# Chanhassen, Minnesota

Chanhassen (/ˈʃænhæsən/ SHAN-hass-ən) is a city in Carver County, Minnesota, United States. about 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Minneapolis. A small portion extends into Hennepin County. Located in the southwest Minneapolis–Saint Paul suburbs, there is a mix of suburban residential neighborhoods and rural landscapes. The population was 25,947 at the 2020 census, with a 2024 estimate of 26,469.

## History

The origin of the name comes from the Dakota word chanhasen meaning "sugar-maple tree" (chan, tree; haza, a tree with sap). The northern metro area Hassan Township carried the latter morpheme of the word prior to its merger with the city of Rogers to avoid confusion. Chanhassen merged with Chanhassen Township in 1967, bringing the population to 4,200.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.88 square miles (59.26 km$^2$), of which 20.44 square miles (52.94 km$^2$) is land and 2.44 square miles (6.32 km$^2$) is water. Although the bulk of Chanhassen is in Carver County, a small portion also extends into Hennepin County.
U.S. Highway 212 and Minnesota State Highways 5 and 41 are three of the main routes in Chanhassen.
Township 116 North, Range 23 West, Fifth Principal Meridian of the Public Land Survey System.

### Climate

Climate data for Chanhassen, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1996–present :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 55 (13) | 62 (17) | 79 (26) | 90 (32) | 99 (37) | 100 (38) | 99 (37) | 96 (36) | 95 (35) | 90 (32) | 77 (25) | 67 (19) | 100 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 41.5 (5.3) | 44.5 (6.9) | 62.5 (16.9) | 77.9 (25.5) | 89.6 (32.0) | 91.1 (32.8) | 92.3 (33.5) | 88.3 (31.3) | 86.7 (30.4) | 78.1 (25.6) | 64.1 (17.8) | 45.7 (7.6) | 94.5 (34.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 22.4 (−5.3) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 40.2 (4.6) | 55.2 (12.9) | 67.8 (19.9) | 77.4 (25.2) | 81.4 (27.4) | 79.1 (26.2) | 71.4 (21.9) | 57.1 (13.9) | 40.6 (4.8) | 27.2 (−2.7) | 53.9 (12.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 14.0 (−10.0) | 18.0 (−7.8) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 45.0 (7.2) | 57.3 (14.1) | 67.5 (19.7) | 71.7 (22.1) | 69.4 (20.8) | 61.3 (16.3) | 47.4 (8.6) | 32.7 (0.4) | 19.8 (−6.8) | 44.6 (7.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 5.6 (−14.7) | 9.0 (−12.8) | 21.7 (−5.7) | 34.8 (1.6) | 46.8 (8.2) | 57.6 (14.2) | 62.1 (16.7) | 59.7 (15.4) | 51.1 (10.6) | 37.8 (3.2) | 24.9 (−3.9) | 12.3 (−10.9) | 35.3 (1.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −16.7 (−27.1) | −13.2 (−25.1) | −1.0 (−18.3) | 20.6 (−6.3) | 33.5 (0.8) | 45.9 (7.7) | 53.7 (12.1) | 50.3 (10.2) | 37.2 (2.9) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 7.5 (−13.6) | −8.7 (−22.6) | −20.2 (−29.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −31 (−35) | −35 (−37) | −19 (−28) | 6 (−14) | 28 (−2) | 41 (5) | 48 (9) | 38 (3) | 30 (−1) | 13 (−11) | −10 (−23) | −26 (−32) | −35 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.87 (22) | 0.94 (24) | 1.56 (40) | 3.16 (80) | 4.36 (111) | 4.40 (112) | 3.87 (98) | 4.76 (121) | 3.29 (84) | 2.66 (68) | 1.73 (44) | 1.21 (31) | 32.81 (835) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 10.0 (25) | 11.2 (28) | 9.1 (23) | 5.4 (14) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.6 (1.5) | 5.1 (13) | 13.3 (34) | 54.7 (138.5) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 7.1 (18) | 9.5 (24) | 9.1 (23) | 3.3 (8.4) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.2 (5.6) | 7.3 (19) | 11.9 (30) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.9 | 7.5 | 8.9 | 10.9 | 12.7 | 12.2 | 10.1 | 10.0 | 9.4 | 10.0 | 7.6 | 9.3 | 117.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 9.4 | 7.1 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 8.9 | 38.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima, snow depth 2006–2020) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau the median household income (using data from 2008 to 2012) for Chanhassen was $103,462. For the same time period the per capita income was $46,305. Three percent of the population was living below the poverty line.

### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 22,952 people, 8,352 households, and 6,257 families living in the city. The population density was 1,122.9 inhabitants per square mile (433.6/km$^2$). There were 8,679 housing units at an average density of 424.6 per square mile (163.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 92.5% White, 1.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.9% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.
There were 8,352 households, of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.23.
The median age in the city was 39.3 years. 30.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 32.3% were from 45 to 64; and 7.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,321 people, 6,914 households, and 5,524 families living in the city. The population density was 978.1 inhabitants per square mile (377.6/km$^2$). There were 7,013 housing units at an average density of 337.6 per square mile (130.3/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 94.90% White, 0.75% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.83% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.
There were 6,914 households, out of which 51.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.2% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.6% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 37.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

## Economy

Companies with headquarters in Chanhassen include:
* AmericInn
* Bongards Creameries
* Life Time Fitness
* Snap Fitness
* Supervalu has its western satellite of the corporate headquarters in Chanhassen.

### Top employers

According to the city's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
| 1 | Life Time Fitness | 1,171 |
| 2 | Instant Web Companies | 718 |
| 3 | The Bernard Group | 686 |
| 4 | Rosemount Inc. | 550 |
| 5 | Eastern Carver County Schools | 464 |
| 6 | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres | 350 |
| 7 | General Mills | 344 |
| 8 | RR Donnelley | 275 |
| 9 | Target | 225 |
| 10 | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum | 192 |

## Arts and culture
### Points of interest

Chanhassen is home to several attractions that are well-recognized throughout the state and even nationally.
* Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
* Paisley Park
* Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
* Eckankar Spiritual Campus and the Temple of Eck
* US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Twin Cities National Weather Service Forecast Office - MPX

### Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is the nation's largest professional dinner theatre and the largest privately owned restaurant in the state of Minnesota. Since 1968, more than 200 plays have been produced and played to more than ten million guests.

## Sports

Many youth sports programs are offered through the Chanhassen Athletic Association, including baseball, softball, basketball, and soccer.
Chanhassen is also home to the Chanhassen Red Birds amateur baseball team (2018 Class B State Champions).

## Parks and recreation

The city of Chanhassen places a strong emphasis on parks, open space, trails, and recreation.

### Beaches

Chanhassen has five public beaches.
* Lake Ann Beach (Lake Ann)
* Greenwood Shores Beach (Lake Ann)
* Minnewashta Regional Park (Lake Minnewashta)
* Roundhouse Park Beach (Lake Minnewashta)
* Carver Beach (Lotus Lake)

### Trails

Chanhassen prides itself on providing a comprehensive, multipurpose trail system. The city has built and maintains 70 miles of trails. Many of the city's trails are located in natural resource corridors.

### Skate Park

The Chanhassen Skate Park was installed in September 1999. The park is located between City Hall and the downtown fire station. It features a wedge, quarter pipe, half pipe, hotbox, doobie roller, spine, and grind rails.

### Fishing

Several well-producing lakes in Chanhassen keep the sportsmen busy year-round with fishing during the warm months and ice fishing when the lakes freeze over. Both Lake Minnewashta and Lake Ann contain large and aggressive northern pike for the adept anglers.

## Government

Chanhassen is located in Minnesota's 6th congressional district and is represented by Republican Tom Emmer. President George W. Bush was the first sitting U.S. president to visit Chanhassen. He held a rally on October 9, 2004, at Chanhassen's City Center Park during the United States presidential elections of 2004.
The National Weather Service's forecast office for west-central, south-central, north-central and the Twin Cities areas of Minnesota and western Wisconsin is located in Chanhassen.

## Education

Chanhassen is split between two school districts. Most of the city is in District 112 (Eastern Carver County School District), with most Chanhassen students attending Chanhassen High School, Pioneer Ridge Middle School, Chanhassen Elementary, and Bluff Creek Elementary. Northern sections of Chanhassen are a part of District 276 (Minnetonka School District), with most students attending Minnetonka High School, Minnetonka Middle School West, Clear Springs Elementary, and Excelsior Elementary. Also, some students attend public schools in other school districts chosen by their families under Minnesota's open enrollment statute. Chapel Hill Academy and St. Hubert Catholic School are private primary education institutions located in downtown Chanhassen.

## Media

The Chanhassen Villager was the city's official weekly newspaper. In April 2024, publisher Southwest News Media announced it would quit the publication of the Chanhassen Villager and its other metro newspapers by the end of the month. It published the final edition on April 25.

## Notable people

* Jared Allen, former Minnesota Vikings defensive end, resided in Chanhassen during the season
* Stu Bickel, NHL defenseman for the New York Rangers
* Julia Coleman, politician and member of the Minnesota Senate
* Gary Curtis, racing driver
* Tony Denman, actor, grew up in Chanhassen
* James Denton, actor
* Verne Gagne, Professional wrestler and promoter of the American Wrestling Association
* Dave Huffman, former NFL player for the Minnesota Vikings lived in Chanhassen
* Kris Humphries, NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks
* Jim Lord, Minnesota State Treasurer
* Miles Lord, attorney and United States District Court judge
* Tim Mattran, NFL player for the Oakland Raiders, grew up in Chanhassen
* John L. Nelson, jazz musician and father of rock musician Prince
* Erik Paulsen, former representative Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives
* Prince, singer and musician, owned Paisley Park
* Frank Ragnow, professional football player with the Detroit Lions, played high school football in Chanhassen
* Lucy Rehm, politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
* Debbie Turner, actress