Located in the beautiful Minnesota River valley of the southwestern Twin Cities metro area, Chaska is a city strong in tradition, building for the future. Located 25 miles southwest of Minneapolis, on the edge of the metro area, Chaska provides big city conveniences with all the comfort of a small-town community. The city includes high-quality industrial parks but is most well known for being a nice place to live. The mission of Chaska's City Council is to be the best small town in Minnesota and they are committed to that mission. The unique combination of tradition and ambitious plans for the future has attracted a lot of residents to the city. 

Early History

Chaska's history reflects the influence of the Native American culture. The first inhabitants are believed to be the Mound Builders, whose ancient communities are marked by mounds some of which can be found in Chaska's City Square. The Dakota tribe also lived in the area and records show that a village existed in the area at the end of the 18th Century. French Canadian fur traders traveled the waterways, trading with the Dakota in the early 1800s. Jean Baptiste Faribault established a trading post in Chaska and settlers soon moved into the area. Chaska was incorporated as a village in 1871 and, by special legislative charter, as a city in 1891. By the 1880s Chaska was a thriving brick manufacturing center. Bricks were shipped by boat to St. Paul until the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad was built through the town in 1873. 

Chaska in the 20th Century

With the advent of the twentieth century came other industries, including the processing of beet sugar and other agricultural products; flour making, butter making, the canning of peas, corn, and tomatoes, and the curing of sauerkraut and pickles. The City retained its small town image until the 1950's when the transition to a metropolitan community began. The expansion of the seven county metropolitan area reached Chaska in the 1960s. With that expansion came the introduction of the Jonathan New Town design concept in 1966. The Jonathan "New Town" development within Chaska brought new land, new jobs and new people to the community. 

Parks and Recreation

Chaska is home to 18 parks and dozens of fields all of which are spread throughout the city. The 2002 PGA Championship was held in Chaska at the private course known as Hazeltine National Golf Course. The Chaska Town Course Golf Course, located in Chaska, is one of the top 10 national public golf courses in the nation. A recreational jewel for the city is the Chaska Community Center. Over 140,000 square feet in size, the community center was built to be a family gathering place. Athletic Business Magazine rated the center as one of the 10 best community centers in the nation. It is not the first time Chaska parks have been nationally recognized, however. In 1994 the aquatic department and programs at the Chaska Community Center received the "Excellence in Aquatics Award" from the National Park and Recreation Association. 

Schools

Chaska School District 112 serves the city of Chaska as well as several surrounding communities including Victoria, Carver and Chanhassen. Students attend school in one of the district's six elementary schools, three middle schools or Chaska High School. The district consistently earns the School Match "What Parents Want" award, given to only 10 percent of the nation's public schools.

-Home Owner's Resource Guide