SCOTT COUNTY
County Offices
200 Fourth Avenue West
Shakopee 952-445-7750
www.scottcountymn.gov
Chamber of Commerce
1801 East County Road 101
Shakopee 952-445-1660
www.shakopee.org
Brimming over with regional attractions, beautiful Scott County provides a serene home in welcoming communities that are located approximately 25 miles southeast of Minneapolis. Well-served by Interstate 35, US Highway 169, and a number of state highways, Scott County offers a convenient suburban address for commuters to the Twin Cities. Links to Interstate 494 ensure an easy trip into the bustling suburbs in Hennepin County. At the same time, a growing number of residents are finding local employment in the region’s own commercial and industrial centers. One of several counties along the 287-mile Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway, Scott County claims a breathtaking natural terrain dotted by sparkling lakes, gently rolling hills, and deep woodlands.
The leading city and county seat of Shakopee is home to the lion’s share of the county’s premier attractions, although each community in Scott County claims a distinctive appeal. The lovely residential community of Prior Lake is also home to the Mdewakanton Dakota Native Americans, whose Mystic Lake Casino Hotel draws throngs of visitors to Scott County. One of the largest casinos in the entire Midwest, Mystic Lake features gourmet cuisine, luxurious accommodations, an adjacent golf course, and big-name headliners from comedians to rock stars. The city of Savage is surrounded by premier recreational sites like the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Murphy-Hanrehan Regional Park, while Jordan attracts visitors to the charm of its historic downtown district.
Services
In spite of its rural charm and small-town appeal, Scott County offers contemporary amenities that include the finest in healthcare and educational opportunities. St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee claims a rich tradition of delivering state-of-the-art advancements in diagnostics and treatment to residents of Scott and Carver counties. Through the decades, St. Francis has grown from a small community hospital into a comprehensive, regional medical center that is committed to keeping pace with the needs of a rapidly expanding population. The hospital multiplies its own considerable resources through powerful working partnerships with the Twin Cities-based Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Park Nicollet Health Services, and the Duluth-based Benedictine Health System. Hundreds of physicians who represent every major specialty and most sub-specialties are available to meet nearly every need close to home. St. Francis Regional Medical Center is proud to offer Scott County residents an exceptional level of care that includes all private rooms and modern birthing center. Expanding its services into easily accessible care centers, St. Francis operates a dozen affiliated clinics in Shakopee, Chaska, and Jordan.
Students of all ages can look forward to quality educational opportunities close to home, from preschool through post-secondary institutions. The rapidly growing Shakopee School District is the largest in the county, serving nearly 5,500 students in Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake and Jackson, Louisville, and Sand Creek townships. Each district in the county is dedicated to a strong core curriculum enriched with opportunities for electives and extra-curricular activities. Institutions of higher education surround Scott County, including community and technical colleges, career institutes, and public or private colleges and universities. Normandale Community College in Bloomington and Hennepin Technical College in Eden Prairie provide a wealth of affordable two-year programs from college-track associate degrees to specialized training. Other convenient choices for higher education include Cardinal Stritch University in Edina and Alfred Adler Graduate School in Hopkins. The University of Minnesota, with campuses in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, is highly respected as one of the nation’s top research and academic universities. The Twin Cities are also home to campuses for Metropolitan State University.
Lifestyle
Situated in the southeast quadrant of central Minnesota, panoramic Scott County borders on the southeast bank of the Minnesota River. Providing all the charm, scenic beauty, and relaxed pace of small-town living, the welcoming communities of Scott County continue to experience rapid growth and development. The county seat of Shakopee serves as the hub of healthcare, entertainment, and commerce. In addition to its historic downtown district with its landmark trading post and quaint shops, the city offers a number of modern plazas and centers that combine specialty stores with national retailers. Shakopee is also home to some of Scott Count’s most celebrated attractions, including Canterbury Park Racetrack, Historic Murphy’s Landing, and the Valleyfair Amusement Park. Families enjoy seasonal activities like cooling down at Shakopee Aquatic Park, visiting the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, or strolling through the Midwest’s largest arts and crafts festival in Canterbury Park each spring and fall. The latter features more than 500 artisans who display everything from stained glass creations to American folk art.
Appealing communities graced by unspoiled natural resources are the hallmarks of Scott County, which shines like an emerald in the crown of the Twin Cities metro area. Recreational amenities are outstanding in this water-rich region dotted with sparkling lakes, quiet ponds, and the rolling Minnesota River. Boating, canoeing, water sports, golfing, tennis, camping, hiking, backpacking, picnicking, horseback, riding, and mountain biking are all common pastimes. The scenic Minnesota Valley Trail follows the Minnesota River from Ft. Snelling to the City of Le Sueur, providing abundant facilities along the route. Winter is a welcomed season in Scott County, where more than 100 miles of snowmobile trails encompass convenient sites at Murphy-Hanrehan Park, St. Lawrence Wayside, and Spring Lake Regional Park. Ice-skating, sledding, and cross-country skiing are popular leisure activities when the snow falls. Golfers will appreciate the outstanding fairways that dot the county, taking advantage of undisturbed wetlands and water features.
The housing selection in Scott County covers a complete range of lifestyle choices, from horse properties and country acreage to contemporary subdivisions, golf-course and lakefront properties, and elegant estates. Long-established neighborhoods also offer the opportunity to renovate lovely older properties filled with character and distinctive details. Shopping is available in quaint historic districts filled with antique dealers and specialty shops or in the fashionable stores that line regional malls. Just a short commute brings Scott County residents to Bloomington, the Minneapolis suburb that boasts the nation’s largest mall. For the finest blend of cosmopolitan advantages, small-town spirit, natural beauty, and four-season recreational opportunities, few locations in the nation can rival Scott County for quality of life.
Jordan
Municipal Offices
952-492-2535
http://jordanmn.gov
Chamber of Commerce
952-492-2355
http://jordanchamber.org/
Small in population yet big in charm, Jordan represents one of Scott County’s hidden jewels. The city is located just south of the Minnesota River approximately 20 minutes from Bloomington and 30 minutes from Minneapolis. Steeped in history, Jordan offers such landmarks as the Nicolin Mansion—now serving as a luxurious bed and breakfast inn filled with antiques and nestled in the city’s quaint downtown district. Antique shops, family restaurants, and one-of-a-kind boutiques line Jordan’s Historic Downtown District, which is also graced by town parks that command views of Sand Creek with its cascading waterfall. Golfers will enjoy perfecting their backswing at The Ridges at Sand Creek, nominated for “Best New Course” by Golf Digest upon its opening in 2001. In addition to its own lively special events that include an annual arts festival, Jordan is ideally located near Scott County’s finest attractions. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival, Mystic Lake Casino, Valleyfair Amusement Park, Canterbury Park Race Track, the Scott County Fair Grounds, and vast recreational sites for outdoor activity are all available within a few minutes drive.
Prior Lake
Municipal Offices
952-447-9800
www.cityofpriorlake.com
Chamber of Commerce
952-440-1000
www.priorlakechamber.com
Since its early 19th-century origins as a fashionable resort community, Prior Lake has evolved into a thriving and popular suburban center with an emphasis on lakeside living. Shopping and services dot the area, complementing an outstanding array of housing types, styles, and price ranges. New construction in this 16-square-mile city is extremely active and appealing. For example, The Wilds residential golf community offers villas and single-family homes set in a spectacular panorama of Ponderosa pines, mature hardwoods, and graceful wetlands that cluster around a championship golf course. A traditional downtown district punctuated by Victorian homes combines with shopping areas on the edge of town, with expanded shopping amenities available at Burnsville Center in Burnsville. Shakopee offers the expanded healthcare services of St. Francis Regional Medical Center just minutes from home. Prior Lake is the site of the Mdewakanton Dakota community, home of the Mystic Lake Casino and its associated entertainment complex.
Savage
Municipal Offices
952-882-2660
www.cityofsavage.com
Chamber of Commerce
952-894-8876
www.savagechamber.com
Bordered on the north by the spectacular Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and on the south and the undeveloped expanse of Murphy-Hanrehan Regional Park to the north, Savage is one of the metropolitan area’s fastest growing communities. Vintage districts hug the banks of the Minnesota River, while more modern development has sprawled southward along the bluffs that command breathtaking river valley views. Don’t be misled by the city’s questionable name—which residents have voted to retain in spite of frequent opposition. This peaceful community successfully blends a tranquil rural setting with the convenience of nearby shopping and entertainment. An excellent mix of open green space, lush parks, and attractive neighborhoods include a number of vibrant new residential developments. Even considering the area’s considerable riverfront activity and historic charm, the city receives the highest praise from its residents for excellent public schools and other efficient services. Celebrated as the home of Dan Patch, the legendary racehorse, Savage has long been known for country living, farming, and equestrian activities.
Shakopee
Municipal Offices
952-233-9300
www.shakopeemn.gov
Chamber of Commerce
952-445-1660
www.shakopee.org
Nestled in the panoramic Minnesota River Valley, the Scott County government seat of Shakopee is located about 30 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Striking geographic features include an expanse of wetlands, rolling prairie, and a series of panoramic rises. The bustling downtown district and focus on community life underline the attraction of this progressive city, which is also home to a regional medical center and a thriving business park. In spite of brisk residential growth, civic leaders and residents are determined to protect the small-town ambiance and deep historic roots. Graced by some of the finest scenery in the entire Minnesota River Valley, Shakopee manages a 950-acre park and open-space system brimming over with sports facilities and amenities. Among the highlights are a community center, a teen center, an ice arena, an aquatic park, and a multi-purpose stadium. Several attractions that draw a regional audience include the Valleyfair Amusement Park, Murphy’s Historic Landing, and Canterbury Park Race Track. The popular Minnesota Renaissance Festival is staged near Shakopee each August and September, attracting throngs of visitors from across the Twin Cities metro area and the entire Midwest.
