Minneapolis is the largest city in the Midwest state of Minnesota. It is part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, just west along the Mississippi River across from state capitol St. Paul. With a population nearing 430,000 in Minneapolis alone and about 3.64 million people altogether with St. Paul and the surrounding suburbs, the Twin Cities are a major metropolitan area surrounded by an abundance of lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

Minneapolis has 13 lakes and several waterfalls to satisfy nature lovers, as well as a rich industrial history and booming arts and culture scene. The city boasts a number of popular neighborhoods for a mix of suburban life not far from the city. Those considering a move to Minneapolis should consider the city’s best suburbs.

Deephaven

Known as “Two Square Miles Of Tranquility,” Deephaven was incorporated in 1900 as a separate village from the nearby township of Excelsior. It was initially settled by prominent Missouri lawyer Charles Gibson in 1876 as a vacation spot for Southerners, with a summer house, grand hotel, and eventual yacht club. One of the most notable buildings still standing today is the Walden Mansion, belonging to Walter Donald Douglas and built in 1910 on the former site of Hotel Saint Louis.

Nestled along the shores of Lake Minnetonka, Deephaven gives home buyers quiet, outdoor living with a quaint, historic charm while still being close to the city, just 12 miles southwest of downtown. An estimated population of 3,770 people call Deephaven home, with a mix of close-knit neighborhoods and spacious lake lots.

North Oaks

North Oaks is a tight-knit suburb, originally built as a small gated community in Ramsey County, just 10 miles north of St. Paul. With an estimated population of 5,351 people in 2019, North Oaks residency has grown in the past decade. The town has come a long way since it was initially private property purchased by railroad icon James J. Hill in 1883. Hill bought the 3,300 acres that would become the present-day North Oaks community, and the original North Oaks Farm was used for cattle raising and agriculture in support of the blossoming Great Northern Railroad.

Today, residents and the North Oaks Homeowner’s Association own all the city’s land, with each residential property extending partially into the street. The roads, parks, and recreation facilities are maintained by the association with support services like police, fire, licensing, and planning administered by the North Oaks Mayor and City Hall.

Victoria

Victoria has earned the nickname “The City of Lakes and Parks,” with an abundance of outdoor space and parklands. Located in Carver County, 30 minutes southwest of Minneapolis and close to Lake Minnetonka, Shorewood, and Chaska, Victoria is known for its 200 acres of nature reserves, 13 parks, and nine lakes.

Victoria has more than 10,000 residents today, but originally began as a farming settlement thanks to the naturally rich soil, ideal for wheat, corn, and potato crops. Farmers worked the land in the 1850s, and by 1882, a railroad was servicing the town.

Victoria has become a popular suburb with an array of shops, parks, and recreation spaces. Suburban neighborhoods and private properties are surrounded by rolling forests and lakes, and the 1,800-acre Carver Park Reserve gives residents a glimpse of white-tailed deer, mink, barred owls, and more.

Shorewood

Shorewood is a lakeside suburb on the shores of beautiful Lake Minnetonka with nearly 8,000 residents. It is just a 25-minute drive to downtown Minneapolis from Shorewood and neighbors suburbs like Excelsior, Tonka Bay, and Victoria.

Shorewood was originally part of Excelsior Township, although the residential community was incorporated as its own village in 1956. It has been a statutory city since 1974 and today offers a range of luxury lakeside living and outdoor recreation, including Crescent Beach and Freeman Park.

While Lake Minnetonka is often the main draw for Shorewood residents and visitors, the city also includes Christmas Lake with 265 acres of spring-fed lake water for swimming and fishing.

The Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society includes historic Shorewood sites, and residents can enjoy a mix of history and lake life along with nearby shops, restaurants, schools, and community activities. The area is also known for large, spacious lake homes along the shoreline.

Elko New Market

Elko New Market is a suburb of the Twin Cities, located 30 minutes south of Minneapolis just off I-35. Its slogan is “Small-Town Culture. Emerging Possibilities,” a testament to its growth in recent years thanks to the convenient location and relaxing, suburban feel.

The city has a population of just over 4,000 and is quickly approaching 5,000. There has been a rise in new development since Elko New Market was officially formed in 2006 following the merging of two neighboring cities, Elko and New Market.

Elko was established in 1858 as a railway village, while New Market was settled around the same time and named after an English town. Both areas have notable attractions: the Elko Speedway and New Market Hotel and Store, which is included on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rogers

Rogers is a northwest suburb of Minneapolis, located off I-94 past Maple Grove and before St. Michael, Albertville, and Monticello. It is about a 45-minute drive to St. Cloud from Rogers.

The city’s roots go back to the 1880s when John Rogers sold one acre of land in Hassan Township for one dollar to the Great Northern Railroad. The area became a train depot for the booming timber industry, and a new town was born. Early buildings included St. Martin Catholic Church and a small school.

The city was incorporated in 1914 as it grew as a local hub. When I-94 was built to run straight through Rogers in 1972, more businesses moved to the area, thanks to the great access to the Twin Cities.

The population in Rogers has grown to more than 13,000 people, particularly after it was annexed from nearby Hassan Township at the start of 2012.

Hanover

Hanover is a city of nearly 3,500 in Wright County, with a small section crossing the border into Hennepin County. Surrounded by Greenfield and Corcoran to the south and east, and St. Michael and Rogers to the north and northeast, Hanover has a rustic feel without being too far from the city. Home buyers are often attracted to the peace and quiet just 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Hanover was established in 1877 and named for the German city in honor of its early settlers. The Hanover Post Office has remained in operation since then, and the town was incorporated in 1891. The Hanover Bridge, built in 1885, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The city’s main route is County Road 19. Hanover’s 5.59 square miles are situated along the banks of the Crow River, which cuts through the historic Downtown River District and establishes the boundary between Wright and Hennepin counties.

Carver

Carver is located in eastern Carver County, just minutes from county seat Chaska and 30 miles southwest of Minneapolis. With convenient access to US-212 and US-169, Carver offers residents a central location in a semi-rural suburb with lots of privacy.

Carver has grown in recent years, with a population rapidly nearing 5,000 in the city of 4.18 square miles. The town and county are named for Jonathan Carver, the explorer who spent a lot of time in the area in the late 1700s. There is also the Carver Creek, a small stream flowing into the Minnesota River.

The Little Rapids trading post up the river from modern-day Carver was established in 1805. Since then, the area has been settled and grown into a quaint yet successful river town that has survived the Great Depression, Upper Mississippi River flooding, and other challenges.

Carver’s history is well-maintained while new businesses have also joined the community, supporting its position as a great Minneapolis suburb.

Discover Minneapolis’ Best Suburbs

There are many impressive amenities attracting home buyers to Minneapolis and the greater Twin Cities region. Every suburb offers something slightly different, from extensive outdoor recreation opportunities to historic downtown districts with small businesses galore and plenty of charm.

Minneapolis suburbs often give residents the best of both worlds: close enough to the city but far enough away to have more spacious lots and wide-open parklands. Even outside the city, there are many restaurants, bars, and shops that bring neighborhoods together.

If Minneapolis is the city for you, contact Kris Lindahl Real Estate at 1-(855) 967-7653 to get in touch with a local real estate agent who can help you find your dream home today.