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Historical Info Summary

Apple Valley's historical roots lead back to the mid-1800's when it was a farming community known as Lebanon Township. The first settlers to the area were believed to have come from the east coast around 1855. On April 6, 1858, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners created Union Township. The Board met again on April 26, 1858 and changed the boundaries of Union Township, creating Lebanon Township from a portion of the former Union Township. The first town meeting was held on May 11, 1858 in a home near the area that is now Westview Elementary School. Lebanon Township remained much the same for its first century. The Town's population in 1881 was 252 and in 1960 was 585.

The Township began to transform in the mid-1950's. Residential neighborhoods began to develop in the spring of 1955. A Planning Commission was established in 1962. In 1963, Orrin Thompson began building in the area. Thompson selected the name "Apple Valley" for several of his plats on either side of County Road 42 located in the southwest corner of the City. Thompson had an apple tree planted at each home in the some of the new developments. In 1966, a volunteer fire department was organized. In the general election of 1968, the residents voted to incorporate the Town of Lebanon as the Village of Apple Valley. A mayor and four councilmembers were elected and took office on January 1, 1969. On January 1, 1974, Apple Valley became a statutory city.

Other Historical Resources

Reflections of Lebanon - Apple Valley 1855 - 1976 (8,694 KB file) PDF Icon

"Over the Years" Vol. 30, No. 1 December 1990, "The Transformation of a Dakota County Community Lebanon Township to Apple Valley An Agrarian Township Becomes a Residential Success" used with permission of the Dakota County Historical Society PDF File (2.06 MB) PDF icon

Other Resources for Historical Information

Dakota County Historical Society
130 Third Avenue North
South Saint Paul, MN 55075
(651) 552-7548

Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellog Boulevard West
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 297-4706

 

Content updated on: 01-Feb-2010


City of Apple Valley Logo City of Apple Valley
7100 West 147th Street | Apple Valley, MN 55124
(952) 953-2500 | info@ci.apple-valley.mn.us
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