kids encyclopedia robot

Apple Valley, Minnesota facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Apple Valley
Apple Valley during the autumn of 2006
Apple Valley during the autumn of 2006
Flag of Apple Valley
Flag
Motto(s): 
"Plant, Grow, Prosper"
Location of the city of Apple Valleywithin Dakota County, Minnesota
Location of the city of Apple Valley
within Dakota County, Minnesota
Apple Valley, Minnesota is located in Minnesota
Apple Valley, Minnesota
Apple Valley, Minnesota
Location in Minnesota
Apple Valley, Minnesota is located in the United States
Apple Valley, Minnesota
Apple Valley, Minnesota
Location in the United States
Apple Valley, Minnesota is located in North America
Apple Valley, Minnesota
Apple Valley, Minnesota
Location in North America
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Dakota
Incorporated 1969
Area
 • City 17.65 sq mi (45.70 km2)
 • Land 16.96 sq mi (43.94 km2)
 • Water 0.68 sq mi (1.77 km2)
Elevation
955 ft (289 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 56,374
 • Rank US: 743rd MN: 18th
 • Density 3,323.94/sq mi (1,282.98/km2)
 • Metro
3,524,583 (US: 16th)
 • Demonym
Valleyian
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55124
Area code(s) 952
FIPS code 27-01900
GNIS feature ID 0639415
Website ci.apple-valley.mn.us

Apple Valley is a city in northwestern Dakota County in the State of Minnesota, and a suburb of the Twin Cities. The city's population in 2020 was 56,374 making it the 17th most populous city in Minnesota. In 2013, Money Magazine named Apple Valley the 17th best place to live in the United States, up from 20th in 2010, 24th in 2008 and 28th in 2007.

History

Apple Valley was founded in 1969, and was previously named Lebanon Township. Orin 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 one-half of a mile 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."

Geography

AppleValleyCityHall
Apple Valley municipal building

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 a hundred feet 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. A lot of the area around Apple Valley is still undeveloped, or contains large quarries.

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%
U.S. Decennial Census

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.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

Apple valley hosts an annual 4 July festival called "Apple Valley Freedom Days" Festivities include one of the areas biggest parades that features local marching bands, service organizations, and many local businesses. There is also a fireworks display during the event.

In the 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 musk ox, Asian wild horses, Takins from China and animals from remote east coast including brown bears, amur leopards, and wild boars. The zoo also feathers an aquarium, an exhibit of penguins from South Africa and the popular Japanese snow monkeys,

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

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. 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

  • Erik Jensen, is an American actor, playwright, screenwriter and director
  • David Fischer, is a former American ice hockey defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens
  • Tyus Jones, Point guard for the NBA Memphis Grizzlies. Won the 2015 NCAA Basketball championship with the Duke Blue Devils, and was on the cover for the Sports Illustrated issue celebrating the championship.
  • Tre Jones, point guard for the San Antonio Spurs. Tyus' younger brother.
  • Vincent Kartheiser, actor, attended Apple Valley High School prior to beginning his career. Had roles in shows such Mad Men and Angel, and films like Alaska, Another Day in Paradise and many others.
  • Carolyn Jane Rodriguez, Minnesota legislator
  • Coleen Rowley, a former FBI agent and 9/11 whistleblower who was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" in 2002
  • Nicholas Sadler, an actor who has appeared in the films Scent of a Woman, Disclosure, Mobsters, as well as the TV shows The Cosby Show and ER
  • Dan Sexton, a former ice hockey forward for the Anaheim Ducks
  • Maria Thayer, an actress who has appeared in sitcoms Strangers with Candy and Will & Grace, as well as in the films Hitch and Accepted
  • Lindsey Vonn (née Kildow), Olympic skier
  • Brianna Brown, Actor, Days of Our Lives, Devious Maids
  • Gable Steveson, Gold-medal winning Olympic Wrestler (2020 Tokyo)
  • Darril Wegscheid, Minnesota state senator

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Apple Valley (Minnesota) para niños

kids search engine
Apple Valley, Minnesota Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.