| Official Name: | Chanhassen |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Minnesota |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Carver, Hennepin |
| Pushpin Map: | Minnesota#USA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the United States |
| Pushpin Label: | Chanhassen |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Elise Ryan |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | June 1852 |
| Established Title1: | Organized |
| Established Date1: | May 11, 1858 |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated as a village |
| Established Date2: | April 25, 1896 |
| Established Title3: | Incorporated as a city |
| Established Date3: | May 8, 1967 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 59.06 |
| Area Land Km2: | 52.73 |
| Area Water Km2: | 6.33 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 22.80 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 20.36 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 2.44 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Est: | 26224 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2022 |
| Population Total: | 25947 |
| Population Density Km2: | 492.04 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1274.35 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 295 |
| Elevation Ft: | 974 |
| Coordinates: | 44.8622°N -93.5306°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 55317 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 952 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 27-10918 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2393799 |
Chanhassen [2] is a city about 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Minneapolis in Carver County and partially in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States.[3] Located in the southwest Minneapolis–Saint Paul suburbs, there is a mix of suburban residential neighborhoods and rural landscapes. The population was 25,947 at the 2020 census, with a 2024 estimate of 26,469. [4]
The origin of the name comes from the Dakota word chanhasen meaning "sugar-maple tree" (chan, tree; haza, a tree with sap).[5] The northern metro area Hassan Township carried the latter morpheme of the word prior to its merger with the city of Rogers to avoid confusion.[6] Chanhassen merged with Chanhassen Township in 1967, bringing the population to 4,200.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.88sqmi, of which 20.44sqmi is land and 2.44sqmi is water.[8] Although the bulk of Chanhassen is in Carver County, a small portion also extends into Hennepin County.[9]
U.S. Highway 212 and Minnesota State Highways 5 and 41 are three of the main routes in Chanhassen.[10]
Township 116 North, Range 23 West, Fifth Principal Meridian of the Public Land Survey System.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau the median household income (using data from 2008 to 2012) for Chanhassen was $103,462. For the same time period the per capita income was $46,305. Three percent of the population was living below the poverty line.
As of the census of 2010, there were 22,952 people, 8,352 households, and 6,257 families living in the city. The population density was 1122.9PD/sqmi. There were 8,679 housing units at an average density of 424.6/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 92.5% White, 1.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.9% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.
There were 8,352 households, of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.23.
The median age in the city was 39.3 years. 30.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 32.3% were from 45 to 64; and 7.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,321 people, 6,914 households, and 5,524 families living in the city. The population density was 978.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 7,013 housing units at an average density of 337.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 94.90% White, 0.75% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.83% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.
There were 6,914 households, out of which 51.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.2% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.6% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 37.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
Companies with headquarters in Chanhassen include:[11]
According to the city's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR),[13] the top employers in the city are:
| Employer |
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Life Time Fitness | 1,171 | |
| 2 | Instant Web Companies | 718 | |
| 3 | The Bernard Group | 686 | |
| 4 | Rosemount Inc. | 550 | |
| 5 | Eastern Carver County Schools | 464 | |
| 6 | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres | 350 | |
| 7 | General Mills | 344 | |
| 8 | RR Donnelley | 275 | |
| 9 | Target | 225 | |
| 10 | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum | 192 |
Chanhassen is home to several attractions that are well-recognized throughout the state and even nationally.
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is the nation's largest professional dinner theatre and the largest privately owned restaurant in the state of Minnesota. Since 1968, more than 200 plays have been produced and played to more than ten million guests.[15]
Many youth sports programs are offered through the Chanhassen Athletic Association, including baseball, softball, basketball, and soccer.[16]
Chanhassen is also home to the Chanhassen Red Birds amateur baseball team (2018 Class B State Champions).[17]
The city of Chanhassen places a strong emphasis on parks, open space, trails, and recreation.
Chanhassen has five public beaches.[18]
Chanhassen prides itself on providing a comprehensive, multipurpose trail system. The city has built and maintains 70 miles of trails.[19] Many of the city's trails are located in natural resource corridors.
The Chanhassen Skate Park was installed in September 1999.[20] The park is located between City Hall and the downtown fire station. It features a wedge, quarter pipe, half pipe, hotbox, doobie roller, spine, and grind rails.
Several well-producing lakes in Chanhassen keep the sportsmen busy year-round with fishing during the warm months and ice fishing when the lakes freeze over. Both Lake Minnewashta and Lake Ann contain large and aggressive northern pike for the adept anglers.
Chanhassen is located in Minnesota's 6th congressional district and is represented by Republican Tom Emmer. President George W. Bush was the first sitting U.S. president to visit Chanhassen. He held a rally on October 9, 2004, at Chanhassen's City Center Park during the United States presidential elections of 2004.[21]
The National Weather Service's forecast office for west-central, south-central, north-central and the Twin Cities areas of Minnesota and western Wisconsin is located in Chanhassen.
Chanhassen is split between two school districts. Most of the city is in District 112 (Eastern Carver County School District), with most Chanhassen students attending Chanhassen High School, Holy Family Catholic High School, Chaska Middle School West, Pioneer Ridge Middle School, Chanhassen Elementary, and Bluff Creek Elementary. Northern sections of Chanhassen are a part of District 276 (Minnetonka School District), with most students attending Minnetonka High School, Minnetonka Middle School East, Minnetonka Middle School West, Clear Springs Elementary, and Scenic Heights Elementary.[22] Also, some students attend public schools in other school districts chosen by their families under Minnesota's open enrollment statute.[23] Chapel Hill Academy and St. Hubert Catholic School are private primary education institutions located in downtown Chanhassen.
The Chanhassen Villager was the city's official weekly newspaper. In April 2024, publisher Southwest News Media announced it would quit the publication of the Chanhassen Villager and its other metro newspapers by the end of the month. It published the final edition on April 25.[24]