Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

History

After the signing of the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851, settlers from Ireland and Germany quickly staked claims in the rolling countryside west of the Mississippi River. Those of Irish descent farmed the eastern part of the community, while Germans cleared the wooded land to the west for their farms. French and English settlers built their homes along the river. The township of Inver Grove Heights was named after the Irish fishing village of Inver and the German town of Grove. Records show that 240 farms, four churches, and four school districts were founded by 1880.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.12 square miles (78.01 km²), of which 27.76 square miles (71.90 km²) is land and 2.36 square miles (6.11 km²) is water.

Interstate Highway 494 (a beltway bypass of Minneapolis–Saint Paul), U.S. Highway 52, Minnesota Highway 55, and Minnesota Highway 3 are four of Inver Grove Heights's main routes. 80th Street East (numbered from downtown Saint Paul) crosses the city in an east–west direction.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 33,880 people, 13,476 households, and 9,036 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,220.5 inhabitants per square mile (471.2/km²). There were 14,062 housing units at an average density of 506.6 per square mile (195.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.7% White, 3.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.5% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.9% of the population.

There were 13,476 households, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.9% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 38.4 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 11.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,751 people, 11,257 households, and 7,924 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,038.8 people per square mile (401.1/km²). There were 11,457 housing units at an average density of 400.1 per square mile (154.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.80% White, 2.10% African American, 0.48% Native American, 2.01% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.73% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.22% of the population.

There were 11,257 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% 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 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $59,090, and the median income for a family was $68,629. Males had a median income of $45,369 versus $32,080 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,493. About 3.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

In 2007, the Metropolitan Council estimated the employment in Inver Grove Heights to be 11,158. The city hosts the headquarters of CHS, Inc., an agricultural cooperative ranked 12th in the 2007 ICA Global 300 list of mutuals and cooperatives, and 145th on the Fortune 500 list of U.S. corporations. Pine Bend Refinery, the largest oil refinery in Minnesota and fourteenth largest in the U.S., straddles the border with Rosemount. It is operated by Flint Hills Resources.

Inver Grove Heights is also the home of Gertens Greenhouses, one of the largest garden centers in the Midwest.

Top employers

According to Inver Grove Heights's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Education

The Inver Grove Heights Community Schools district or Independent School District 199 operates five schools in the city: Simley High School, Inver Grove Heights Middle School, Hilltop Elementary, Pine Bend Elementary, and Salem Hills Elementary.

There is one private school for preschool through eighth grade within the boundaries of Inver Grove Heights: Berea Lutheran School.

The western part of the city is served by Independent School District 196, with students attending Dakota Hills Middle School, Rosemount Middle School, Eagan High School, and Rosemount High School.

Inver Grove Heights is also home to Inver Hills Community College.

Politics

In the Minnesota legislature, Inver Grove Heights is represented by DFL Senator Matt Klein and GOP Representative Regina Barr. George Tourville has been mayor since 2002.

Inver Grove Heights is in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented by Republican Jason Lewis.

Sports and recreation

Facilities include Inver Wood Golf Course and Arbor Pointe Golf Club. There is also an 18-hole disc golf course called North Valley. The city also has a public community center with a waterpark, two sheets of ice and a full gym shared with the National Guard.