Waconia, Minnesota

Waconia (/wəˈkoʊnjə/ wə-KOHN-yə or /wəˈkoʊniə/ wə-KOH-nee-ə)^[6] is a city in Carver County, Minnesota, United States. Waconia attracts visitors to nearby Lake Waconia.

Waconia, Minnesota
City
View of Lake Waconia
Location of the city of Waconia within Carver County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 44°50′29″N 93°47′24″W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Carver
Government
• Mayor	Nicole Waldron[1]
Area [2]
• Total	5.31 sq mi (13.76 km2)
• Land	5.28 sq mi (13.67 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation [3]	981 ft (299 m)
Population  (2020)[4]
• Total	13,033
• Estimate  (2023)[5]	13,742
• Density	2,468.84/sq mi (953.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC–6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	55387
Area code	952
FIPS code	27-67432
GNIS feature ID	2397159[3]
Website	www.waconia.org

The population was 13,033 at the 2020 census.^[4]

Geography

Sunset behind a water tower in Waconia

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 4.39 square miles (11.37 km²), of which 4.34 square miles (11.24 km²) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) is water.^[7]

Minnesota State Highways 5 and 284 and Carver County Highway 10 are the main routes in Waconia.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	218		—
1890	441		102.3%
1900	728		65.1%
1910	817		12.2%
1920	901		10.3%
1930	1,291		43.3%
1940	1,315		1.9%
1950	1,569		19.3%
1960	2,048		30.5%
1970	2,445		19.4%
1980	2,638		7.9%
1990	3,498		32.6%
2000	6,814		94.8%
2010	10,697		57.0%
2020	13,033		21.8%
2023 (est.)	13,742	[5]	5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 2020 Census[4]

Carver County Historical Society Museum

2010 census

As of the census^[9] of 2010, there were 10,697 people, 3,909 households, and 2,748 families living in the city. The population density was 2,464.7 inhabitants per square mile (951.6/km²). There were 4,112 housing units at an average density of 947.5 per square mile (365.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White, 1.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 3,909 households, of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.7% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.31.

The median age in the city was 34.9 years. 32.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.7% were from 25 to 44; 20.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 6,814 people, 2,568 households, and 1,848 families living in the city. The population density was 2,432.0 inhabitants per square mile (939.0/km²). There were 2,646 housing units at an average density of 944.4 per square mile (364.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.06% White, 0.34% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population.

There were 2,568 households, out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were occupied by one person and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.

The city population had a wide age variety; with 29.9% being under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 35.5% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,705, and the median income for a family was $67,703. Males had a median income of $43,535 versus $29,488 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,996. About 2.9% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR),^[11] the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Ridgeview Medical Center	1,749
2	Strom Aviation	1,001
3	I.S.D. No. 110 (Waconia Schools)	840
4	CabinetWorks Group	600
5	Mackenthun's Supermarket	200
6	Good Samaritan Society Waconia	170
7	Target	150
8	Lakeview Clinic	120
9	Laketown Electric Corp.	111
10	Auburn Meadows Assisted Living	100

Politics

Presidential election results

Presidential elections results^[12]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2024	53.8% 4,656	43.6% 3,778	2.6% 225
2020	52.3% 4,132	45.3% 3,580	2.4% 186
2016	53.9% 3,501	36.7% 2,383	9.4% 609
2012	59.1% 3,548	39.0% 2,342	1.9% 110
2008	57.2% 3,177	41.3% 2,292	1.5% 82
2004	62.8% 3,073	36.5% 1,788	0.7% 34
2000	48.7% 1,341	45.5% 1,254	5.8% 160
1996	41.8% 924	45.3% 1,002	12.8% 287
1992	40.5% 833	32.1% 661	27.4% 562
1988	58.2% 939	41.8% 675	0.0% 0
1984	65.5% 865	34.5% 455	0.0% 0
1980	52.2% 751	39.7% 571	8.1% 117
1976	54.5% 727	43.3% 577	2.2% 30
1968	52.5% 627	44.3% 529	3.2% 38
1964	52.4% 582	47.4% 527	0.2% 2
1960	58.5% 614	41.5% 435	0.0% 0

Education

Waconia Public Schools operates five schools. There are also two private schools within Waconia to make seven total:

• Southview Elementary, grades K–5
• Bayview Elementary, grades K–5
• Laketown Elementary, grades K-5
• Waconia Middle School, grades 6–8
• St. Joseph Catholic Education Center, grades PreK–8
• Trinity Lutheran School, grades K–8
• Waconia High School, grades 9–12

History

A post office has been in operation at Waconia since 1860.^[13] The city took its name from Lake Waconia.^[14]

National Register of Historic Places gallery

Waconia has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places (see: National Register of Historic Places listings in Carver County, Minnesota). One of the more prominent listings is for Coney Island of the West on Lake Waconia, where cottages, boathouses and resort hotels attracted tourists, especially from 1884 until the late 1920s, when the rise of the automobile allowed people to travel farther away for summer vacations.^[15]

• 
  Waconia City Hall
• 
  West Main Street Houses, from left to right 417, 429, and 453 W. Main St.
• 
  Emile Amblard Guest House
• 
  Coney Island of the West on Lake Waconia across from Waconia
• 
  Mock Cigar Factory and House
• 
  Charles Maiser House

Popular culture

• In the film Drop Dead Gorgeous, 1st Street near St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Waconia is used when the swan float explodes in the parade.^[16][17]

Notable people

• Robert O. Ashbach, Minnesota state legislator and businessman
• Jenn Bostic, singer and songwriter
• Bill Diessner, Minnesota state legislator and physician
• Aaron Elling, football player
• Don Herbert, Mr. Wizard and host of Mr. Wizard's World
• Noah McCourt, politician, disability advocate and speaker
• Susie Schmitt Hanson, (1860–1956) milliner, dressmaker and entrepreneur
• Bob Stinson, musician, lead guitarist for The Replacements
• Henry Wagener, Minnesota state legislator and farmer
• Maxx Williams, NFL tight end for the Arizona Cardinals, was born in Waconia
• Shane Wiskus, artistic gymnast, represented Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics