The Chamber Turns 50 !
LOOKING BACK OVER THE YEARS
A Brief History of Apple Valley
Apple Valley ’ s historical roots lead back to the mid-1800s when it was a farming community known as Lebanon Township . The first settlers to the area were believed to have come from the east coast around 1855 . On April 6 , 1858 , the Dakota County Board of Commissioners created Union Township . The board met again on April 26 , 1858 , and changed the boundaries of Union Township , creating Lebanon Township from a portion of the former Union Township .
The first town meeting was held on May 11 , 1858 , in a home near the area that is now Westview Elementary School . Lebanon Township remained much the same for its first century . The town ’ s population in 1881 was 252 and in 1960 was 585 .
Photo : Reflections of Lebanon-Apple Valley ( 1976 ), pg 2 .
The township began to transform in the mid- 1950s . Residential neighborhoods began to develop in the spring of 1955 . A Planning Commission was established in 1962 . In 1963 , Orrin Thompson began building in the area . Thompson selected the name Apple Valley for several of his plats on either side of County Road 42 that were located in the southwest corner of the city . Thompson had an apple tree planted at each home in some of the new developments .
Photo : Over The Years ( 1990 ), Vol . 30 , # 1 , Pg . 15
Photo : Reflections of Lebanon-Apple Valley ( 1976 ), pg 10 .
Photo : Reflections of Lebanon-Apple Valley ( 1976 ), pg 10 .
In 1966 , a volunteer fire department was organized . In the general election of 1968 , the residents voted to incorporate the Town of Lebanon as the Village of Apple Valley . A mayor and four councilmembers were elected and took office on January 1 , 1969 . On January 1 , 1974 , Apple Valley became a statutory city .
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