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'Eagan' is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, and is a thriving suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area located approximately 15 miles southeast of downtown Minneapolis. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 63,557, and is the eighth most populous city in Minnesota. Eagan is home to the Northwest Airlines headquarters as well as Thomson North American Legal unit, a legal information and publishing giant. The local institution for secondary education, Eagan High School, has been twice named a "Nationally Recognized School of Excellence". In 2006, it was rated the 12th best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine.^[1] The city of Eagan once offered free land to anyone willing to build a church within the city limits, and, as a result, is now home to many congregations.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Politics

Notability

Notable natives

Education

Colleges and Universities

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

High schools

Middle schools

Elementary schools

Gallery of images

References

External links

History

Eagan was named for Patrick Eagan who was the first chairman of the town board of supervisors. Patrick Eagan tamed a 220 acre parcel of land near the present-day town hall. Eagan (born 1811) and his wife Margaret Twohy (born 1816), emigrated from Tipperary, Ireland to Troy, New York where they married in 1843. They arrived in Mendota around 1853-1854, before settling in the Eagan area.^[2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 86.6 km² (33.4 mi²). 83.7 km² (32.3 mi²) of it is land and 2.9 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (3.38%) is water.
The Eagan Core Greenway is an ongoing-project to preserve Eagan's environmentally-sensitive green space, with particular emphasis on Patrick Eagan Park and a two-mile greenway connecting the park with Lebanon Hills Regional Park.^[3]

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 63,557 people, 23,773 households, and 16,427 families residing in the city. The population density was 759.3/km² (1,967.6/mi²). There were 24,390 housing units at an average density of 291.5/km² (755.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.03% White, 3.41% African American, 0.26% Native American, 5.31% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.96% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population.
There were 23,773 households out of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 38.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $67,388, and the median income for a family was $80,062. Males had a median income of $52,029 versus $35,641 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,167. About 1.9% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Eagan's municipal government is a Type A Statutory City, which provides for a Council size of 5 members, one of whom is a "weak" mayor. Eagan's Mayor is Mike Maguire. The Council Members are Paul Bakken, Peggy Carlson, Cyndee Fields, and Meg Tilley.
Eagan is located in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented by John Kline, a Republican, scoring 2.8% progressive on a range of issues^[4] and 88% conservative based on 2006 House votes.^[5]
Eagan is represented in the state legislature by Sandra "Sandy" Masin. She represents Minnesota Legislative District 38A which includes the scenic northern and western sections of Eagan, and also includes an important section of Burnsville. After serving on the Eagan City Council for almost a decade, her strongest desire was to give her community a strong position at the state level.

Notability

Eagan has received national attention for various reasons. Among them are:

★ Money Magazine has named it one of the best places to live in the United States.

★ Eagan was also famously visited by the "20th hijacker" of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Zacarias Moussaoui, prior to the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. Moussaoui attempted to complete flight training school, but was ultimately refused service.

★ It is the home of major corporations, like Northwest Airlines and West Publishing.

Notable natives

★ Dottie Cannon, Miss Minnesota USA 2006

★ Natalie Darwitz, Star hockey player for the U.S.A women's hockey team

★ Laura Osnes, stage actress who in March 2007 won the Broadway role of "Sandy" on the televised competition .

★ Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota (former City Council member)

★ Tom May, University of Denver Colorado hockey- forward

Education

Colleges and Universities

★ Rasmussen College [1] in Brooklyn Park, St Cloud, Eden Prairie, Lake Elmo, Eagan, and Mankato

★ Argosy University

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Eagan is served by three school districts: Independent School District 191, Independent School District 196, & Independent School District 197.

High schools

★ Burnsville High School (191)†

★ Eagan High School (196)

★ Eastview High School (196)†

★ Henry Sibley High School (197)†

Middle schools

★ Blackhawk Middle School (196)

★ Dakota Hills Middle School (196)

★ Falcon Ridge Middle School (196)†

★ Friendly Hills Middle School (197)†

★ Metcalf Junior High School (191)†

Elementary schools

★ Deerwood Elementary School (196)

★ Glacier Hills Elementary School (196)

★ Northview Elementary School (196)

★ Oak Ridge Elementary School (196)

★ Pilot Knob Elementary School (197)

★ Pinewood Elementary School (196)

★ Rahn Elementary School (191)

★ Red Pine Elementary School (196)

★ Thomas Lake Elementary School (196)

★ Woodland Elementary School (196)
† Denotes schools located outside of Eagan with attendance boundaries that cover part of the city.

Gallery of images

References

1. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/top100/index.html Accessed 07/17/2006
2. Eagan Historical Trail Guide
3. Friends of the Eagan Core Greenway
4. ProgressivePunch Leading with the Left
5. ACU Ratings of Congress, 2006

External links

★ City of Eagan official website