landscape. It started as a township organized in the 1850’s but it was over a century before Oakdale became a city. At one point Hudson Road at the south end of the city was an established stagecoach route to Chicago. Two railroads stations were an important part of putting Oakdale on the map. Lake Demontreville was once a popular summer home area for wealthy city dwellers, though it was once a part of Oakdale Township, it is now in neighboring Lake Elmo. From its humble beginnings, Oakdale became a city in 1974 and is noted worldwide for being headquarters for 3M and Imation. It is no longer a farming community. In the 1990’s the city became a growth suburb and expanded in population from just over 18,000 to nearly 27,000 residents which is where the estimates are today.Here is a top ten list of reasons why Oakdale Minnesota is such a great place to live:
#10—Oakdale Summerfest. The annual event held every June features everything to celebrate summer! Parade, Oakdale royalty coronation, carnival rides, baseball/softball tourney, crafts and more are combined to make this a memory-making event for area residents.
#9—Fish or Swim. Oakdale’s Tanners Lake is fabulous places to share a day with friends at the beach or on the dock! Tanners is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.
#8—Tee Off at Oak Marsh. Play 18 holes among the wetlands on this centrally located 70 par course. Not a golfer? The pros at Oak Marsh can help you learn. Even if golf isn’t your thing, you can enjoy a fantastic dinner and view. The Oak Marsh clubhouse is known for hosting everything from class reunions to wedding receptions as it boasts a full service banquet facility.
#7—Awesome Schools. Castle, Eagle Point, Oakdale and Skyview are the public elementary schools within the borders of Oakdale. All are part of the North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale District 622 along and Skyview Middle School and Tartan High School. GO Titans! Additionally, there are several private schools in the community including Paidea Child Development Center and Transfiguration Elementary
#6—Parks and Open Spaces. Dozens of parks and open spaces to explore, picnic and play at are scattered throughout the City of Oakdale. There is one a short walk or bike ride away from nearly every residential community. Explore and enjoy!
#5—Industrial Innovation! Oakdale can celebrate being home to innovative corporations including Imation and 3M! Okay technically 3M Corporation is on Oakdale/St. Paul border but many Oakdale residents work at this company that is world renown for creating exciting new products.
#4—Entertainment! Looking for a great movie or place to eat? Oakdale has an eclectic variety of choices for every age group. Yelp and Metromix searches for Oakdale indicate there are culinary choices including Mexican, Chinese, Italian and Lebanese dining options.
#3— Discover Nature. Hands on exhibits and 220 acres of prairieland to explore make the Oakdale Nature Preserve and Discovery Center a fun family destination. Discover art; learn about nature; hike, bike & cross-country ski along miles of trails; or just sit back and enjoy view of the 28 acre lake from the observation dock. There is much to do at this award winning facility in the heart of Oakdale.
#2—Eclectic Options for Living. Whether you want the convenience of a low-maintenance townhome a 1950’s rambler or bungalow, or a recently constructed, modified two-story, you can find an affordable option to rent or purchase in Oakdale.
#1—Friendly People. The number one reason for living in Oakdale is the welcoming community atmosphere. Isn’t that what most people search for in a place to call home?
Copyright 2010 Teri Eckholm
