Orono

Homeowners looking in Orono are often drawn to the large wooded lakeshore lots and estates on Lake Minnetonka.

Orono is located 20 miles west of Minneapolis on Highway 394 and old Hwy 12. Orono covers 24-½ square miles in western Hennepin County. Orono is 40 Minutes away form the Minneapolis/St.Paul International Airport. Orono continues to draw people in search of rural ways of life. It is a prestigious community, with large, wooded lakeshore lots and estates. Orono is surrounded by Lake Minnetonka which covers 21-½ square miles. Orono also has five small lakes that also provide waterfront property.

Orono's corporate history dates to 1858 when Minnesota became a state, and western Hennepin County was surveyed and divided into townships. All of Orono south of Watertown Road was located in Excelsior Township, with the area north of Watertown Road being located in Medina Township. But the citizens of Orono, few as they were, found the going difficult in having to negotiate the lake in order to transact business in far away Excelsior. So, in 1868, the townships were realigned with everything north of the Narrows becoming part of Medina.

Orono is one of the Minnesota cities that offer a picturesque view of Lake Minnetonka (the tenth largest lake in the State) which may be one of the reasons why it has been called the jewel of Lake Minnetonka. In fact, this city seems to hold the secret to the magic of the lake that visitors are cautioned against leaving the Twin Cities without even stopping by Orono.

Located just around 13 miles from the west side of the State of Minneapolis, Orono offers the best seat in the house for viewing Lake Minnetonka considering that it is adjacent to the lake .

But that’s not all that Orono has to offer. Those who are planning to move in for employment relocation or residential relocation will also be besotted by the city’s wide offering of major attractions like cultural shows and artwork and a variety of water sports like ice skating ice racing and the likes.

Buying a home in Orono will not only give you access to life’s little pleasures like a scenic view of sailboat clusters parading along the waters but it will also give you access to one of the world’s largest malls, the Mall of America which is located in Minneapolis. It may take forever to explore every nook and cranny of this mall so being a resident of Orono would help.

Orono’s total area of 64.8 square kilometer is 35.78% water which explains the city’s emphasis on water preservation specifically the water quality of Lake Minnetonka. The city is also committed to protecting and preserving its natural resources including the open spaces, urban and rural lands and the local character as well as the identity of its people.

Population Profile

Orono is considered a medium-sized Minnesota city with 7,538 people as of the 2000 census. A great majority or 97.73% of its residents are whites, followed by Asians (.94%), Hispanics and Latinos (.86%). The rest of the population is made up of African Americans, Native Americans and other races.

Nearly three-fourths or 71.8% of the entire population are married couples so families planning to move in to Orono can look forward to building friendly relationships with fellow couples and possibly couples with children. Orono residents live comfortably with an average income of $101,114 per family, with only .5% of the total number of families living below the poverty level.

Majority or 90.6% of the 3,949 labor force of Orono use a car, van or motorcycle when going to work while .6% or 22 people use public transportation. A small number of residents or 7.2% work at home.

Education

There are five public schools in the Orono School District including Orono Schumann Elementary, Orono Intermediate School, Orono Middle School and Orono Sr. High School. The reopened Hill Schools provide private education facilities for Pre-K up to Grade 8 students.

Influence of Lake Minnetonka

The lives of Orono residents are greatly influenced by Lake Minnetonka considering that it is the most active and heavily-used lakes in the State of Minnesota. Residents and visitors alike delight in the many activities along the Lake come summertime while they revel in the serenity offered by the Lake during spring and fall. Winter is however a different story because it is the time when various water-based activities like ice fishing and snowmobiling is done.

Despite Lake Minnetonka’s reputation as a major tourist attraction in Orono and in Minnesota, it is considered a fish-producing Lake where various species can be found including Bluegills, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, crappie and even muskellunge.