Woodbury ( ) is a city in
Washington County,
Minnesota
Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
, United States, east of
Saint Paul
Paul, also named Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle ( AD) who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. For his contributions towards the New Testament, he is generally ...
along
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 (I-94) is an east–west Interstate Highway connecting the Great Lakes and northern Great Plains regions of the United States. Its western terminus is just east of Billings, Montana, at a junction with I-90; its eastern ter ...
. It is part of the
Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States centered around the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi, Minnesota River, Minnesota, and St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota), ...
metropolitan area. The population was 75,102 at the
2020 census,
making it
Minnesota's seventh most populous city.
History
At almost 36 square miles, Woodbury is a direct descendant of one of the
congressional townships into which Minnesota Territory when the
Native Americans of the United States
Native Americans (also called American Indians, First Americans, or Indigenous Americans) are the Indigenous peoples of the United States, particularly of the lower 48 states and Alaska. They may also include any Americans whose origins lie ...
ceded the territory and opened it to "settlement". Woodbury was originally named Red Rock, but was renamed after
Levi Woodbury, the first justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all Federal tribunals in the United States, U.S. federal court cases, and over Stat ...
to attend law school, after it was realized that another Red Rock Township existed in Minnesota. When first settled in 1844, the land was mostly wood, but it was converted to farmland. The township government was organized in 1858. One of the city's few surviving 19th-century farms, the
Charles Spangenberg Farmstead, is on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
.
In 1955, the first suburban development broke ground in Woodbury: Woodbury Heights. After some years of growth, the town government could not adequately provide services for new developments, and it became clear that Woodbury needed the government of a village with extra privileges. The earliest proposal for incorporation officially came in 1963 after two years of debate.
The Minnesota Municipal Commission had recently found that the fragmented way in which the Minneapolis suburbs and the suburbs around
White Bear Lake had developed was disadvantageous, as it made coordinating sewers, public water systems, and other utilities difficult. Thus, the commission had been encouraging towns to incorporate in full whenever possible.
Since 1961, the Town of
Cottage Grove had been petitioning to become a village, and the Minnesota Municipal Commission took it upon itself to push for a joint incorporation of Woodbury and Cottage Grove as the Village of Washington. The two town commissions agreed to the idea, and the issue was put up for a vote during the general election of 1963. It lost with 662 votes for joint incorporation, and 1,284 against. Cottage Grove incorporated on its own in 1965.
In 1966, a series of meetings took place setting up the incorporation of the Village of Woodbury. A vote was conducted on February 14, 1967, with 543 voting for incorporation, and 164 against. The Village was officially incorporated on March 7, 1967.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water.
The city is bounded on the northern side by
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 (I-94) is an east–west Interstate Highway connecting the Great Lakes and northern Great Plains regions of the United States. Its western terminus is just east of Billings, Montana, at a junction with I-90; its eastern ter ...
, the south by the plane of 60th Street South, the west by
Century Avenue
Century Avenue () is a major street in Pudong, Shanghai. It begins near the Oriental Pearl Tower and ends at Yanggao Road, in a pedestrianised section leading to Century Park (Shanghai), Century Park.
Major Landmarks
There are many major land ...
, and the east by
Manning Avenue. The adjoining cities in these directions are, respectively,
Oakdale,
Landfall
Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...
,
Lake Elmo,
Cottage Grove,
Maplewood,
Newport and
Afton.
Woodbury is composed of
upland between the valleys of the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
and
St. Croix River. Its northeast corner lies within the
watershed of Valley Creek, one of the few remaining
trout
Trout (: trout) is a generic common name for numerous species of carnivorous freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', ''Salmo'' and ''Salvelinus'', all of which are members of the subfamily Salmoninae in the ...
streams in the Twin Cities area. Valley Creek flows eastward to the
St. Croix River at Afton. Woodbury also contains several small lakes, including Powers, Wilmes, Colby, Carver, and Battle Creek. Battle Creek Lake is the source of Battle Creek, which flows westward to the Mississippi River in Saint Paul.
Climate
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 75,102 people, 28,304 households, and 31,280 families living in the city.
2010 census
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2010, there were 61,961 people, 22,594 households, and 16,688 families living in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was . There were 23,568 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 81.4%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 5.6%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.3%
Native American, 9.1%
Asian, 1.0% from
other races, and 2.5% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.
There were 22,594 households, of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.20.
The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 29.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 8.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 46,463 people, 16,676 households, and 12,657 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 17,541 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.04%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 2.51%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.24%
Native American, 5.01%
Asian, 0.01%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 0.62% from
other races, and 1.56% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 16,676 households, out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no
husband
A husband is a man involved in a marital relationship, commonly referred to as a spouse. The specific rights, responsibilities, and societal status attributed to a husband can vary significantly across different cultures and historical perio ...
present, and 24.1% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
size was 3.20.
In the city, the
population
Population is a set of humans or other organisms in a given region or area. Governments conduct a census to quantify the resident population size within a given jurisdiction. The term is also applied to non-human animals, microorganisms, and pl ...
was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100
females age 18 and over, there were 91.4
male
Male (Planet symbols, symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or Egg cell, ovum, in the process of fertilisation. A male organism cannot sexual repro ...
s.
The
median income
The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways of unde ...
for a household in the city was $76,109, and the median income for a family was $84,997. Males had a median income of $60,224 versus $37,676 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $32,606. About 0.8% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
State Farm Insurance was a large-scale employer in the city, employing about 2,000 people in a building that opened in 1994.
In 2006 the multi-department facility was relocated to
Lincoln,
Nebraska
Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...
, and the building remained vacant until it was demolished in 2015 for redevelopment.
There are many smaller employers, such as the
Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology
The International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) is an American nonprofit professional association for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP).
Founded in 1969, the IJCAHPO provides certification and educati ...
and offices for financial corporations. Many Woodbury residents work at
3M, whose headquarters are a few miles west, in
Maplewood.
A large part of the economy is retail. The two largest retail centers are Tamarack Village, near the intersection of Radio Drive and Interstate 94, and Woodbury Village, near the intersection of Valley Creek Road and Interstate 494. Woodbury Lakes, an upscale retail development with an open-air mall layout, was completed in 2005.
Largest employers
According to the city's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report:
Other important employers include eFunds, Long Term Care Group and Dean Foods/Land O'Lakes.
Arts and culture
During the last weekend of August, the Woodbury Days Council hosts an event called Woodbury Days. City ambassadors for the event are called "royalty".
Parks and recreation
Woodbury contains 45
park
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
s covering approximately and approximately of trails. The trails, most of which are paved, connect many of the parks. Three of the largest parks encircle Colby, Wilmes, and Powers lakes, respectively. The indoor Central Park is adjacent to the public library. HealthEast Sports Center is the primary athletic location, including softball fields, baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields, sand volleyball courts, two indoor ice arenas, and an outdoor ice arena.
Two golf courses are in the city: Prestwick (privately owned) and Eagle Valley (public). There are many local events year-round. Woodbury Days is held in Ojibway Park each year. It includes a parade, carnival, live music, fireworks, and many booths for the city's shops, churches, and services. Woodbury Days is also known for its Taste of Woodbury tent in the parking lot behind Woodbury High School and overlooking the Ojibway Park Band Shell. This tent includes many restaurants in the city. There is also an outdoor pool available by membership in the summer called Colby Lake Pool.
Government
Woodbury has a weak-mayor, mayor-council government. In presidential election years, Woodbury elects two city council members at large. In midterm election years, it elects a mayor and two city council members at large. As the city's population has grown, Woodbury has shifted toward the
Democratic and
Democratic-Farmer-Labor parties, with the city not voting for a Republican in a presidential election since 2004.
The city council is currently composed of Mayor Anne Burt, Andrea Date, Steve Morris, Jennifer Santini, and Kim Wilson.
Education
Most of Woodbury is in the South Washington County School District, and most high school students attend either
Woodbury High School or
East Ridge High School. Small portions of the city attend
Tartan Senior High School in
Oakdale and
Stillwater Area High School
Stillwater Area High School (SAHS) is a public school located in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, United States. It serves as the primary high school for the Stillwater Area Public School District (834), the oldest public school district in Minneso ...
in
Stillwater. Some students attend public or private schools in other school districts chosen by their families under Minnesota's open enrollment statute.
In November 2006, School District 833 selected an site for its third high school, later named East Ridge High School. The site lies between two city-owned properties south of Bailey Road and east of Radio Drive: the HealthEast Sports Center and the Danner gravel pit. The city also owns south of the sports center to allow for expansion. The school opened in September 2009. Its students came from Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Newport, Afton, and Denmark.
There are two middle schools in Woodbury, Lake Middle School and Woodbury Middle School. Some middle-school students also attend Oltman Middle School in Cottage Grove, Skyview Middle School in Oakdale, Maplewood Middle School in Maplewood, and Oak-Land Middle School in Lake Elmo. Woodbury is also served by 12 elementary schools in three school districts.
Woodbury is also home to the
Minnesota Math and Science Academy, a charter school. Saint Ambrose of Woodbury is a Catholic school with Pre-K through 8th grade; New Life Academy is a private Christian school. Both are within the city limits.
Rasmussen College–Lake Elmo / Woodbury campus serves students in the Woodbury area. Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited, career focused college that offers bachelor and associate degree programs. It concentrates on programs in health sciences, nursing, business, technology and design, criminal justice, and early education.
Notable people
*
Kelly Fenton, former Minnesota State Representative and former
Minnesota Republican Party deputy chairperson
*
Michelle Fischbach
Michelle Louise Helene Fischbach (; born November 3, 1965) is an American politician and attorney serving since 2021 as the United States Representative, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 7th congressional district. The district, which is heav ...
, United States Representative from Minnesota's Seventh Congressional District
*
Brent Kallman, professional soccer player
*
Susan Kent, Minnesota State Senate minority leader
*
Jason Lewis, former United States Representative From Minnesota's Second Congressional District
*
Nicole Mitchell, meteorologist and politician
*
Walt Perlt, Minnesota state representative
*
Mary Giuliani Stephens, former mayor
*
Michelle Young, star of
season 18 of ''
The Bachelorette''
References
External links
City websiteWoodbury Area Chamber of Commerce
{{Authority control
Cities in Washington County, Minnesota
Cities in Minnesota
1967 establishments in Minnesota