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This southwest suburb of Minneapolis is located in Scott County on the southern banks of the Minnesota River. From its rich historical background to the family-friendly entertainment attractions and a broad variety of cuisine, Shakopee has much to see, do, and learn.

Before the first European settlers came to the land now known as Shakopee, the Dakota Indians were some of the first inhabitants. Lead by Chief Shakpay, the Native American tribe established their village, which they called Tintonwan, on the banks of the Minnesota River in the 1700s. The Treaties of Mendota and Transverse des Sioux opened the land to pioneers in 1851. Thomas A. Holmes was one of the first settlers in the area and today is known as “the father of Shakopee.” He built the first trading post and named the city in Chief Shakpay’s honor. On May 23, 1857, Shakopee was officially incorporated as a city. However, with a new legislature from the state in 1861, the city was surrendered to the village government. Despite this, settlers still came to the area and the city’s population grew slightly greater than 1,000. By March 3, 1870, the city was once again incorporated.

Between the 1860s and today, the city has seen dramatic changes. The first railroad was established in the mid-1860s which allowed for easy transportation of people and goods throughout the country. Between 1870 and 1890, businesses started to flourish. The beginning of the 20th century brought electricity, water systems, and cars to Shakopee. By 1910, the population exceeded 2,300. The city was referred to as “Little Chicago” during the 1920s and 30s due to an increase in illegal gambling that took place during the prohibition period. The city’s first 250,000-gallon water tower and a new fire station were established by the end of the 1960s. By 1970, the population had grown to 7,716.

In more recent years, the city has accommodated the growing population by improving transportation systems and expanding their land. Today, the city’s population has surpassed 40,000 and is continuing to grow and modernize. Historical sites and artifacts of Shakopee’s past can still be found around the city. Stop by Fire Station No. 1 to see the original bronze bell that was featured on the city’s 1883 fire station or visit Memorial Park to see the Native American burial mounds that date back almost 2,000 years. The city offers so many opportunities to get to know the rich history of the land.

As of 2020, Shakopee is home to 42,042 residents occupying 12,900 households, making it the 23rd largest city in Minnesota. The city has seen a 0.82% growth rate in the past year and a 13.39% population increase in that last decade. The city spans nearly 29 miles of land and has a population density of 1,495 people per square mile. Shakopee is one of Minneapolis’s more diverse suburbs with 73.8% of the population being Caucasian, 11.1% Asian, 8% African American or Black, and 3.4% being two or more races. 50.3% of the population is female and 49.7% is male. The median age is 33.9 years, with the male median falling at 33.2 years old and the female median at 34.3 years old. Shakopee’s average family size is 3.47 people while the average household size is 2.97 people.

Shakopee’s climate, like most Minnesota cities, is cold and snowy for the majority of the year with the summer months being quite comfortable. January is the coldest month with an average nighttime low temperature of 6.5 degrees. Annually, there are 151 days when the nighttime temperature drops below freezing and 25 days when it drops below zero. Even with these statistics, Shakopee is still one of Minnesota’s warmer cities in the winter.

The city averages 51 inches of snowfall per year which is about 1.8 times the national average. December tends to be the snowiest month of the year with an average of 11.3 inches of snowfall. Generally, the city experiences snowfall for six months out of the year. Snowfall could start as early as November and last through April, so when moving to the area, it is beneficial to keep your snow gear handy. Shakopee receives less rainfall than the average United States city. They average 31 inches per year whereas the national average is 38 inches. Historically speaking, August tends to be the rainiest month with an average of 4.5 inches of rainfall per year. Autumn receives 41% of Shakopee’s yearly precipitation, making it the wettest season. February is the city’s driest month with only 0.7 inches of rainfall occurring for an average of 5 days annually. The spring is the driest season with only 8% of the city’s yearly precipitation.

There are five months out of the year that has average high temperatures between 70-85 degrees. Of these five months, June, July, and August are considered to be the most pleasant. July is Shakopee’s warmest month with an average high temperature of 84 degrees, making it one of Minnesota’s hottest cities in the summer.

Shakopee’s employment rate in 2020 exceeded 76% whereas the national employment rate is currently at 51.3%. The city’s unemployment rate is 3.2% which is 1.5% lower than the national average of 4.7%. Currently, the city has a labor force participation rate of 75.1%. Shakopee’s job market has grown by 1.8%, and job growth is predicted to increase by 38.6% in the next decade. These raising numbers make Shakopee a great place to find employment, and it shows future promise for the city’s economy.

In 2017, the city employed 21,700 people. The most common jobs in Shakopee are office and administrative occupations, sales, and management. Shakopee’s highest paying jobs include law enforcement, architecture, engineering, and protective service occupations.

It is helpful to know how expensive it will be to live in Shakopee prior to making the move. The city’s cost of living index falls at 105 whereas the national average cost of living index has a baseline of 100. What this means is that it is slightly more expensive to live in Shakopee than the average United States city. The cost of housing in Shakopee has the greatest influence on the cost of living. The median price of a house is $269,900, making it about $34,000 more expensive than the average Minnesota home. However, the majority of homes in Shakopee have a property value between $300,000 and $400,000. The city has a homeownership rate of almost 75%. In general, the cost of housing, groceries, and transportation is greater in Shakopee than the average Minnesota and United States city. However, the cost of healthcare and utilities tends to be cheaper when compared to the average.

The median household income in Shakopee is $79,670 whereas the national average is $53,482. Majority of households in this city pay over $3,000 in annual property taxes. The city has a sales tax rate of 7.4% which is only 0.1% higher than the United States average. However, their state income tax rate is 1.5 times greater than the national average, making Minnesota one of the more expensive states to reside in.

Located just 18 miles outside of Minneapolis, the neighborhoods of Shakopee give residents an urban vibe while providing a suburban lifestyle. The community sees very little and has a great school system, making it a welcoming environment to raise children. The city also has nearly 920 acres of park land and 60 miles of hiking trails for residents to utilize. Shakopee has many public amenities throughout the city that residents are encouraged to use. These include the Shakopee Public Library, 17th Avenue Sports Complex, the Youth Building located in Lions Park, and Tahpah Park & Joe Schleper Stadium.

Shakopee has 27 schools, 24 of which are public and 3 of which are private. The public schools are some of the top-rated schools in the metro area. There are five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school within the Shakopee School District which serves over 8,000 students. The elementary schools offer education from kindergarten through fifth grade, and the middle schools are grades six through eight. The Shakopee public schools have an average expenditure of $11,395 per student which is below the national average by about $1,000. They also have an average student to teacher ratio of 16:1.

Shakopee High School is one of the city’s public schools, and in 2018, they expanded to nearly double their original size. To accommodate the learning needs of all students, the school created the Academies of Shakopee. Essentially these are learning communities of students and teachers that offer focused learning in a smaller group setting. They also cater to the specific interests of students. The school has academies for the arts, business and entrepreneurship, health, and engineering to name a few. The students of Shakopee High School tend to test higher than the average Minnesota high school. They have an 87% graduation rate whereas the state has an average graduation rate of 83%. 93% of students at Shakopee High School are proficient in science which is significantly higher than the Minnesota average which falls at 52% proficiency. Math proficiency aligns with the state average at 47%, and reading proficiency is at 55% which falls below the state average by 4%.

Unique to Shakopee is Tokata, an alternative learning center for grades 9 through 12. To be enrolled at Tokata, students must meet specific criteria that put them at a disadvantage compared to other students. To ensure that students get the most out of their education at Tokata, class sizes are smaller, class periods are extended, and a personal learning plan is designed for each student.

The city of Shakopee is a relatively safe and inviting place. Their crime rates are 17% lower than the national average, and the city is safer than 50% of the United States. When comparing Shakopee to other Minnesota cities, it is considered to be 32% safer. Additionally, their annual crime rate has only seen a 1% increase in recent years. Shakopee residents have a 1 in 553 chance of being a victim of violent crime. To put that into perspective, this gives you less than a 0.2% chance of being victimized.  

The city’s police force is made up of 54 officers which means there are 1.4 officers per every 1,000 people in Shakopee. This number is 21.3% lower than the Minnesota state average and 56.4% lower than the national average.

Shakopee has dining options to satisfy every appetite. From barbeque to traditional Chinese, to American classics, Shakopee has you covered. Wampach’s Restaurant, located in the heart of downtown, has been a local favorite since the late 1950s. This small-town diner has been ranked as the number one restaurant in Shakopee for its American comfort food and great service. Wampach’s serves all-day breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, and they offer vegetarian options.

Coming in at the number 2 ranked restaurant right behind Wampach’s is Turtle’s Bar & Grill. This family-owned restaurant is located downtown Shakopee and has been serving the public for over 27 years. Here you will find some of the best pizza in Shakopee. Turtle’s makes their dough from scratch, shreds their own cheese, and uses their homemade sauce to create the perfect taste every time. With TVs visible from every angle, Turtles Bar & Grill is a great place to enjoy a Minnesota Vikings game among good company.

Mr. Pig Stuff is the place to go for barbeque in Shakopee. This family-owned restaurant located just outside of Valleyfair is one of the city’s hidden gems. They are known for their outstanding slow-smoked pulled pork and beef brisket among other barbeque favorites.

Dragon Café is one of Shakopee’s best places for Chinese food. They are known for serving up large portions at a low cost. Not only do they have great tasting food, but they also offer great customer service. Dragon Café is open daily for lunch and dinner and has been rated the number one place to go for Chinese food in Shakopee.

Shakopee is best known for being home to the largest amusement park in the upper Midwest region. Established in 1976, Valleyfair provides endless family fun to Shakopee locals and tourists. The park occupies 90 acres of land and features more than 75 rides. They also have their own water park which is a great place to cool off on a hot day. However, the park is only open from May through August, so be sure to stop by before it closes to experience some of the best roller coasters Minnesota has to offer.

Ever wonder what life was like in early 19th century Minnesota? The Landing takes visitors back in time to experience early life in Shakopee. Tour guides dressed in traditional 1800s attire give guests a taste of what growing up on the frontier was all about. Not only is this a fun family activity, it’s also a great way to enhance your knowledge of Shakopee’s history and experience first-hand how the city came to be.

Unique to Shakopee is Canterbury Park, one of Minnesota’s two horse racing tracks. Canterbury is open year-round; however, horse racing only takes place from May to September. The track is very family friendly and offers free admission to children 17 and under. Kids also have the chance to pet the horses, play on the Pepsi Playground, and enjoy the Little Big Thrill Factory. Additionally, every Sunday is Pepsi Family Day, and the park puts on pony rides and face painting for those who attend. During the off-season, adults can test their luck at The Canterbury Card Club Casino. Canterbury also holds concerts and special events when the track is not being used for racing.

A local fall tradition is the Sever’s Corn Maze and Fall Festival. Here, families have the chance to enjoy live music, pig races, camel rides, a petting zoo, navigate through corn mazes, and so much more. The festival is held from September through October and has a new creative theme each year. Sever’s Fall Festival is affordable and a great place for endless family fun.

Another quirky festival that Shakopee is known for is the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. This attraction has been around since 1971 and has grown to be the largest Renaissance festival in the United States. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors from near and far gather to see live action jousting and experience 16th century themed food and events. The festival is welcoming to families and offers games and rides for children. Among the action, visitors even have the opportunity to ride elephants, llamas, and camels.

When deciding to move to the Minneapolis suburbs, consider all that Shakopee has to offer. From their friendly neighborhoods to entertainment that the whole family can enjoy, Shakopee is a great place to call home.