Sunfish Lake, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Sunfish Lake is a city in Dakota County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 521 at the 2010 census. First incorporated as a village in 1958, the city's goal has been to maintain a rural atmosphere, with large lot size and as little disturbance of the natural environment as possible.
, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (7.06%) is water.
The city is bordered by Highways 110
to the north, 3
to the east, 60th Street West/Peiper Road to the south and Delaware Avenue to the west. I-494 runs through the city with an exit at 3
.
Most of the city is heavily wooded, on moraine topography with many slopes and wetlands and three small private lakes - Hornbeam Lake, Horseshoe Lake and the eponymous Sunfish Lake. For new construction, the minimum lot size is 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) of buildable land to keep with the city's goal of maintaining a rural atmosphere.
of 2000, there were 504 people, 173 households, and 147 families residing in the city. The population density
was 319.0 people per square mile (123.2/km²). There were 178 housing units at an average density of 112.7 per square mile (43.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.83% White, 2.58% Asian, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.78% of the population.
There were 173 households out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.0% were married couples
living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.0% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
Sunfish Lake is one of the wealthiest towns in America
. The median income for a household in the city was $148,410, and the median income for a family was $161,491. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $55,714 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $82,347. About 0.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Dakota County, Minnesota
Dakota County is the third most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers on the north, and the state of Wisconsin on the east. Dakota County comprises the southeast portion of seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul, the thirteenth...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 521 at the 2010 census. First incorporated as a village in 1958, the city's goal has been to maintain a rural atmosphere, with large lot size and as little disturbance of the natural environment as possible.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (7.06%) is water.
The city is bordered by Highways 110
Minnesota State Highway 110
Minnesota State Highway 110 is a short connector highway in Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with State Highway 55 in Mendota Heights and continues east to its eastern terminus at its interchange with Interstate 494 in Inver Grove Heights, south of downtown Saint Paul.Highway 110 is in...
to the north, 3
Minnesota State Highway 3
Minnesota State Highway 3 is a state highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with MN 21 in Faribault and continues north to its northern terminus at an interchange with MN 110 in Inver Grove Heights...
to the east, 60th Street West/Peiper Road to the south and Delaware Avenue to the west. I-494 runs through the city with an exit at 3
Minnesota State Highway 3
Minnesota State Highway 3 is a state highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with MN 21 in Faribault and continues north to its northern terminus at an interchange with MN 110 in Inver Grove Heights...
.
Most of the city is heavily wooded, on moraine topography with many slopes and wetlands and three small private lakes - Hornbeam Lake, Horseshoe Lake and the eponymous Sunfish Lake. For new construction, the minimum lot size is 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) of buildable land to keep with the city's goal of maintaining a rural atmosphere.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 504 people, 173 households, and 147 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 319.0 people per square mile (123.2/km²). There were 178 housing units at an average density of 112.7 per square mile (43.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.83% White, 2.58% Asian, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.78% of the population.
There were 173 households out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.0% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
Sunfish Lake is one of the wealthiest towns in America
Highest-income places in the United States
-100 highest-income places with at least 1,000 households:This is a list of the 100 richest places in the United States with at least 1,000 households. This is the most common list used for referring to the richest communities in the country, as it eliminates any places with insignificant populations...
. The median income for a household in the city was $148,410, and the median income for a family was $161,491. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $55,714 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $82,347. About 0.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
City Government
City government is quite simple - there are no city employees and no direct city services. Consultants provides the necessary professional services. Contractual arrangements with neighboring cities cover police and fire protection. Roads are maintained by independent contractors. All but a few properties have water wells and individual septic systems.Deer Problem
Sunfish Lake is said to have over 50 deer contained within its 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) area. Deer are known to be a nuisance especially in causing traffic problems, but can also cause damage to private property by consuming natural and planted vegetation around homes. Bucks also use small trees and saplings to rub their antlers on in order to remove a velvet like material that covers them. This damages the bark and can eventually completely kill the tree. The City Council enacted a deer culling program in 2009 in an attempt to decrease the population. The hunting was limited to Musser Park but produced only 10 total deer kills. In 2010, the City Council expanded the range of the hunting to willing private owners' land. A team of bowhunters was invited to participate in the deer eradication. This is an opportunity to help the city and also train themselves as bowhunters. Alternative forms of deer control, as suggested by In Defense of Animals are:- Ban sport hunting.
- Reintroduce natural predators, such as wolves and mountain lions, where possible. Maintain existing populations of natural predators.
- Ban clear-cut logging.
- Allow fires to burn naturally in wildlife areas. Limit new human habitations in wildlife areas, decreasing the risk of property damage in the event of a fire, and making controlled burns a more acceptable wildlife management tool.
- Prevent humans in residential areas, state parks, and federal parks from feeding deer. Deer should be reliant on their own habitat for food.
- Erect high fencing around crops and plants. Electric and sturdy fencing increase the effectiveness of this deterrent. Fences should be at least eight feet high and buried one foot deep. Openings in the fence should be small. Contact a university agricultural extension office or landscape business before purchasing and installing your fencing.
Notable residents
- Corbin LacinaCorbin LacinaCorbin Lacina is a former American football offensive lineman who played eleven seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings. He played high school football for Cretin-Derham Hall High School and college football at Augustana College...
, former American football player - Priscilla Lord FarisPriscilla LordPriscilla Lord Faris is an American lawyer and Democratic politician. She was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 Minnesota U.S. Senate election.-Biography:Lord Faris was born in Minneapolis to Miles and Maxine Lord...
, Democratic politician