Eagan A Community of Excellence
Eagan has a highly educated workforce , quality infrastructure and excellent city services . The community is nationally recognized for its livability , safety , natural environment , and was recently named the most fiscally responsible city in Minnesota . With an ideal atmosphere for industry and commerce , Eagan is business friendly . In fact , nearly 9 out of 10 businesses rate the quality of city services here as excellent or good . Eagan provides an outstanding quality of life and is consistently named among the best cities in America in which to live . Eagan is also a Twin Cities regional jobs center , as more than 50,000 work in Eagan each day .
The Minnesota Vikings ’ world headquarters and indoor practice facility have relocated here , and hold training camp in Eagan each summer . It ’ s the anchor to the 220 acre Viking Lakes development in northeast Eagan that includes a full service hotel and conference center , residential ( medium- and high-density ), with additional retail , office and restaurants to be added .
The MN Vikings join a diverse group of companies like Thomson Reuters , Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota , Ecolab and a recently-expanded Prime Therapeutics , all with major operations in Eagan . The city enjoys among the highest growth rates in desirable “ knowledge worker ” jobs in the professional , scientific , and technical occupations . DataBank ’ s Tier III-certified data center has diverse connections into and out of the Twin Cities , and connectivity to more than a dozen telecommunications and network service providers . Eagan is also home to the managers of the Midwest power grid and major postal and package sorting operations for the U . S . Post Office and the United Parcel Service along with numerous freight-forwarding and logistics companies .
Twin Cities Premium Outlets , with more than 100 retail shops , and Central Park Commons with its mix of merchants , specialty shops and dining establishments , bookend a strong retail presence . Eagan is also home , increasingly , to a significant number of medical offices and surgery centers .
Eagan has among the lowest responsible property taxes of any major Minnesota city and is among the top 1 % of cities nationwide with its Triple-A Bond ratings . The city ’ s lush , wooded areas and rolling hills surround 350 lakes and ponds and nearly 180 miles of walking trails . Eagan offers a strong variety of residential housing for all generations and lifestyles . People like it here . 98 % of Eagan residents surveyed in 2020 rated Eagan as an excellent or good place to live . Outstanding ratings of city services led an independent research firm to conclude , Eagan “ is the crown jewel in the metro area .”
Today , Eagan ’ s population of nearly 69,000 residents makes it the 11th largest city in Minnesota . An equal distance from both Minneapolis and Saint Paul with multiple , efficient , freeway systems , and the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit system , Eagan ’ s picturesque location is only minutes away from the cultural and entertainment options including nationally known theaters and symphonies , famous museums , major league sports , and zoos . Eagan enjoys 20 hotels and is only seven minutes from the Minneapolis / Saint Paul International Airport and the Mall of America .
Eagan students attend K-12 schools nationally recognized for excellence . Residents also have access to nearby community colleges , vocational-technical schools , and for-profit colleges , and nineteen four-year colleges in the metropolitan area , including the University of Minnesota .
Bordered by the historic Minnesota River , Eagan contains over 1,000 acres of the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge and 1,500 acres of Dakota County ’ s Lebanon Hills Regional Park with swimming , fishing , boating , hiking , horse trails and picnic grounds . There are also 60 municipal parks with amenities like ice rinks , ball fields , tennis and pickleball courts and play equipment , including a newly added inclusive play space for people of all abilities . The city has a 70,000 square foot community center with a band shell , pavilion and walking trails set in a 60-acre park . That is home to Eagan ’ s popular Market Fest farmer ’ s markets and music series that attracts thousands of people each week . Inside the community center are first-rate banquet and meeting rooms along with the Blast Indoor Playground and a fitness center . Eagan offers two sheets of ice in its indoor ice arena and during the summer Cascade Bay , according to WCCO-TV , remains the viewer ’ s choice for the best outdoor waterpark in Minnesota .
For more information about Eagan , visit www . cityofeagan . com or contact the Community Development Department for your business needs at ( 651 ) 675-5660 .
HISTORY and COMMUNITY PROFILE During the 1700s the Mdewakanton Tribe of the Dakota Indians made their home in villages along the shores of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers . However , it wasn ’ t until after 1812 that settlers began to arrive . When Minnesota became a state in 1858 , Eagan quickly became a township by 1860 , within its present borders . The community was named after Patrick Eagan , Eagan ’ s first Town Board of Supervisor . In 1860 , Eagan ’ s population was 567 . The main settlers were farmers ; agriculture was the main occupation for the next 100 years .
Eagan was officially designated a city in 1974 and is governed by a five-member City Council , including the Mayor , each elected to four-year terms .
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