Cottage Grove
City of Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is a growing community in the Southeast Twin Cities metropolitan area. Situated close to St. Paul, our residents and businesses have the best of both worlds with access to urban opportunities and recreational amenities in their own backyards. Cottage Grove offers:
- 45 miles of trails
- An all-inclusive playground
- A municipal golf course
- Over 1,300 acres of park land
- Year-round recreation programs
The city is linked by U.S. Highways 10 and 61 and has a comfortable commute to both downtowns and the I-494 Strip in Bloomington. Once a rural township known for the state’s first creameries and wheat production, the area was served by rail lines, river shipping, and grist mills. 3M has operated a production facility in Cottage Grove since 1947.
City Council Mission & Vision
City Council Mission
The City Council’s mission is to promote community pride and create a high quality of life by providing excellence in the delivery of public services to residents and businesses.
City Council’s Strategic Goals
The City Council’s three strategic goals are:
Enhancing quality of life for residents
Thriving business and tourism environment
Remain an employer of choice
City Council’s Strategic Directives
The City Council’s four strategic directives are:
Engaging residents where they are
Continuing sustainable growth
Making Cottage Grove a recreation destination
Remaining an employer of choice
History
Cottage Grove was platted in 1871. The Precolumbian Schilling Archeological District, 1850 Grey Cloud Lime Kiln, 1871 John P. Furber House, and 1917 Cordenio Severance House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Economy
3M has operated a production facility in Cottage Grove since 1947 to manufacture adhesive products, industrial polymers, and reflective road sign materials, and for research and development. PFC production began as a pilot around 1947; full-scale commercial PFOA production began in 1976 and was phased out in 2002. The site is part of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Superfund program for perfluorochemical contamination.
Arts and culture
Annual cultural events
Cottage Grove’s annual Strawberry Fest draws thousands of residents together to celebrate. This event is held at Kingston Park, usually in the second week of June. A parade occurs the Saturday of the festival, in which organizations or businesses can have a float, throw out candy, and advertise. On the Saturday of the festival, usually after the parade, organizations and businesses advertise in booths at the soccer fields at Kingston Park. They hand out free things and talk to the residents of Cottage Grove about their businesses. There are fireworks on the Saturday of the festival around 10 pm. There are many carnival games, rides, and food. Every night of the festival except Sunday, bands play in the Kingston parking lot. Alcohol is allowed but only in a designated area.
The Strawberry Fest is planned by a volunteer committee whose mission is to “bring the community together”. At the event, residents, businesses, city government and non-profit organizations all come together to proudly celebrate our community.
Museums and other points of interest
Historic places include Cedarhurst Mansion, Schilling Archeological District, Atkinson Cemetery, Cottage Grove Town Hall, Old People’s Home of the Northwest Cemetery, Grey Cloud Lime Kiln, John P. Furber House, Dr. Arthur H. Steen House, First Congregational Church (Accacia Lodge No. 51), William W. Furber House, Cottage Grove Cemetery, Harry Roberts House, Lamar Avenue Larch Trees, and Hope Glen Farm.
Cottage Grove is home to Ravine Regional Park, with the entrance off of Keats Ave S. It is open daily from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M. The park has 515 acres of woods, hills, and prairie fields, creating a unique habitat for an assortment of species. A vehicle permit is required to enter the park grounds.
In 2013, Cottage Grove opened a splash pad at Highland Park off of 70th street. This is a smaller water attraction intended for small children. It has many sprinklers that shoot water. Several other splash pads in the Cottage Grove area are expected to open at other parks.
Cottage Grove has an 18-hole disc golf course in Oak Wood park, near its retail area. The course has a variety of different length holes and women’s tees.
Cottage Grove had one of the two remaining drive-in theaters in operation in the Twin Cities area, the Cottage View Drive-In. It was near the Innovation Road exit of Highway 61. It closed after the 2012 season and was torn down. The land is now occupied by a Wal-Mart that opened in 2014.
Education
Cottage Grove is part of the South Washington County School District. High School students living in Cottage Grove usually attend either Park High School or East Ridge High School. Cottage Grove also has the school district’s Alternative Learning Center (ALC). Middle School students living in Cottage Grove usually attend either Cottage Grove Middle School or Oltman Middle School. Elementary School students usually attend one of the six elementary schools in the city: Armstrong Elementary, Cottage Grove Elementary, Crestview Elementary, Grey Cloud Elementary, Hillside Elementary, and Pine Hill Elementary.
“Cottage Grove, Minnesota” │ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage_Grove,_Minnesota
“Cottage Grove, MN | Official Website” │ https://www.cottagegrovemn.gov/
“Wikimedia Commons” │ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cordenio_Severance_House.jpg
