Stewartville offers peaceful suburban living in the Rochester metro area
Stewartville is a small town 10 miles outside of Rochester with a population of around 7,000. Once a prairie village in the 1850s, the community eventually became a farming, railroad and industrial town. Today, Stewartville has a well-respected public school system, many recreational opportunities and convenient access to highways. “We are a quiet, but well rounded little community near a big metro area, so we have lots of exchange with Rochester,” says Bill Schimmel, Stewartville's city administrator. “We have a fair mix of residential, commercial and industrial development areas, and we have jobs to offer and different housing options for livability.”
Homes in Stewartville span from the Victorian era to modern-day subdivisions
Stewartville has both leafy, established neighborhoods with late-1800s historic homes and newer subdivision communities with contemporary developments. Housing styles are an eclectic mix of Cape Cods, Colonial Revival, split-level, ranch-style and New Traditional. The median sale price is approximately $280,000, which is below the national median of around $400,000. Houses smaller than 1,500 square feet can go from $75,000 to about $200,000, and bigger homes are typically between $250,000 and $650,000. Lot sizes can reach up to about one-third of an acre. Condos and townhouses are around $200,000 to $400,000.
Public parks, hiking trails and recreational amenities in the city
The city has a trail network and half a dozen public parks that offer amenities such as a community swimming pool, ball parks, skating rinks and an amphitheater. “Our parks and trails are well recognized in our community surveys,” Schimmel says. Florence Park is the oldest public park in the city, offering hiking trails, a fishing pond, a skating rink and a playground. Bear Cave Park has extensive sports facilities like basketball, pickleball, tennis and volleyball courts; soccer and softball fields; and a disc golf course. Many outdoor events, such as the summer concert series, are held at the park’s amphitheater. Stewartville also has several miles of interconnected walking trails and sidewalks that link the main parks and schools.
Shopping and dining options around Main Street
Many of the city’s establishments, restaurants and cafes are concentrated along Main Street. Popular eateries include 2 Brothers Authentic BBQ and Seth's Downunder Bar and Grill, which serves pub and American fare. Darlin’ Bakery & Café is a staple for cakes and sweets, and residents can get groceries at Fareway. Vintage stores like Old River Valley Antique Mall are also on Main Street. Rochester is about 10 miles north with big-box stores and retail destinations like Apache Mall.
Stewartville School District has well-respected schools
The Stewartville School District serves the city. Bonner Elementary School is a kindergarten-through-second-grade school and has an A-minus grade from Niche. Bear Cave Intermediate School serves students from third through fifth grade and gets a B. Stewartville Middle School and Stewartville High School both rate a C-plus. The local high school partners with nearby colleges like Southwest Minnesota State University and Riverland Community College to provide students with college credit courses, and also offers career and technical education in agriculture, business and marketing, and family and consumer science pathways.
Distance to Rochester and highway options
The city is accessible via Interstate 90, U.S. Route 63 and Minnesota state Route 30. Rochester International Airport is just 5 miles north, and downtown Rochester is about 10 miles away. Public transportation is provided by Rolling Hills Transit. Olmsted Medical Center-Stewartville is right in the city, and Mayo Clinic Hospital is in Rochester.
Community celebrations in Stewartville
Stewartville has many celebrations throughout the year, including an annual fall festival with games and activities like bounce houses and train and horse wagon rides for children. The city’s biggest celebration is the Summerfest Stewartville Grand Parade, which takes place at Bear Cove Park on the weekend of July Fourth, featuring family activities, music, fireworks and the annual parade.
