Residents and newcomers alike find it easy to compare Waconia to an eastern coastal village, where sailboats sway gently at their moorings just a few blocks from the downtown district. This quaint city southwest of the Twin Cities hugs the shore of Lake Waconia, the second largest lake in the metropolitan area. The lake area served as a popular tourist attraction in the early part of the 20th century, gradually transforming into a charming residential haven for year-round residents. Tranquil, beautiful, and relaxed, Waconia offers the idyllic atmosphere and quality of life that epitomize a smaller town. The thriving downtown district offers a pleasing selection of shops and services that meet the daily needs of area residents, and the town also offers the major healthcare center of Ridgeview Medical Center. Along with its charming setting, Waconia offers lush parks, several marinas, a county historical society, and considerable new development of handsome residential neighborhoods. This growing community just 30 minutes west of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul draws newcomers to a healthy environment with an expanding economy and respected public schools.
