Community Corner

Shakopee the Second Fastest-growing City in the South Metro

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Clare Kennedy, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

A one-time contender for the Scott County seat has outpaced Shakopee in terms of raw growth.

According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, diminutive Jordan—home to the Brewers and "The Jewel of Scott County"—was the fastest growing city in the south metro from 2010 to 2012. Over that period, Shakopee grew 4.5 percent, increasing its population from 37,076 to 38,744. Though much smaller, Jordan is growing at a breakneck pace, increasing from 5,470 to 5,832 in two years—a rate of 6.6 percent.

Here's a list of south metro communities, ranked by growth:

  1. Jordan, 6.6 percent
  2. Shakopee, 4.5 percent
  3. Prior Lake, 4.2 percent
  4. Savage, 3.9 percent tied with Chanhassen, 3.9 percent
  5. Rosemount tied with Northfield and Lakeville, all grew 2.5 percent
  6. Eden Prairie, 2.4 percent 
  7. Belle Plaine, 2.2 percent
  8. Apple Valley, 1.8 percent
  9. Cottage Grove, 1.7 percent
  10. Burnsville, 1.4 percent tied with New Prague, 1.4 percent 
  11. Chaska, 1.3 percent
  12. South St. Paul, 1.2 percent
  13. Eagan, 1 percent
  14. Inver Grove, .9 percent tied with West St. Paul, .9 percent
  15. Hastings, .7 percent
  16. Mendota Heights, .6 percent
In addition to highlighting new hotspots like Jordan, Shakopee, Savage, and Prior Lake, the statistics also revealed a small revival in older suburbs like Burnsville (1.4 percent growth) and Bloomington (3.8 percent). The Star Tribune, citing city officials and experts, listed four factors behind  suburban growth, particularly in the inner-ring, described by the new Census figures:
  • The aging of [so-called "fully developed"] cities, which emptied them out as kids grew up and moved away, is about over in its population impact.
  • A sharp spike in affordability is drawing in younger families, and in some places the larger families associated with immigrants.
  • High and volatile gas prices are creating a competitive advantage for cities closer to people’s jobs, many of them in the suburbs. Vacancies are declining as the market strengthens.
  • There’s a new magnet in the form of a growing system of rail transitways, which draws interest from developers.
Here's a list of the largest Minnesota cities (over 50,000 pop.), ranked by growth:
  1. Maple Grove, 4.6 percent (Nationwide rank: 73)
  2. Woodbury, 4.1 percent (108)
  3. Blaine, 3.9 percent (123)
  4. Bloomington, 3.8 percent (130)
  5. Plymouth, 3.3 percent (173)
  6. Minnetonka, 2.8 percent (259)
  7. Minneapolis, 2.7 percent (276)
  8. Brooklyn Park, 2.6 percent (289)
  9. Lakeville, 2.5 percent (305)
  10. Eden Prairie, 2.4 percent (315)
  11. Rochester, 2.1 percent (359)
  12. St. Paul, 2 percent (379)
  13. Burnsville, 1.4 percent (481)
  14. Eagan, 1 percent (539)
  15. Coon Rapids, .7 percent (582)
Further resources:Editor's Note: Chris Steller contributed to this report.

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