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Waconia
View of Lake Waconia
View of Lake Waconia
Location of the city of Waconiawithin Carver County, Minnesota
Location of the city of Waconia
within Carver County, Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Carver
Area
 • Total 5.31 sq mi (13.76 km2)
 • Land 5.28 sq mi (13.67 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
981 ft (299 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 13,033
 • Density 2,468.84/sq mi (953.23/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55387
Area code(s) 952
FIPS code 27-67432
GNIS feature ID 2397159

Waconia (/wəˈknjə/ wə-KOHN-yə or /wəˈkniə/ -koh-NEE) is a city in Carver County, Minnesota, United States. Waconia attracts visitors to nearby Lake Waconia, a lake locally renowned for its fishing and recreation opportunities.

The city's population was 13,033 at the 2020 census.

Geography

Waconia sunset
Sunset behind a water tower in Waconia

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.39 square miles (11.37 km2), of which 4.34 square miles (11.24 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.

Minnesota State Highways 5 and 284; and Carver County Highway 10 are the main routes in Waconia.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 218
1890 441 102.3%
1900 728 65.1%
1910 817 12.2%
1920 901 10.3%
1930 1,291 43.3%
1940 1,315 1.9%
1950 1,569 19.3%
1960 2,048 30.5%
1970 2,445 19.4%
1980 2,638 7.9%
1990 3,498 32.6%
2000 6,814 94.8%
2010 10,697 57.0%
2020 13,033 21.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
2009-0713-Waconia-CtyMuseum
Carver County Historical Society Museum

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,697 people, 3,909 households, and 2,748 families living in the city. The population density was 2,464.7 inhabitants per square mile (951.6/km2). There were 4,112 housing units at an average density of 947.5 per square mile (365.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White, 1.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 3,909 households, of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.7% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.31.

The median age in the city was 34.9 years. 32.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.7% were from 25 to 44; 20.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Ridgeview Medical Center 1,623
2 Strom Aviation 1,001
3 I.S.D. No. 110 (Waconia Schools) 969
4 ACPI Products 500
5 Mackenthun's Fine Foods 200
6 Physicians Service Network 200
7 Good Samaritan Society Waconia 158
8 Target 150
9 Lakeview Clinic 120
10 UFC Farm Supply 120

Education

Waconia Public Schools operates five schools. There are also two private schools within Waconia to make seven total:

  • Southview Elementary, grades K–5
  • Bayview Elementary, grades K–5
  • Laketown Elementary, grades K-5
  • Waconia Middle School, grades 6–8
  • St. Joseph Catholic Education Center, grades PreK–8
  • Trinity Lutheran School, grades K–8
  • Waconia High School, grades 9–12

History

A post office has been in operation at Waconia since 1860. The city took its name from Lake Waconia.

National Register of Historic Places gallery

Waconia has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places (see: National Register of Historic Places listings in Carver County, Minnesota). One of the more prominent listings is for Coney Island of the West on Lake Waconia, where cottages, boathouses and resort hotels attracted tourists, especially from 1884 until the late 1920s, when the rise of the automobile allowed people to travel farther away for summer vacations.

Popular culture

  • In the film Drop Dead Gorgeous, 1st Street near St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Waconia is used when the swan float explodes in the parade.

Notable people

  • Robert O. Ashbach, Minnesota state legislator and businessman
  • Jenn Bostic, singer and songwriter
  • Bill Diessner, Minnesota state legislator and physician
  • Aaron Elling, football player
  • Don Herbert, Mr. Wizard and host of Mr. Wizard's World
  • Noah McCourt, politician, disability advocate and speaker
  • Susie Schmitt Hanson, (1860–1956) milliner, dressmaker and entrepreneur
  • Bob Stinson, musician, lead guitarist for The Replacements
  • Henry Wagener, Minnesota state legislator and farmer
  • Maxx Williams, NFL tight end for the Arizona Cardinals, was born in Waconia
  • Shane Wiskus, artistic gymnast, represented Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics

See also

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

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