Shakopee, Minnesota Facts for Kids

Shakopee (pronounced SHAH-kə-pee) is a city in Minnesota, United States. It is the main city of Scott County. Shakopee is located southwest of Minneapolis, right on the south bank of the Minnesota River.

This city is part of the larger Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, which is a huge group of cities and towns with about 3.7 million people. In 2020, Shakopee had a population of 43,698.

Long ago, Native American cultures built special burial mounds along the riverbank in what is now the Shakopee Historic District. Later, in the 1700s, Chief Shakopee of the Mdewakanton Dakota people had his village here. The city of Shakopee grew because it was a good place for trading goods, especially where the river met the railroad.

Shakopee used to be a bit isolated. But by the 1960s, its economy became connected to the growing Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. The city grew a lot after U.S. Highway 169 was changed in 1996, making it easier for people to live in Shakopee and work in nearby cities.

Today, Shakopee is famous for two fun places: Valleyfair, an amusement park, and Canterbury Park, a horse racetrack.

Shakopee's Past: A Look at History
- Early Inhabitants and Dakota Villages
- How Shakopee Became a City
Shakopee's Location and Roads
- Main Roads and Connections
Who Lives in Shakopee? (Demographics)
- Population in 2010
Shakopee's Economy: Jobs and Businesses
- Top Employers in Shakopee
Fun Things to Do: Arts and Culture
Learning in Shakopee: Education
- Public Schools
- Other Schools
Famous People from Shakopee
Images for kids
See also

Shakopee's Past: A Look at History

People have lived in the Shakopee area for a very long time.

Early Inhabitants and Dakota Villages

Ancient burial mounds, which are like old graves, can be found along the Minnesota River bluff. These mounds are between 500 and 2,000 years old. They show that early cultures lived here.

The Dakota people had a village in this area. They called it the "village of the prairie." The Shakopee band of Dakota lived in different types of homes depending on the season. They planted corn and followed the seasons for their food.

How Shakopee Became a City

In 1851, a man named Thomas A. Holmes started a trading post. He then planned out Shakopee Village in 1854, naming it after Chief Shakopee II. The city grew quickly and officially became a city in 1857.

However, due to conflicts during the Dakota War of 1862, the city gave up its official status in 1861. Once things calmed down, Shakopee became a city again in 1870.

Shakopee's Location and Roads

Shakopee covers about 29.32 square miles (75.94 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Main Roads and Connections

Two important roads in Shakopee are U.S. Highway 169 and County Highway 101. Highway 169 and nearby State Highway 13 help connect Shakopee to the rest of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region. County Highway 101 is a main road that goes east and west through historic downtown Shakopee.

Who Lives in Shakopee? (Demographics)

The city's population has grown a lot over the years. In 1860, there were 1,138 people, and by 2020, it had grown to 43,698 people.

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	1,138		—
1870	1,349		18.5%
1880	2,011		49.1%
1890	1,757		−12.6%
1900	2,047		16.5%
1910	2,302		12.5%
1920	1,988		−13.6%
1930	2,023		1.8%
1940	2,418		19.5%
1950	3,185		31.7%
1960	5,201		63.3%
1970	6,876		32.2%
1980	9,941		44.6%
1990	11,739		18.1%
2000	20,568		75.2%
2010	37,076		80.3%
2020	43,698		17.9%
2022 (est.)	45,735	footnote=U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census	23.4%

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 37,076 people living in Shakopee. About 77% of the people were White, 4.3% African American, 1.2% Native American, and 10.3% Asian. About 7.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (45.5%) had children under 18 living with them. The average age in the city was 32.2 years old. About 30.2% of residents were under 18.

Shakopee's Economy: Jobs and Businesses

Shakopee has many different businesses that provide jobs for its residents.

Top Employers in Shakopee

Here are some of the biggest employers in Shakopee, based on a 2023 report:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Amazon	2,500
2	Valleyfair	1,721
3	Emerson	1,563
4	School District No. 720	1,315
5	Cyberpower Systems	1,160
6	Imagine Print Solutions	877
7	Scott County	865
8	St. Francis RMC	824
9	Entrust Datacard	800
10	Northstar Auto Auction	715

Fun Things to Do: Arts and Culture

Shakopee offers many attractions and cultural activities for families and visitors.

Valleyfair is a popular amusement park with rides and shows.
Canterbury Park is a place where you can watch horse races and play card games.
The Landing is a historic village. It shows what life was like in Minnesota from the 1840s to the 1890s.
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is a big outdoor event. It's like stepping back into a make-believe 16th-century English kingdom!
Downtown Shakopee has unique shops, restaurants, and an old-fashioned bakery. You can also enjoy riverside concerts and classic car shows in the summer.
The Scott County Historical Society Museum is located in the historic 1908 Stans House.

Canterbury Park is a popular horse racetrack in Shakopee.

Learning in Shakopee: Education

Shakopee has a good school system with several schools for different age groups.

Public Schools

Shakopee Public Schools (ISD 720) include:

Five elementary schools: Red Oak, Sun Path, Sweeney, Eagle Creek, and Jackson.
Two middle schools: Shakopee West Middle School and Shakopee East Middle School.
One senior high school: Shakopee High School.
Two learning centers: Tokata Learning Center and Pearson Early Learning Center.
Central Family Center.

Other Schools

Shakopee Area Catholic Schools also serve the community.
Living Hope Lutheran School is a Christian school for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
Shakopee has a campus of the Globe University/Minnesota School of Business, which is a private college.

Famous People from Shakopee

Many interesting people have connections to Shakopee:

Jamal Abu-Shamala: A basketball player.
Jack Bergman: A congressman and retired military general.
Anthony Bonsante: A professional boxer.
Scott Ferrozzo: A mixed martial artist.
Eleanor Gates: A playwright.
William Geister: A former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Amy Menke: A professional ice hockey player.
Erik Mortensen: A former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Harrison J. Peck: A lawyer, newspaper editor, and former mayor of Shakopee.
Jason Perkins: A professional basketball player.
Andrew Reiner: An executive editor for Game Informer magazine.
Maurice Stans: The 19th U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Christopher Straub: A fashion designer who was on Project Runway.
Brad Tabke: A member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Images for kids

Downtown Shakopee
Seal of Shakopee
Shakopee, Minnesota
Location of Shakopee within Scott County

Shakopee, Minnesota facts for kids

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