Local History: How Lakeville Got It's Name

The Origins of Lakeville, Minnesota - How a Prairie Lake Became a City's Namesake

Lakeville, Minnesota has grown from humble rural beginnings into a thriving suburban community.

The story begins with a lake, a lumber baron, and the development of transportation routes that would shape the region's future.

We’ll take you through a timeline of Lakeville’s origin story.

1855: J.J. Brackett, a prominent Saint Paul lumber baron who also worked as a mail carrier, made a decision that would permanently mark the region's history.

While traveling along a military road that connected Fort Snelling to southern forts, Brackett identified a strategic location approximately halfway between Saint Paul and Saint Peter.

There, he platted a site adjacent to a body of water he named Prairie Lake.

This location was no random choice. The military road, designed and constructed by Captain William B. Dodd in 1853, provided a vital land route connecting military installations throughout the region.Brackett recognized the potential of establishing a settlement at this midway point along an important transportation corridor.

1858: The area was officially established as Lakeville Township.

The name clearly derived from Prairie Lake, highlighting the importance of this water feature to the early settlement's identity.

The arrival of the Hastings and Dakota Railroad in 1869 prompted further development when railroad officials purchased 20 acres of land a half-mile east of Lakeville to build a depot.

This new area was initially called Fairfield, but it didn't take long for business owners and residents to rename it the Village of Lakeville. This location would eventually become downtown Lakeville as we know it today.

1910: Colonel Marion Savage, a successful businessman and owner of the famous racehorse Dan Patch, expanded his entertainment empire by constructing Antlers Amusement Park in Lakeville.

The park's popularity led to Prairie Lake being renamed Lake Marion in honor of Colonel Savage, and the railway line that served the park became known as the Dan Patch Railroad Line.

This period marked a significant chapter in Lakeville's development, bringing tourism and entertainment to what had been primarily an agricultural community.

1967: The township was officially incorporated as the City of Lakeville - though it remained predominantly agricultural for some time.

The completion of Interstate 35 and the gradual expansion of the metropolitan area eventually brought more residential and commercial development to Lakeville.

Know a fun fact about Lakeville’s name or history we missed? Send us a message.