Apple Valley, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Apple Valley
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Apple Valley
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| Motto(s):
"Plant, Grow, Prosper"
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Location of the city of Apple Valley
within Dakota County, Minnesota |
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 Apple Valley, Minnesota
Location in Minnesota
Apple Valley, Minnesota
Location in the United States
Apple Valley, Minnesota
Location in North America
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Minnesota | |
| County | Dakota | |
| Incorporated | 1969 | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 17.55 sq mi (45.45 km2) | |
| • Land | 16.87 sq mi (43.69 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.68 sq mi (1.76 km2) | |
| Elevation | 974 ft (297 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 56,374 | |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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55,416 | |
| • Rank | US: 724th MN: 17th | |
| • Density | 3,341.47/sq mi (1,290.18/km2) | |
| • Metro | 3,693,729 (US: 16th) | |
| • Demonym | Valleyian | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
55124
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| Area code(s) | 952 | |
| FIPS code | 27-01900 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2393967 | |
Apple Valley is a city in northwestern Dakota County in the State of Minnesota, and a suburb of the Twin Cities. The population was 56,374 at the 2020 census, making it the 17th most populous city in Minnesota.
Contents
History
The area that became Apple Valley was first established in 1859 as Lebanon Township, and remained a farming community for nearly a century. In the mid-1950s, residential developments started replacing farmland. Orrin Thompson, a real estate developer, was responsible for the city's early development. He contracted a company to determine where the next growth in the Twin Cities would be. It was 0.5 miles (1 km) from County Road 42 and Cedar Avenue. Thompson bought the first houses and streets from the Brobacks, who built the city's first four houses. The firm that selected this area was in Apple Valley, California, so Thompson took that name for the development. An alternate explanation for the name change exists, however. According to local developer Henry Broback, Lebanon Township was renamed Apple Valley because "...when you drive east on (County Road) 42 and turn to enter Lebanon, it reminded them of Apple Valley, California, which was a nice community."
Voters in the township voted to incorporate in the 1968 general election. They also selected the name Apple Valley over the name Lebanon Valley by a vote of 1376 to 757.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.57 square miles (45.51 km2), of which 16.86 square miles (43.67 km2) is land and 0.71 square miles (1.84 km2) is water. The city's geography is rolling, with elevation from the lowest to the highest points in the city varying by one hundred feet (thirty metres) or more. The downtown area and its adjacent residential district (which formed the original core of the city when it was incorporated) are in a shallow valley.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 160 | — | |
| 1870 | 216 | 35.0% | |
| 1880 | 252 | 16.7% | |
| 1890 | 242 | −4.0% | |
| 1900 | 286 | 18.2% | |
| 1910 | 292 | 2.1% | |
| 1920 | 361 | 23.6% | |
| 1930 | 380 | 5.3% | |
| 1940 | 364 | −4.2% | |
| 1950 | 377 | 3.6% | |
| 1960 | 585 | 55.2% | |
| 1970 | 8,502 | 1,353.3% | |
| 1980 | 21,818 | 156.6% | |
| 1990 | 34,598 | 58.6% | |
| 2000 | 45,527 | 31.6% | |
| 2010 | 49,084 | 7.8% | |
| 2020 | 56,374 | 14.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 55,416 | 12.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Apple Valley is in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented by Angie Craig, a Democrat. Apple Valley is represented in the Minnesota Legislature by State Senator Greg Clausen (Democrat, District 57), Representative Robert Bierman (Democrat, District 57A), and Representative John Huot (Democrat, District 57B).
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 49,084 people, 18,875 households, and 13,382 families living in the city. The population density was 2,911.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,124.1/km2). There were 19,600 housing units at an average density of 1,162.5 per square mile (448.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.8% White, 5.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 5.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.0% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.9% of the population.
There were 18,875 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.07.
The median age in the city was 37.9 years. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.5% were from 25 to 44; 30.2% were from 45 to 64; and 9.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.
Economy
Top employers
According to Apple Valley's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independent School District 196 | 1,414 |
| 2 | Target Corporation | 520 |
| 3 | Uponor | 400 |
| 4 | Dakota County | 384 |
| 5 | Walmart | 350 |
| 6 | Augustana Care | 265 |
| 7 | Menards | 250 |
| 8 | Wings Financial Federal Credit Union | 225 |
| 9 | Minnesota Zoo | 220 |
| 10 | Apple Valley Medical Clinic | 200 |
Arts and culture
Annual cultural events
Apple Valley hosts an annual July 4 festival called "Apple Valley Freedom Days". Festivities include one of the area's largest parades that features local marching bands, service organizations, and many local businesses. There is also a carnival and a fireworks display during the event.
In February, the city hosts the Apple Valley Winter Carnival. Events include ice skating, a medallion hunt, contests and children events.
The Minnesota Zoo
Apple Valley is home to the Minnesota Zoo, a nationally recognized zoological garden that houses hundreds of animals from several distinct climatological zones. Collections include an indoor Tropics Trail featuring animals from the worlds rain forests and tropical habitats, the Minnesota Trail with native animals from Minnesota including black bears, wolves, wolverines and beaver pond. The Northern Trail features large animals from the worlds cold climates. Highlights of this trail are Asian wild horses, Takins from China and animals from remote east coast including brown bears, amur leopards, and wild boars. The zoo also features an aquarium, an exhibit of penguins from South Africa and the popular Japanese snow monkeys,
Education
There are six elementary, three middle and three high schools in the city, all operated by Independent School District 196. In addition to the two comprehensive high schools, Apple Valley is home to a magnet school open to 11th and 12th graders, the School of Environmental Studies (SES). In fall 2007, Independent School District 196 opened three elementary-level magnet schools: Cedar Park Elementary, which will become a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) magnet; Diamond Path Elementary, which will have an International Studies theme, and Glacier Hills Elementary, with an Arts and Science theme. In 2017, Independent School District 196 opened a new Elementary school in neighboring Lakeville, Minnesota. Some students attend public schools in other school districts chosen by their families under Minnesota's open enrollment statute.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Interstate Highway 35E, Cedar Avenue, and County Road 42 are three of the main routes in Apple Valley. Highway 77 briefly enters the northern part of Apple Valley and becomes County Road 23 / Cedar Avenue.
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority operates many weekday commuter buses to and from Downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The recently built Red Line operates as a dedicated bus line with service to and from the Mall of America.
Notable people
- Brianna Brown, actor, Days of Our Lives, Devious Maids
- David Fischer, former American ice hockey defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens
- Mark Hall, folkstyle and freestyle wrestler, NCAA Wrestling Champion, attended Apple Valley High School
- John Harvatine IV, Co-owner of Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and creator of the tv show Crossing Swords.
- Erik Jensen, American actor, playwright, screenwriter and director
- Tyus Jones, Point guard for the NBA Memphis Grizzlies and the Duke Blue Devils.
- Tre Jones, point guard for the San Antonio Spurs.
- Vincent Kartheiser, actor, attended Apple Valley High School.
- Carolyn Jane Rodriguez, Minnesota legislator
- Coleen Rowley, former FBI agent and 9/11 whistleblower who was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" in 2002
- Nicholas Sadler, actor who has appeared in the films Scent of a Woman, Disclosure, Mobsters
- Dan Sexton, former ice hockey forward for the Anaheim Ducks
- Gable Steveson, Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling (2020 Tokyo)
- Maria Thayer, actress who has appeared in sitcoms Strangers with Candy and Will & Grace
- Gary Trent Jr., Shooting guard for the Toronto Raptors NBA team
- Lindsey Vonn (née Kildow), Olympic skier
- Darril Wegscheid, Minnesota state senator
See also
In Spanish: Apple Valley (Minnesota) para niños
