Jordan's growth as an exurb of the Twin Cities
Jordan sits in the Minnesota River Valley, an exurb about 35 miles from the Twin Cities. Scott County, where the community is located, was the fastest growing county in Minnesota between 2010 and 2020. Once a modest brewing town, Jordan and its new subdivisions now attract residents with the small city's charming, walkable downtown area and highly rated schools. “It’s a bedroom community,” says John Clay, a Realtor with Associated Realty who has worked in the area for nearly 40 years. “It’s small-town living, and it’s close enough to the Twin Cities that you can commute.”
Older farmhouses and bungalows downtown, plus newer subdivisions
Jordan’s tree-lined downtown area features houses from as early as the 19th century. However, new homes now outnumber old. Farmhouses, ranches and bungalows are most common downtown, generally selling for $240,000 to $375,000. Meanwhile, Craftsman-style homes make up the newer subdivisions, accommodating the area’s growth and usually selling for $330,000 to $630,000. Larger homes on acreage can go from $700,000 to roughly $1 million.
Well regarded Jordan Public Schools
The Jordan Public Schools district serves most of the community and receives a B-plus grade from Niche. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade attend Jordan Elementary, which gets a B rating, while Jordan Middle receives an A-minus for fifth through eighth. B-plus-rated Jordan High provides students with access to career education at the South West Metro Educational Cooperative Center, which has courses in topics including agriculture, health sciences and photography.
Baseball at the Mini Met, plus other city parks
The city’s crown jewel is Jordan Baseball Park, better known as the Mini Met, after the Minnesota Twins’ former stadium. Noted as one of the best amateur ballparks in the country, the Mini Met is the home of the Jordan Brewers and, occasionally, the Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament. “It’s been there forever,” Clay says, mentioning how proud the city is of the park. “I played there, my dad played there and my kids played there.” The community has several other parks for more general recreation, including Lagoon Park’s walking paths, playground and beach for swimming on Mill Pond. Jordan also encompasses parts of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which has trails and fishing along the Minnesota River.
Newer businesses in older storefronts on Water Street
Brewing was once a major industry in Jordan, giving the Jordan Brewers amateur baseball team its nickname. Today, the Brew d’Etat brewery carries on its legacy, though many of the spaces on Water Street hold more modern businesses. “The old breweries have been converted into commercial spaces, so you’ve got a mixture of the new and the old there,” Clay says. The Feed Mill Restaurant offers a diner-style menu, while the Pickled Pig has sandwiches and other assorted pub fare. Rademacher’s Super Value sells groceries within the community, while the novelty Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store is just off Highway 169.
Farmers market and the Scott County Fair in Jordan
Aside from baseball, Jordan hosts plenty of community events, especially during the summer. The Jordan Farmers Market runs from June through September, featuring local vendors selling produce. The city also hosts the Scott County Fair each July, a full five days of music and entertainment, including horse shows and a rodeo.
Commutes to the Twin Cities via Highway 169
The Twin Cities are within commuting distance of Jordan, with Minneapolis about 35 miles away. Residents generally drive, as Highway 169 runs through the community and leads northeast towards Minneapolis and Saint Paul. However, commuters also have several transit options, including Land to Air Express bus service into the Twin Cities, plus Metro Transit buses from the adjacent town of Carver to downtown Minneapolis. The nearest commercial flights leave from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, 33 miles away. St. Francis Regional Medical Center is 12 miles away.
