What is today known as the city of Lake Elmo began as a single farm near -- you guessed it -- Lake Elmo. The original farmhouse, built in 1852, was intentionally burned down in 2007. Although many residents mourned the loss of this hallmark of Lake Elmo history, the community still retains the agricultural focus of its early days.
The eastern Twin Cities suburbs have experienced a great deal of growth in the last few years, with Woodbury and Stillwater proving particularly popular among new residents. In this era of unprecedented development, Lake Elmo stands alone as a charming throwback to the days before the Twin Cities suburban craze took hold. With a population of 8,069 as of 2010, Lake Elmo is home to several small farms, as well as a number of peaceful parks and surprisingly large swaths of open land. This is the dream city for anyone dreading the prospect of living in a conventional Twin Cities suburb.
Moving to Lake Elmo
A Suburb With a Rural Feel
If you're on the hunt for a trendy suburban home or one-bedroom apartment in Lake Elmo, you are taking part in a very challenging mission. A significant portion of the city is still made up of farmland. This makes Lake Elmo incredibly unique among Twin Cities suburbs; the commute to downtown St. Paul is less than half an hour, and yet Lake Elmo feels more like an exurb than a standard suburb. This lends the community a distinctive advantage, as it offers all the benefits of small-town life alongside the convenience of easy access to the Twin Cities.
Finding Apartments in Lake Elmo
Due to its relatively low density and distinctive exurb feel, Lake Elmo is not usually the first choice for those looking to live in studio or one-bedroom apartments. Most new residents instead wind up in rental homes, which they may occupy on their own or share with other renters. There are also several rental arrangements in which residents occupy upper floors of Lake Elmo homes or, in a few cases, widow's apartments. If you're seeking traditional apartment complexes, you may find more success if you transition your search to the nearby suburbs of Woodbury and Stillwater, where premier apartments with on-site management are in greater abundance.
Lake Elmo Neighborhoods
When moving to Lake Elmo, you'll definitely want to check out the various different neighborhoods around town. Here are some of the notable ones:
Discover Crossing: In the northeastern corner of Lake Elmo lies Discover Crossing, a small neighborhood surrounded by farmland. This peaceful borough is a short drive from Stillwater, where many residents conduct the majority of their shopping and other errands.
Tri-Lakes Area: Three large lakes occupy the northwestern portion of Lake Elmo: Lake Olson, Lake Jane and Lake De Montreville. There are plenty of recreational opportunities in this neighborhood, with a perennial favorite being the winter tubing at Green Acres Recreation.
The Old Village: As with nearby Stillwater, downtown Lake Elmo is distinguished by a unique historic feel. This neighborhood is home to several Victorian and colonial houses, as well as such classic businesses as the Lake Elmo Inn.
Stonegate: Inwood Avenue connects up to Interstate 94 and serves as a popular route for those commuting to work in downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis. Those who live in the small Stonegate community near Inwood Avenue are granted easy access to Stonegate Park, Tablyn Park and the Machine Shed Restaurant.
Cimarron: In many of Lake Elmo's neighborhoods, residents find themselves living in large, open spaces. If there's one borough that somewhat resembles a traditional suburb, it's Cimarron. Although located near agricultural land, this community features several single-family homes and duplexes grouped close together.
Tana Ridge: One of Lake Elmo's most intimate communities, Tana Ridge's focus is on preserving the protected wetlands and prairies by which it is surrounded. Thanks to all this natural land, Tana Ridge is the perfect place for anyone interested in birding or ecological preservation.
Living In Lake Elmo
Lake Elmo may not be the trendiest neighborhood in the Twin Cities, but what it lacks in hipster coffee joints and hot nightclubs it makes up for in sheer beauty. Residents find that there is something deeply calming about returning to a suburb surrounded by small farms after spending a stressful day at work in downtown Minneapolis. The best thing about this suburb is that you can have it both ways -- you can enjoy a relatively isolated lifestyle free of the noise of inner ring suburbs, but when you crave some excitement, downtown is a short drive away. What's more, unlike some of the more isolated exurbs to the north, Lake Elmo enjoys public transit access to the rest of the cities. Residents hoping to visit other suburbs can easily hop on bus line 294 and connect to several other transit routes.
Just like many of the Twin Cities' suburbs, Lake Elmo boasts several stunning parks and lakes. The city is, after all, named after a Lake. But Lake Elmo is just one of several large bodies of water, with others including Lake De Montreville, Lake Jane, Lake Olson, Sunfish Lake and Horseshoe Lake. Swimming, fishing, boating -- all are welcome activities in the city of Lake Elmo.
