Norwood Young America coming together after the city's merger
Norwood Young America was formed by the 1997 merger of two small cities: Norwood and Young America. “Some people are still very particular that they’re from Young America or they’re from Norwood. But it is one city, and the city’s done a great job making us all feel united as one,” says Trista Kottke, the broker and owner of Re/Max Experience and a lifelong resident of the area. Today, the city is one of several bedroom communities for the Twin Cities. But Norwood Young America stands out with its community events, including the oldest festival in the state.
Older builds near downtown areas and newer subdivisions outside
Though the city is united, each side still has its own downtown area. Early 20th-century builds are located along the gridded streets near each downtown, while bungalows and farmhouses are common in the older parts of town. For the most part, Young America has more recently built subdivisions, and Norwood tends to have more traditional homes. Townhomes and ranch-style houses are scattered throughout the newer neighborhoods. Home prices in the city generally range from $160,000 to $400,000, and the CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national figure of 4.
Outdoor sports and a German "old town" at city parks
Willkommen Memorial Park is the center of many of the community’s events. Stiftungsfest takes place within the park at the pavilions styled after a German “old town,” and its ballfield is home to Young America’s amateur baseball team. The Norwood Young America Sports Complex is located on the other side of town, with a field for Norwood’s baseball squad, plus a pair of softball fields and a playground. An outdoor hockey rink sits across the street from the complex, iced over during the winter. Legion Park has a playground, a picnic shelter and the community’s swimming pool, open during the summer.
Celebrating German heritage at the oldest festival in Minnesota
Dubbed “Minnesota’s Oldest Celebration,” Stiftungsfest has celebrated the community’s German heritage every summer for over 150 years. Roughly 10,000 attendees enjoy the parade, softball tournaments and a beer garden. “It’s really just going back to our roots,” Kottke says. “It’s a big town celebration with lots of live music. It’s a great event.” Springfest harkens the return of warmer weather each year, with a car show, local artisans and food vendors. The city also hosts weekly community events, including live bands at Legion Park.
Education at Central Public Schools
Central Public Schools serve Norwood Young America, with the district receiving a B-minus overall grade from Niche. Central Elementary teaches prekindergarten through fifth grade, while students in sixth through 12th attend Central Secondary. High schoolers at Central Secondary can earn college credit through courses offered via Southwest Minnesota State University, Minnesota State University and the University of Minnesota.
Local bars in each side's downtown, plus businesses on Highway 212
The Norwood and Young America sides of the community each have their own small downtown area. In Young America, businesses line Main Street, including the Northside Grill and Last Call, a homey community bar. The Pour House bar is among the local businesses on Elm Street on the Norwood side of the city. Meanwhile, fast food chains and small shopping centers sit along U.S. Route 212 through the city's center. A couple of businesses also sit in the community of Hamburg. While several convenience stores have some essentials, the nearest grocery store is 9 miles away in Waconia, as is Target. “We don’t have a grocery store in town,” Kottke says. “We have a QuikTrip, which has a lot of that stuff for town residents, but there’s no physical grocery store. That closed a few years ago.”
Commutes toward the Twin Cities via Highway 212
Highway 212 is the main route through Norwood Young America. The route was once part of the Yellowstone Trail, the first coast-to-coast highway through the northern United States. Today, the road runs most of the roughly 40 miles northeast to Minneapolis. “Highway 212 is eventually going to be four lanes all the way through here, so the commute into the city will be a lot faster than what it is currently,” Kottke says. Commuters sometimes head 15 miles to Carver, where they can connect to the Twin Cities’ Metro Transit system. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has the closest commercial flights, 40 miles away. The nearest emergency room is at the Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, 9 miles from Norwood Young America.
