Mankato

Mankato

Welcome to Mankato! Find Your Place Here.

Mankato is a river-city located in the south-central region of the state. Named by Forbes as 10th in the nation on the “best small places for businesses and careers” in 2013, Mankato is a thriving community. A city with a strong hallmark for education, the school district is committed to lifelong learning for all ages and the city has many post-secondary opportunities for higher education.

Mankato is the regional center for entertainment with many headliner concerts and great shopping and recreational activities including hundreds of miles of trails and many rivers for kayaking and fishing. If you are searching for homes for sale in Mankato MN, view our Mankato real estate listings today.

321 Active Homes For Sale  |  Median Home Price $250,000
Recreation

Mankato Community Education & Recreation provides the residents of Mankato with a plethora of activities for people of all ages to enjoy. From youth and adult sports leagues, to summer camps and classes, you’ll find activities for the whole family. With beautifully maintained parks, trails and nature areas, there’s always something to do in Mankato.

Shopping

If you enjoy shopping, Mankato has several distinct shopping areas to explore. The River Hills Mall offers a premier shopping experience with over 100 stores from American Eagle Outfitters to Zumiez and everything in-between. The City Center offers great boutique shopping as well as the Mankato Place Mall. Regardless of what you’re shopping for, Mankato has a store for you.

Dining

Hungry? Mankato’s dining scene has something for everyone, from fast food drive-thru restaurants to fancy sit down eateries. If you’re thinking surf and turf, Olives is a fantastic choice serving up mouth-watering hand-cut steaks and tantalizing seafood options. Neighbor’s Italian Bistro is the place to go if you’re craving great Italian, and there are countless other restaurants preparing great meals all over town.

Green/Environmental

Mankato is a city devoted to sustainability. Not only is Mankato a Step Two GreenStep City, it has also adopted an overarching plan to promote sustainability within the city for years to come. Land-use strategies, energy-conservation, and LEED certified buildings and vehicles are just some of the city’s sustainability initiatives. Mankato provides resources to residents and businesses to help encourage eco-friendly practices as well.

Schools

The Mankato Area Public School District serves the residents of Mankato for their educational needs. The district ranks in the top one-third of schools in the nation as winners of the Gold Metal School award. Mankato is also served by three parochial schools including: Loyola Catholic School, Immanuel Lutheran Grade School, and Mount Olive Lutheran School. Higher educational institutions in the city include Minnesota State University, South Central College, Bethany Lutheran College, and Rasmussen College.

Transportation

The Mankato Transit System provides public transportation services to the city of Mankato. With regular bus routes and disability/senior services, the Mankato Transit System makes it easy for residents to get around without a vehicle of their own.

Local Government

Mankato is a Charter city that functions under the Council-Manager form of local government. The City Council consists of the Mayor, one at-large councilmember, and five councilmembers elected by their respective wards. The council is responsible for administering city policy as well as hiring a City Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations.

City History

Originally called Mahkato, Mankato was first settled in 1852 along the banks of the Minnesota River. Steamboat travel along the river prompted more settlers, but did not remain the standard mode of transportation for long. Stagecoach travel became popular, and with the addition of the railroad in 1868 steamboats were made obsolete. That same year Mankato received its charter, becoming a city and the site of the second Normal School in Minnesota. This school became the site for a teachers college in 1922, and would eventually become Minnesota State University, Mankato. After becoming a city, Mankato experienced several periods of high water, with substantial flooding in 1881, 1951, and 1965. During that time period Mankato’s population continued to grow and thrive. Today, the city is home to over 40,000 residents and an extensive dike and floodwall system, ensuring that the city will be maintained for years to come.

Mankato Community Education & Recreation provides the residents of Mankato with a plethora of activities for people of all ages to enjoy. From youth and adult sports leagues, to summer camps and classes, you’ll find activities for the whole family. With beautifully maintained parks, trails and nature areas, there’s always something to do in Mankato.

If you enjoy shopping, Mankato has several distinct shopping areas to explore. The River Hills Mall offers a premier shopping experience with over 100 stores from American Eagle Outfitters to Zumiez and everything in-between. The City Center offers great boutique shopping as well as the Mankato Place Mall. Regardless of what you’re shopping for, Mankato has a store for you.

Hungry? Mankato’s dining scene has something for everyone, from fast food drive-thru restaurants to fancy sit down eateries. If you’re thinking surf and turf, Olives is a fantastic choice serving up mouth-watering hand-cut steaks and tantalizing seafood options. Neighbor’s Italian Bistro is the place to go if you’re craving great Italian, and there are countless other restaurants preparing great meals all over town.

Mankato is a city devoted to sustainability. Not only is Mankato a Step Two GreenStep City, it has also adopted an overarching plan to promote sustainability within the city for years to come. Land-use strategies, energy-conservation, and LEED certified buildings and vehicles are just some of the city’s sustainability initiatives. Mankato provides resources to residents and businesses to help encourage eco-friendly practices as well.

The Mankato Area Public School District serves the residents of Mankato for their educational needs. The district ranks in the top one-third of schools in the nation as winners of the Gold Metal School award. Mankato is also served by three parochial schools including: Loyola Catholic School, Immanuel Lutheran Grade School, and Mount Olive Lutheran School. Higher educational institutions in the city include Minnesota State University, South Central College, Bethany Lutheran College, and Rasmussen College.

The Mankato Transit System provides public transportation services to the city of Mankato. With regular bus routes and disability/senior services, the Mankato Transit System makes it easy for residents to get around without a vehicle of their own.

Mankato is a Charter city that functions under the Council-Manager form of local government. The City Council consists of the Mayor, one at-large councilmember, and five councilmembers elected by their respective wards. The council is responsible for administering city policy as well as hiring a City Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations.

Originally called Mahkato, Mankato was first settled in 1852 along the banks of the Minnesota River. Steamboat travel along the river prompted more settlers, but did not remain the standard mode of transportation for long. Stagecoach travel became popular, and with the addition of the railroad in 1868 steamboats were made obsolete. That same year Mankato received its charter, becoming a city and the site of the second Normal School in Minnesota. This school became the site for a teachers college in 1922, and would eventually become Minnesota State University, Mankato. After becoming a city, Mankato experienced several periods of high water, with substantial flooding in 1881, 1951, and 1965. During that time period Mankato’s population continued to grow and thrive. Today, the city is home to over 40,000 residents and an extensive dike and floodwall system, ensuring that the city will be maintained for years to come.

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