Prior Lake, Minnesota

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Prior Lake, Minnesota
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image_blank_emblem = Priorlakelogo.gif
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Scott County and the state of Minnesota


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Minnesota
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Scott
subdivision_type3 =
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subdivision_type4 =
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government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jack Haugen
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 1871
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established_title3 = Incorporated
established_date3 = 1891
area_magnitude =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 41.5
area_land_km2 = 35.0
area_water_km2 = 6.6
area_total_sq_mi = 16.0
area_land_sq_mi = 13.5
area_water_sq_mi = 2.5
area_water_percent = 15.77%
area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes = cite web| title=Twin Cities Region Population and Household Estimates, 2006 | url=http://www.metrocouncil.org/metroarea/2006PopulationEstimates.pdf | format=PDF | date=2006-04-01 | publisher=Metropolitan Council | accessdate= 2007-07-24] |population_note =
settlement_type = City
population_total = 15917
population_density_km2 = 454.9
population_density_sq_mi = 1178.4
population_metro = 2968805
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timezone = Central
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = Central
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 44 |latm = 42 |lats = 48 |latNS = N
longd = 93 |longm = 25 |longs = 22 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 289
elevation_ft = 948
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 55372
area_code = 952
website = [http://www.cityofpriorlake.com www.cityofpriorlake.com]
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-52594GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0649740GR|3
footnotes = Prior Lake is a suburban city 20 miles (32 km) southwest of downtown Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Scott County. Surrounding the shores of Lower and Upper Prior Lake, the city lies south of the Minnesota River in an area known as "South of the River" and establishes the urban fringe of the south-southwest portion of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the sixteenth largest metropolitan area in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau recorded the population of the city of Prior Lake at 15,917 people at the 2000 census.

Incorporated as a village in 1851, Prior Lake is one of the oldest southern metro cities to have been absorbed by suburban growth. Along with Shakopee, the city is also experiencing reclamation to native habitat via land purchases by the Shakopee-Mdewakanton Indian Reservation, where Mystic Lake Casino and Little Six Casino are located. The city's modern growth is attributed to the completion and upgrade of State Highway 13 and the recreation attraction of the lakes. [cite web | url=http://www.cityofpriorlake.com/history.shtml | title=History of Prior Lake| publisher=City of Prior Lake | date=2007 | accessdate=2007-10-17 ] [cite web | url=http://www.ccsmdc.org/ | title=Shakopee-Mdewakanton Sioux Community | accessdate=2007-10-18]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.0 square miles (41.5 km²), of which, 13.5 square miles (35.0 km²) of it is land and 2.5 square miles (6.6 km²) of it (15.77%) is water.

Upper Prior Lake and Lower Prior Lake sit at the center of the city in an elongated shape towards the southwest to Spring Lake. Prior Lake as a whole is the largest lake in the southern metro area.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 15,917 people, 5,645 households, and 4,386 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,178.4 people per square mile (454.9/km²). There were 5,791 housing units at an average density of 428.7/sq mi (165.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.53% White, 0.77% African American, 2.08% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

There were 5,645 households out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 37.7% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $75,363, and the median income for a family was $81,011. Males had a median income of $52,061 versus $34,837 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,089. About 1.7% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Prior Lake is governed by a mayor and four elected council-members serving at large. The city is run by a City Manager. The city is in Minnesota Legislative District 35A. The district 35 Senator is Claire Robling (R). The district 35A Representative is Michael Beard (R).

Prior Lake is located in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented by John Kline, a Republican, who is conservative on a variety of social issues, scoring 2.8% progressive on a range of issues [cite web| last = Grossman| first = Joshua| title = ProgressivePunch Leading with the Left| work = All Issues| publisher = ProgressivePunch|url = http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=MN2| accessdate = 2006-10-27 ] and 88% conservative based on 2006 House votes. [cite web | title = ACU Ratings of Congress, 2006| publisher = American Conservative Union | date = 2006 | url = http://www.acuratings.org/2006all.htm#MN | accessdate = 2007-09-08]

Arts, culture and media

The [http://www.plamerican.com "Prior Lake American"] is the main city newspaper. The [http://www.startribune.com/south "Star Tribune South Edition"] also offers some coverage.

Following the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre, journalist Elinor Burkett spent a year following students and teachers in Prior Lake High School. She chose Prior Lake as her subject because it was found to be virtually identical to Columbine demographically. She documented her experience in the book "Another Planet: A Year in the Life of a Suburban High School" (ISBN 0-06-050585-0).

chools

The high school citizens of Prior Lake attend Prior Lake High School in neighboring town of Savage. It hosts two Junior high schools; Twin oaks and Hidden Oaks.

Notable natives and residents

John Robert Roach, Archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis (1975-1995) was born in Prior Lake on July 31, 1921.

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofpriorlake.com City website]
* [http://www.priorlakeassociation.org Prior Lake Association website]
* [http://www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us Prior Lake / Savage Area Schools site]
* [http://www.plamerican.com Prior Lake American Newspaper Web Site]