Carver County, Minnesota Explained

County:Carver County
State:Minnesota
Ex Image:Carver County Justice Center, Minnesota (34480327800).jpg
Ex Image Size:220px
Founded Date:February 20
Founded Year:1855[1]
Seat Wl:Chaska
Largest City:Chaska
Area Total Sq Mi:376
Area Land Sq Mi:354
Area Water Sq Mi:22
Area Percentage:5.8%
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:106922
Pop Est As Of:2023
Population Est:111057
Density Sq Mi:302
Time Zone:Central
Website:www.co.carver.mn.us
District:3rd
District2:6th

Carver County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is mostly farmland and wilderness with many unincorporated townships. As of the 2020 census, the population was 106,922.[2] Its county seat is Chaska.[3] Carver County is named for explorer Jonathan Carver, who in 1766–67, traveled from Boston to the Minnesota River and wintered among the Sioux near the site of New Ulm.[4] Carver County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Statistics

In 2017, Carver County was ranked by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as the healthiest county in the State of Minnesota for the fifth year in a row.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] The foundation explained health outcomes represent “how healthy counties are within the state,” whereas health factors represent “an estimate of the future health of counties as compared with other counties within a state,” based on health behaviors, clinical care, and other environmental factors.[10] Carver County continued to rank as the number one healthiest county throughout the state for 2018,[11] 2019,[12] and 2020.[13]

In 2018, Carver County was ranked as the #1 "Happiest Place in America" according to a study conducted by the data firm Smart Asset.[14] Carver County was one of three United States counties to receive a top 5 ranking for the third straight year. The other two counties were Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Virginia.[14] The study compared counties across the country using the following eight factors: unemployment rate, poverty rate, affordability ratio, marriage rate, divorce rate, bankruptcy rate, life expectancy, and physical activity rate.[14] In particular, Carver County scored well thanks to strong economic conditions with an unemployment rate of only 3.1% and a poverty rate of only 4.1%.[14] Additionally, according to the data, 62% of residents were married and only 8% divorced.[14] In each of those metrics, Carver ranked in the top 40 in the country.[14]

Geography

The Minnesota River flows east-northeasterly along the county's southern border. The South Fork of the Crow River flows northeasterly through the upper western and central portions of the county. Carver Creek flows southeasterly from the county's central area, discharging into the Minnesota at the county's southern border. The terrain consists of low rolling hills, dotted with lakes in the eastern portion. The area is devoted to agriculture.[15] The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its northwest corner at 1024feet ASL.[16] A small hill 1.6miles northeast of Miller Lake[15] rises to 1080feet ASL, for the county's highest point.[17]

The county has a total area of, of which is land and (5.8%) is water.[18] It is Minnesota's second-smallest county by land area and third-smallest by total area.

Carver is one of seven southern Minnesota counties with no forest soils; only prairie ecosystems of savannas and prairies can be found in Carver County. It is also one of 17 Minnesota counties where savanna soils dominate.

Lakes

Carver County is home to seven lakes of 235 acres or larger. The largest is Lake Waconia, Minnesota's 73rd largest lake and the Twin Cities' second largest lake, with an area of 2,996 acres.[19]

TownshipLakes
Benton TownshipBarlous Lake, Benton Lake, Maria Lake, Meuwissen Lake, Myers Lake, Rice Lake, Winkler Lake
Camden TownshipBerliner Lake, Eagle Lake, Smith Lake
Dahlgren TownshipAue Lake
Hancock TownshipAssumption Lake, Gaystock Lake, Maria Lake, Miller Lake,
Hollywood TownshipLippert Lake
Laketown TownshipCarl Krey Lake, Lake Auburn, Lake Virginia, Lake Waconia, Lake Zumbra, Lunsten Lake, Marsh Lake, Parley Lake, Piersons Lake, Reitz Lake, Schutz Lake, Stieger Lake, Sunny Lake, Turbid Lake, Wasserman Lake, Lake Bavaria
San Francisco TownshipHallquist Lake, Kelly Lake, Long Lake, Scott Lake,
Waconia TownshipBurandt Lake, Donders Lake, Goose Lake, Hydes Lake, Lake Minnewashta, Lake Patterson, Lake Waconia, Rutz Lake, Swan Lake
Watertown TownshipBuck Lake, Goose Lake, Lippert Lake, Mud Lake, Oak Lake, Swede Lake
Young America TownshipBarnes Lake, Brand Lake, Braunworth Lake, Tiger Lake, Young America Lake

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

[15]

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Chaska have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1970 and a record high of was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in August.

Demographics

2020 census

Carver County, Minnesota - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)!Race / Ethnicity!Pop 2010[20] !Pop 2020[21] !% 2010!% 2020
White alone (NH)82,53691,44390.67%85.52%
Black or African American alone (NH)1,0682,1731.12%2.03%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1861930.20%0.18%
Asian alone (NH)2,4563,6172.70%3.38%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)9150.01%0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH)692840.76%0.27%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)1,2033,8891.32%3.64%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3,5155,3083.86%4.96%
Total91,042106,922100.00%100.00%
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2010

The ethnic makeup of the county, according to the 2010 census, was the following:

There were 33,486 households, out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.22.

The median income for a household in the county was $83,773, and the median income for a family was $96,913. Males had a median income of $66,150 versus $46,696 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,457. About 3.3% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[22]

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 70,205 people, 24,356 households, and 18,778 families in the county. The population density was 198/mi2. There were 24,883 housing units at an average density of 70.3/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 95.95% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 2.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.3% were of German, 12.1% Norwegian, 7.1% Irish and 6.2% Swedish ancestry.

There were 24,356 households, out of which 45.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.40% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.90% were non-families. 18.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.26.

The county population contained 31.50% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 34.70% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 7.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $65,540, and the median income for a family was $73,577 (these figures had risen to $78,035 and $89,100 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $47,271 versus $32,107 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,486. About 2.30% of families and 3.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.60% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

According to the county's comprehensive annual financial reports, the top employers by number of employees in the county are the following. ("NR" indicates the employer was not ranked among the top ten employers that year.)

EmployerEmployees
(2022)[23]
Employees
(2012)
Independent School District 112 (Eastern Carver County) align=right 2,056align=right 1,129
Ridgeview Medical Centeralign=right 1,500align=right 1,500
Emerson Process Managementalign=right 1,201align=right 1,800
Storm Aviationalign=right 1,001align=right
IWCO Directalign=right 1,000align=right 1,000
Independent School District 110 (Waconia)align=right 900align=right
Carver Countyalign=right 785align=right 793
Beckman Coulteralign=right 780align=right 780
Bernard Groupalign=right 600align=right
General Millsalign=right 600align=right
SuperValualign=right align=right 700
Targetalign=right align=right 700
Elkay Manufacturingalign=right align=right 620
Lake Region Manufacturingalign=right align=right 600

Government and politics

Government

Like all counties in Minnesota, Carver is governed by an elected and nonpartisan board of commissioners. Each commissioner represents a district of approximately equal population.

County commissioners

The county commission elects a chair, who presides at meetings.Commissioners as of January 2020:[24]

DistrictCommissionerIn office sinceNext electionArea served
1st Gayle O. Degler[25] 2002 2022Chaska, Chanhassen
2nd Tom Workman (Vice Chair)[26] 2002 2022Chanhassen, Victoria
3rd Matt Udermann[27] [28] 2020 2024Chaska, Victoria
4th Tim Lynch[29] 2004 2022 Hollywood Twp, Watertown Twp, Waconia Twp, Mayer, Waconia, Watertown
5th John P. Fahey (Chairperson)[30] 2020 2024Benton Twp, Camden Twp, Dalgren Twp, Hancock Twp, Laketown Twp, San Francisco Twp, Young America Twp, Carver, Cologne, Hamburg, New Germany, Norwood Young America

Politics

As Carver County becomes more suburban and less rural in character, with 90% of its residents now living in its cities, it is becoming more of a battleground territory, especially in the eastern half of the county and in its two largest cities, Chaska and Chanhassen. Traditionally, the county has tended to vote for Republicans. Since World War II, the county has never voted for a Democratic candidate for president. The last time Carver County voted for a Democrat was in 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt's landslide win against incumbent Herbert Hoover,[31] and the only other occurrence since 1896 was Woodrow Wilson in 1912, when the Republicans were bitterly divided. Since 1992, only Bill Clinton and Joe Biden came reasonably close to carrying this county.

Carver's Republican bent is not limited to presidential elections. The county regularly rejects Democrats in gubernatorial races as well. Since 1944, the only time Carver County voted for a non-Republican candidate in a gubernatorial race was in 1998, Jesse Ventura’s third-party upset.[32]

Carver County is split between two congressional districts. The eastern area, adjacent to Hennepin County and Scott County and including Chaska and Chanhassen, is in Minnesota's 3rd congressional district (CPVI D+6); the remainder of the county is in Minnesota's 6th congressional district (CPVI R+12).

Position!Name!Affiliation!District
SenateDavid Osmek[33] RepublicanDistrict 33
SenateScott Jensen[34] RepublicanDistrict 47
House of RepresentativesKelly Morrison[35] DemocratDistrict 33B
House of RepresentativesJim Nash[36] RepublicanDistrict 47A
House of RepresentativesGreg Boe[37] RepublicanDistrict 47B
Position!Name!Affiliation!District
House of RepresentativesDean Phillips[38] Democrat3rd
House of RepresentativesTom Emmer[39] Republican6th
SenateAmy Klobuchar[40] DemocratN/A
SenateTina Smith[41] DemocratN/A

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

[15]

Townships

Notable residents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minnesota Place Names. Minnesota Historical Society. March 17, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20120620201420/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm. June 20, 2012. dead.
  2. Web site: State & County QuickFacts . United States Census Bureau . April 13, 2023.
  3. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. May 31, 2011.
  4. Book: The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off.. Gannett, Henry. 1905. 70.
  5. Web site: Minnesota Health Outcomes - Overall Rank . County Health Rankings . 2017 . County Health Rankings & Roadmaps . November 19, 2020.
  6. Web site: Minnesota Health Outcomes - Overall Rank . County Health Rankings . 2016 . County Health Rankings & Roadmaps . November 19, 2020.
  7. Web site: Minnesota Health Outcomes - Overall Rank . County Health Rankings . 2015 . County Health Rankings & Roadmaps . November 19, 2020.
  8. Web site: Minnesota Health Outcomes - Overall Rank . County Health Rankings . 2014 . County Health Rankings & Roadmaps . November 19, 2020.
  9. Web site: Minnesota Health Outcomes - Overall Rank . County Health Rankings . 2013 . County Health Rankings & Roadmaps . November 19, 2020.
  10. Web site: Carver County Ranked As Minnesota's Healthiest . Raddatz . Kate . CBS Minnesota . March 29, 2017 . CBS Local . November 19, 2020.
  11. Web site: Minnesota Health Outcomes - Overall Rank . County Health Rankings . 2018 . County Health Rankings & Roadmaps . November 19, 2020.
  12. Web site: Minnesota Health Outcomes - Overall Rank . County Health Rankings . 2019 . County Health Rankings & Roadmaps . November 19, 2020.
  13. Web site: Minnesota Health Outcomes - Overall Rank . County Health Rankings . 2020 . County Health Rankings & Roadmaps . November 19, 2020.
  14. Web site: The Happiest Places in America – 2018 Edition . Miller . Derek . Smart Asset . June 12, 2018 . Smart Asset . November 19, 2020.
  15. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Carver+County,+MN/@44.8067955,-93.9065463,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f5fd7bd5338765:0x74e8ff01d098a6b9!8m2!3d44.825431!4d-93.7841503 Carver County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)
  16. Web site: "Find an Altitude/Carver County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019) . March 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm . May 21, 2019 . dead .
  17. https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22091 Carver County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 5, 2019)
  18. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 6, 2014. August 22, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102023/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt. October 6, 2014.
  19. Web site: Fisheries Lake Surveys – MN Dept of Natural Resources. www.dnr.state.mn.us. April 17, 2018.
  20. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Carver County, Minnesota . United States Census Bureau.
  21. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Carver County, Minnesota . United States Census Bureau.
  22. Web site: Carver County QuickFacts from the U.S. Census Bureau. December 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607004344/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/27/27019.html. June 7, 2011. dead.
  23. Web site: June 29, 2022 . Carver County, Minnesota Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, for the Year ending December 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723210541/https://www.co.carver.mn.us/home/showpublisheddocument/23405/637932337013070000 . July 23, 2022 . Government of Carver County, Minnestoa.
  24. Web site: County Board of Commissioners . Carver County, MN . en . January 16, 2020.
  25. Web site: Gayle Degler, Vice Chair (District 1) . Carver County, MN . en . January 16, 2020.
  26. Web site: Tom Workman (District 2) . Carver County, MN . en . January 16, 2020.
  27. Web site: Matt Udermann, (District 3) . Carver County, MN . en . January 16, 2020.
  28. Web site: 2020 Primary Election Results . en . January 16, 2020.
  29. Web site: Tim Lynch, Chair (District 4) . Carver County, MN . en . January 16, 2020.
  30. Web site: John P. Fahey, (District 5) . Carver County, MN . en . January 16, 2020.
  31. Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  32. Web site: Election Results – Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. www.leg.state.mn.us. en. April 17, 2018.
  33. Web site: MN State Senate. June 25, 2020. www.senate.mn. en.
  34. Web site: MN State Senate. June 25, 2020. www.senate.mn. en.
  35. Web site: Rep. Kelly Morrison (33B) – Minnesota House of Representatives. June 25, 2020. www.house.leg.state.mn.us.
  36. Web site: Rep. Jim Nash (47A) – Minnesota House of Representatives. June 25, 2020. www.house.leg.state.mn.us.
  37. Web site: Rep. Greg Boe (47B) – Minnesota House of Representatives. June 25, 2020. www.house.leg.state.mn.us.
  38. Web site: Representative Dean Phillips. June 25, 2020. Representative Dean Phillips. en.
  39. Web site: Congressman Tom Emmer. June 25, 2020. Congressman Tom Emmer. en.
  40. Web site: U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. June 24, 2020. www.klobuchar.senate.gov.
  41. Web site: Home. June 24, 2020. Senator Tina Smith. en.