About Prior Lake

Prior Lake is an 18.3-square-mile developing suburb with a small-town atmosphere directed by the 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan. The city’s 2008 population is estimated at 23,000, compared to the 16,000 estimated in the 2000 census. By 2030, it is projected that Prior Lake will be a fully-developed community of more than 40,000 residents.

Prior Lake features many recreational amenities including more than 50 parks on 900 acres, over 100 miles of trails and sidewalks and 14 lakes.  Taken together, the parks and lakes offer a wide variety of outdoor opportunities for residents with a wide variety of interests. The new River Valley YMCA will be opening in August 2009 offering even more family-based recreation.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is located in Prior Lake and is the largest employer in the county. They offer their own array of opportunities to the public including restaurants, Playworks, Dakotah! Fitness, Dakotah! Ice Center, two casinos and a hotel.

Golfing opportunities abound in the Prior Lake area with the Wild’s Golf Club, Legends Golf Club, Heritage Links Golf Club, Cleary Lake Golf Course and the Meadows at Mystic Lake Golf Course.

Opportunities in commercial and industrial development are increasing due to growth and improved highway accessibility and upgrades.  Prior Lake’s downtown environment has been revitalized by the Main Ave. and Dakota St. streetscaping project of 2004 and a façade improvement program that resulted in nearly $2.4 million in upgrades to storefronts.

The city’s housing stock offers great diversity for individuals and families of all ages. Prior Lake’s transportation system includes major roadways including Hwy. 13, County Rd. 42, County Rd. 21 and numerous others that access the entire metropolitan area. Prior Lake provides transit from within the community to other municipalities and to downtown Minneapolis by way of the Laker Lines and BlueXpress.

Prior Lake/Savage Area School District 719 serves Prior Lake, Savage and surrounding townships. Within the district, there are five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and one charter school (Aspen Academy K-3). There are also several private schools including Prior Lake Christian School (K-12), St. Michael’s Catholic School (K-8) and St. Paul’s Lutheran School (K-6).