# Carver County, Minnesota *County in the U.S. state of Minnesota* Carver County is one of the counties of [[Minnesota]] and belongs to the [[Minneapolis]]–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its seat is [[Chaska]].[^1] The 2020 census counted 106,922 residents.[^2] The county's name honors the explorer [[Jonathan Carver]]. His 1766–67 journey took him from Boston to the [[Minnesota River]], and he spent the winter among the Sioux near what became New Ulm.[^1] The Census Bureau estimates the population at 114,379 on July 1, 2025, a rise of 7.0 percent from the 2020 count.[^2][^3] The same QuickFacts table draws on the 2020–2024 American Community Survey, in 2024 dollars. It reports a median household income of $125,946 and gives 4.7 percent as the share of persons in poverty.[^4] Wikipedia dates the county's establishment to February 20, 1855. The project's sourcing notes record that MNopedia gives March 3, 1855, and the record has not resolved the discrepancy.[^5] ## Statistics In 2017 the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation placed Carver County first among Minnesota counties for health. It was the fifth consecutive year the county held that position, and it kept the top place in 2018, 2019 and 2020.[^6] A 2018 study by the data firm Smart Asset ranked the county first as the "Happiest Place in America". The study measured counties on eight factors, among them unemployment, poverty, marriage and divorce rates, and life expectancy. It recorded an unemployment rate of 3.1 percent and a poverty rate of 4.1 percent for the county. The county was one of three U.S. counties, with Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Virginia, to place in the top five for a third straight year.[^6] The Census Bureau's QuickFacts table gives 4.7 percent for persons in poverty over 2020–2024.[^4] ## Geography The Minnesota River runs east-northeast along the county's southern edge. The South Fork of the Crow River crosses the upper western and central parts of the county toward the northeast. Carver Creek runs southeast from the county's center and joins the Minnesota at the southern border.[^7] The land falls toward the east and south from 1,024 feet above sea level at the northwest corner. The highest point, at 1,080 feet, is a small hill 1.6 miles northeast of Miller Lake.[^7] The county covers 376 square miles in total. Of this, 354 square miles are land and 22 square miles (5.8 percent) are water. Only one Minnesota county has less land area, and only two have less total area.[^7] The county has no forest soils, and it is one of seven southern Minnesota counties in that position. Savanna soils predominate across it, a trait it shares with 16 other Minnesota counties.[^7] ### Lakes Seven lakes in the county cover 235 acres or more. Lake Waconia, at 2,996 acres, is the largest. It ranks 73rd in size among Minnesota lakes and second among lakes of the Twin Cities.[^8] ### Highways and adjacent counties U.S. Highway 212 and Minnesota State Highways 5, 7, 25, 41 and 284 serve the county. Wright County borders it to the north, Hennepin County to the northeast, Scott County to the southeast, Sibley County to the southwest and McLeod County to the west.[^8] ## Climate and weather In recent years Chaska's average temperatures have run from a January low of 4 °F to a July high of 81 °F. The record low of −41 °F dates from January 1970, and the record high of 105 °F dates from July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranges from 0.66 inches in February to 5.05 inches in August.[^9] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded a median age of 38.6 years. It counted 27.2 percent of residents under 18 and 12.8 percent aged 65 or older.[^10] In the 2020 tabulation, 86.5 percent of residents were White, 3.4 percent Asian and 2.1 percent Black or African American, and 5.5 percent were of two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 5.0 percent.[^10] Urban areas held 75.3 percent of the population.[^10] The census counted 38,863 households. Of these, 62.6 percent were married-couple households and 38.3 percent had children under 18. Of 40,380 housing units, 3.8 percent were vacant, and 81.1 percent of occupied units were owner-occupied.[^10] The Census Bureau's later QuickFacts table gives different shares: 89.4 percent White alone, 84.9 percent White alone not Hispanic or Latino, 4.2 percent Asian alone, 2.5 percent Black alone, and 5.6 percent Hispanic or Latino.[^11] The table reports 97.0 percent as high school graduates or higher and 50.4 percent as holding a bachelor's degree or higher.[^11] ## Economy The county's comprehensive annual financial reports rank its largest employers by number of employees.[^12] QuickFacts reports figures from the 2020–2024 American Community Survey, in 2024 dollars. Median household income was $125,946 and per capita income was $60,893. Median owner-occupied home value was $453,600.[^11] ## Government and politics Carver County, like every Minnesota county, is run by a nonpartisan board of commissioners chosen at election. Each commissioner comes from a district of roughly equal population. The board chooses a chair to preside at its meetings.[^13] As of the cited revision, the county falls within Minnesota's 6th congressional district (CPVI R+12). Republican [[Tom Emmer]] represents the district.[^13] ## Communities The county's cities are Carver, Chanhassen (part of which lies in Hennepin County), Chaska, Cologne, Hamburg, Mayer, [[New Germany]], Norwood Young America, Victoria, [[Waconia]] and Watertown.[^14] Crown College forms a census-designated place in [[Laketown Township]]. Its mailing address is St. Bonifacius, but the college lies outside that city's limits and in a different county.[^14] The townships are [[Benton Township]], Camden, Dahlgren, Hancock, Hollywood, Laketown, [[San Francisco Township]], Waconia, Watertown and Young America. Unincorporated communities include Assumption, Augusta, Bongards, Coney Island, Dahlgren, East Union, Gotha, Hazelton, Hollywood, Maple and Oster. San Francisco is a ghost town.[^14] ## Education Several public school districts serve the county:[^15] - Belle Plaine - Central - Eastern Carver County - Glencoe-Silver Lake - Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted - Lester Prairie - Minnetonka - [[Waconia Public Schools]] - [[Watertown-Mayer]] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota* (revision 1375328004, retrieved 2026-10-25; CC BY-SA 4.0) — county seat, metropolitan area, and the origin of the county's name. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^2]: U.S. Census Bureau, *QuickFacts: Carver County, Minnesota* (V2025 population) — 2020 census population of 106,922; estimate of 114,379 on July 1, 2025; change of +7.0%. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/carvercountyminnesota/PST045224 [^3]: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, *Carver County* profile (PDF) — paired in the project dossier with the QuickFacts population figures. https://mn.gov/deed/assets/carver_tcm1045-407439.pdf [^4]: U.S. Census Bureau, *QuickFacts: Carver County, Minnesota* (2020–2024 ACS, 2024 dollars) — median household income $125,946; persons in poverty 4.7%. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/carvercountyminnesota/PST045224 [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota* (revision 1375328004) — establishment date given as February 20, 1855; the project dossier marks it as conflicting with MNopedia's March 3, 1855. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota*, "Statistics" (revision 1375328004) — Robert Wood Johnson Foundation health rankings for 2017–2020; the 2018 Smart Asset study. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota*, "Geography" (revision 1375328004) — rivers, elevation, area, and soils. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota*, "Geography" subsections (revision 1375328004) — lakes, major highways, and adjacent counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota*, "Climate and weather" (revision 1375328004) — temperature and precipitation figures for Chaska. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota*, "Demographics" (revision 1375328004) — 2020 census age, race, household, and housing figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^11]: U.S. Census Bureau, *QuickFacts: Carver County, Minnesota* (V2025; 2020–2024 ACS, 2024 dollars) — race and ethnicity shares; educational attainment; per capita income $60,893; median home value $453,600. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/carvercountyminnesota/PST045224 [^12]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota*, "Economy" (revision 1375328004) — the county's comprehensive annual financial reports rank its top employers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^13]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota*, "Government and politics" (revision 1375328004) — board of commissioners; 6th congressional district (CPVI R+12); Tom Emmer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^14]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota*, "Communities" (revision 1375328004) — cities, the census-designated place, townships, and unincorporated communities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota [^15]: Wikipedia contributors, *Carver County, Minnesota*, "Education" (revision 1375328004) — school districts serving the county. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_County,_Minnesota