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The ‘Elvis Hypnotist’ is coming to the Apple Valley American Legion. See Thisweekend Page 12A
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan MARCH 25, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 4
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
Announcements/5A
Sports/6A
Classifieds/7A
Public Notices/10A
Real Estate/10A
Citizenry grows, becomes more diverse Increased population may result in more federal funds, a redrawn 2nd Congressional District by Tad Johnson
Thisweek’s cities grow
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
If Dakota County grows at the same rate as it has the past 10 years, it might overtake Ramsey County as the second most populous county in Minnesota ‌ in 20 years. That’s a big if as it would mean Dakota County will continue to add an average of 4,264 people each year as it did in the 2000s, which saw a housing boom through much of it. Over the past 10 years, Dakota County’s population has grown by 11.98 percent, according to 2010 U.S. Census data released last week. The county added 42,648 residents, which was the highest growth number of any county in Minnesota, pushing its total to 398,552. Ramsey County’s population slipped 0.5 percent from 2000 to 508,640 in 2010. Scott County added the second most residents in the past 10 years – 40,430 to account for by far the largest percentage gain of any of the state’s counties (45 percent). What these numbers mean is largely undecided at this point in a couple of respects. Dakota County’s population gain could mean that more federal funding in such areas as education, nursing homes and highways will be funneled this way, but that will depend on the structure of the formulas and how the rest of the nation grew, according to Jane Vanderpoel, from the Dakota County Office of Planning and Analysis. Population increases were 9.7 percent for the U.S. and 7.8 percent for Minnesota. “All things remaining the same, we might be lucky enough to have slightly more funding,â€? Vanderpoel said. See Census, 6A
The six cities in the Thisweek Newspapers coverage area accounted for 77.60 percent of the county’s population gain from 2000 to 2010. The six cities also increased the share of the county’s population they contain, which grew slightly from 67.27 to 68.38 percent. City Eagan Burnsville Lakeville Apple Valley Rosemount Farmington Total Dakota County
2010 64,206 60,306 55,954 49,084 21,874 21,086 272,510 398,552
2000 Change % Chg. 63,557 649 1.02 60,220 86 0.1 43,128 12,826 29.73 45,527 3,557 7.8 14,619 7,255 49.62 12,365 8,721 70.52 239,416 33,094 13.82 355,904 42,648 11.98
Source: U.S. Census
CCENSUS ENSUS 22010 010
Photos by Rick Orndorf and John Gessner
Dakota County’s population is becoming more diverse and older, according to U.S. Census data. Seniors, like those attending a Memorial Day ceremony in Burnsville last year (above), are projected to account for 20 percent of the county’s population by 2030. Students in the BurnsvilleEagan-Savage School District at last year’s Burnsville High School graduation ceremony reflect the county’s increasing diverse population.
Percentages in population categories change The 2010 U.S. Census shows that the six cities in Thisweek Newspapers’ coverage area are increasing in diversity. The following chart shows the percentage of residents in each category and how that changed from the 2000 to 2010 census.
Apple Valley Burnsville Eagan Farmington Lakeville Rosemount
White 2010 2000 83.78 91.8 77.49 87.5 81.52 88.0 89.8 95.6 89.31 94.3 87.35 92.8
Black or African American 2010 2000 5.48 1.9 10.03 4.1 5.62 3.4 2.14 0.7 2.51 1.3 3.05 2.0
American Indian and Alaska Native 2010 2000 0.39 0.3 0.37 0.5 0.33 0.3 0.53 0.3 0.37 0.4 0.39 0.3
Asian 2010 2000 5.32 3.4 5.05 4.1 7.89 5.3 3.55 1.5 4.55 2.0 5.57 2.1
Native Pacific Islander 2010 2000 0.07 0 0.86 0.1 0.75 0.1 3.33 0 1.49 0 0.9 0
Some Other Race 2010 2000 2.0 0.9 3.46 1.4 1.66 1.0 1.1 0.6 1.18 0.8 1.07 0.8
Two or More Races 2010 2000 2.96 0.9 3.67 1.4 3.04 1.0 2.9 0.6 2.6 0.8 2.63 0.8
Hispanic Latino (of any race) 2010 2000 4.94 0.9 7.89 1.4 4.5 1.0 3.64 0.6 3.49 0.8 3.14 0.8
Source: U.S. Census
Burnsville: Less white, older and barely growing Eagan drops from 8th to 9th largest city in state by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Burnsville has grown older and far more racially diverse but barely more populous in the last 10 years, according to newly released 2010 U.S. Census data. The mature suburb has been the slowest-growing among suburbs south of the river, with a gain of just 86 residents since 2000. The population has risen from 60,220 to 60,306. Burnsville is Minnesota’s 14th-largest city by population but has long ceded its one-time title as Dakota County’s largest to Eagan (64,206).
“Our population is stable. We had a small gain. Which is to be expected,� Burnsville City Manager Craig Ebeling said. “There’s not a lot of residential land left for redevelopment. We’ve certainly had some redevelopment, which increased our housing, but there’s the ongoing trend in family sizes. The people per household continues to go down. That’s not just a trend in Burnsville.� City officials expect some future population growth from redevelopment, he said. Mixed-use projects have been built in the Heart of the City. A large mixed-use rede-
velopment combining senior housing and retail is planned for the Valley Ridge Shopping Center property near Burnsville Parkway and County Road 5.
Racial makeup Burnsville has the largest percentage of nonwhite residents – 22.5 percent – among Dakota County cities, the 2010 Census found. West St. Paul is second at 22 percent. Neighboring Eagan is at 18.5 percent, and neighboring Apple Valley at 16.2 percent. “Certainly, I think that See Burnsville, 6A
2010 Census shows few surprises for aging community by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The 2010 Census results for Eagan were not much of a surprise, city officials said. Unlike some Dakota County cities that showed significant growth over the last 10 years, Eagan was already mostly built out before the last census period began. While it remains the most populated city in Dakota County, Eagan did drop from the eighth to
the ninth largest city in the state. The city’s population – now 64,206 – had a net increase of only 649 people in the last 10 years., after peaking at about 68,000 around 2005, said City Administrator Tom Hedges. Hedges attributes that drop to “shrinking households,� i.e. children growing up and leaving home. Eagan is on the aging side of a city’s life cycle, with its population getting older and fewer households having children. The percentage of Eagan homes with at least one senior citizen rose from 8 percent in 2000 to 12 percent today, according to an
American Community Survey conducted from 20072009. And county officials project Eagan’s senior population will grow from 2,674 in 2000 to 16,732 in 2020. Meanwhile, the percentage of households with children dropped from 42 percent in 2000 to 37 percent today. Hedges said Eagan began its boom years as a young city with lots of young families with children, and he believes it will cycle back at some point. “We’re hopeful that we’ll find young families attracted back to neighborhoods and start that regeneration See Eagan, 6A
‘New realities’ present opportunites, challenges Mayor’s State of the City address focuses on keeping Eagan a ‘community of choice’ in uncertain times by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
“We gather today in a time of great change and great uncertainties,� said Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire as he delivered his State of the City address to a packed City Council ChamPhoto by Erin Johnson bers on March 17. St. Patrick’s Day referEagan Mayor Mike Maguire delivered his State of the City address March 17. Seated behind him are City Council ences aside, Maguire adoptMember Paul Bakken (left) and City Administrator Tom ed a more restrained tone than in previous years as he Hedges. General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
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outlined the current state of Eagan and the many challenges it faces, as well as opportunities in its future. Maguire spoke of uprisings in the Middle East and Wisconsin, rising oil prices, unemployment, deficits, earthquakes and tsunamis, all of which contribute to uncertainty about the future. He talked about the “new normal,� which chal-
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lenges such long-held beliefs as housing values will continue to rise and our children’s generation will be more prosperous than ours. “And it suggests we are entering a new era of limited resources, economic disruption, and disappearing safety nets,� he said. Eagan’s population is growing older, as are its homes, roads, and other infrastructure. Its tax base
is shrinking, it may see the elimination of federal Community Development Block Grants, and it will face increasing pressure to cut staff and reduce its level of services. But Eagan is well positioned to face these changes, Maguire said, thanks to its fiscally prudent approach. The city follows several key principles: it offers a See State of City, 11A
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