Tonka Bay, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tonka Bay
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Location of Tonka Bay
within Hennepin County, Minnesota |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Hennepin |
| Incorporated | 1901 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.11 sq mi (5.47 km2) |
| • Land | 0.94 sq mi (2.43 km2) |
| • Water | 1.17 sq mi (3.03 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,442 |
| • Density | 1,535.68/sq mi (593.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| FIPS code | 27-65164 |
Tonka Bay is a small city located in Hennepin County, Minnesota, in the United States. It sits right on the beautiful Lake Minnetonka, connecting the upper and lower parts of the lake. In the late 1800s, Tonka Bay became a popular spot for summer vacations. Many people came to enjoy the lake. As of the 2020 census, about 1,442 people live there.
Contents
Exploring Tonka Bay's Location
Tonka Bay is a small city in Minnesota. It covers an area of about 2.43 square kilometers (0.94 square miles) of land. A large part of the city, about 3.03 square kilometers (1.17 square miles), is covered by water. This water area is mostly made up of parts of Lake Minnetonka.
Main Roads in Tonka Bay
Manitou Road is a very important road in Tonka Bay. It helps people get around the city easily.
A Look at Tonka Bay's History
Tonka Bay has a long and interesting history. It started forming around 10,000 BC. This was when the last big ice sheet, called the Wisconsin glacier, began to melt. As the ice moved back, it created the Upper and Lower Lake Minnetonka. It also formed the land and bays that we now know as Tonka Bay.
Early Days and Settlements
- 1852: The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux was signed. This agreement opened up the Lake Minnetonka area for white settlers.
- 1852: The governor of the Minnesota Territory, Alexander Ramsey, explored Lake Minnetonka. He officially named it "Minne," which means "water" in the Sioux language. He added "Tonka," meaning "big" or "strong."
- 1853: Reverend Stephen Hull came to the area. He created the first "narrows." These were called "Hull's Narrows." They were near where County Road 19 is today. These narrows allowed boats to travel between the Upper and Lower Lake Minnetonka.
- 1864: A horticulturist named Peter Gideon claimed 160 acres (0.65 square kilometers) of land. This land later became part of Tonka Bay. Here, he grew a special type of apple called the "Wealthy" apple. He named it after his wife, Wealthy Hull. This apple could survive the cold Minnesota winters.
Growth and Development
- 1879: The Lake Park Hotel was built. This was part of the Chautauqua movement, which focused on education and recreation.
- 1887: The Old Orchard House was built by John Finley Wilcox. He planted many acres of fruit orchards. These orchards once grew along County Road 19.
- 1890: Fred B. Snyder bought a large piece of land called the Clay Cliffe Estate. It was 28 acres (0.11 square kilometers) and cost $56.
- 1901: Tonka Bay officially became a city. This happened because more people were living there permanently. The city needed to provide services for them. John Finley Wilcox became Tonka Bay's first mayor.
- 1904: The first elementary school in Tonka Bay was built.
- 1908: The Twin City Rapid Transit Company bought the Lake Park Hotel. They changed its name to the Tonka Bay Hotel. It closed a few years later in 1911.
- 1911: The first bridge was built over the narrows in Tonka Bay.
- 1913: The Westman Family started Tonka Bay Marine.
- 1953: The Tonka Bay elementary school building became the Tonka Bay Village Hall.
- 1955: Minnetonka Plaza was built.
Recent Changes and Updates
- Late 1980s to mid-1990s: New homes were built on the land where old, large estates used to be. These included the Clay Cliffe Estate and the W.O. Winston Estate. The Winston Estate is now known as the Gideon's Point neighborhood.
- 2002: A new building for the police and fire departments was constructed.
- 2003 to 2004: The Minnetonka Plaza was renamed the Tonka Village Shopping Center. The city's liquor store was sold. It was torn down to make way for changes to County Road 19.
- 2011: Twelve new boat slips were added to the City Marina.
- 2016: A city monument was put up at the southern border of the town.
- 2017: Another city monument was installed at the northern border.
Tonka Bay used to be part of Excelsior Township. It became its own independent village in 1901.
Population of Tonka Bay
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 107 | — | |
| 1920 | 84 | −21.5% | |
| 1930 | 193 | 129.8% | |
| 1940 | 361 | 87.0% | |
| 1950 | 899 | 149.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,204 | 33.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,397 | 16.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,354 | −3.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,472 | 8.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,547 | 5.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,475 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,442 | −2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Tonka Bay in 2010
In 2010, there were 1,475 people living in Tonka Bay. These people lived in 586 households, and 458 of these were families. The city had about 657 housing units.
Most of the people in Tonka Bay were White (97.6%). A small number were African American (0.8%), Native American (0.1%), or Asian (0.7%). About 0.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
- Households: About 31.6% of households had children under 18. Most households (68.6%) were married couples.
- Age: The average age in the city was 47.8 years old.
- 23.6% of residents were under 18.
- 41.8% were between 45 and 64 years old.
- 14.3% were 65 years or older.
- Gender: The population was almost evenly split between males (51.4%) and females (48.6%).
Sports in Tonka Bay
Tonka Bay has a successful sports team! In 2017, the Tonka Bay Bombers won the championship for the USA Rink Bandy League. Bandy is a sport similar to ice hockey, but played with a ball instead of a puck.
See also
In Spanish: Tonka Bay (Minnesota) para niños
