The Best of Medina MN City Guide

If you’re looking for a small city with a lot of potential and opportunity, it’s time you checked out our Medina MN City guide! The city is full of a rich history dating back almost 200 years. Lately, the city has been growing and attracting more residents and visitors. You’ll find beautiful parks and trails, great restaurants, and shopping experiences, and some of the best schools and school districts in the state in Medina.

To learn more about the city and what it might be like to live there dive into the Medina MN City guide!

History of Medina, MN

Medina began to be settled in the year 1854 and was organized as Hamburg township in 1858. The name was later changed in that same year to Medina, by a unanimous vote of 37 settlers. Before settlers arrived, the land was home to the native group of Dakota. The dense hardwood forest was full of wild game, fish, berries, wild rice, and maple trees that could be utilized to make sugar. It was not until 1974 that Medina was incorporated as a City.

As of 2017, Medina is a city with just 6,460 people. It’s not a large city, but it is a city full of rich history and opportunities as a great place to live and raise a family.

Medina Area Schools

Although Medina doesn’t have its own school district or schools, four other city districts overlap in Medina to make up the available schools for students in Medina. We’ll cover some statistics for each of these districts.

Delano School District

Delano is the district that serves the northwest corner of Medina. The district is recorded to be the 2nd best in wright county and 18th in the state. That’s a pretty good ranking if you ask us. On average, there are around 2,500 students within the district, and there is a ratio of seventeen students to every teacher. The graduation rate is over 95%, and around 80% of students are proficient upon graduation.

Orono School District

Serving the largest area of Medina is the Orono School District. On the map above, Orono is represented as the area in pink. This school district is known throughout the state as it’s ranked as the 5th best in Minnesota. They currently serve 2,885 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1, which is slightly below the national average of 17:1.

Rockford School District

Taking the very smallest portion of Medina is the Rockford Public School District. This district is represented in green on the map and serves just over 1,700 students. This district isn’t ranked as one of the best in the state, but they do hold its own.

Wayzata Schol District

Wayzata is the 2nd best school district in Minnesota. The city of Wayzata has put a high value and education, and they’re continually working hard to become the number one school district in Minnesota. This district is easily the largest out of all the districts in Medina. Wayzata serves around 12,000 students every week. They have a healthy student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1.

Learn more about Wayzata in our Wayzata Guide!

Restaurants to Try in Medina

There’s no shortage of great food in Medina! Here are some of our top picks.

Robert’s Craft Kitchen & Bar

Robert’s is a great family-friendly local favorite. Their menu is creative and full of great food that is sure to please. The bar serves great drinks that pair well with the delicious food. Their wait staff is also highly reviewed if you take the time to read any of the complimenting reviews.

OAK Eatery

Another long-standing local favorite is the OAK eatery. There is nothing but good things said about this restaurant. Their friendly staff and fresh ingredients are the backbones of this delicious dining experience, from amazing apps to flatbreads, soups, salads, and sandwiches. This is a great place to stop.

Peg’s Countryside Cafe

Last on our list might be one of the most famous Medina restaurants. Peg’s has been serving up mouth-watering breakfast for over 40 years, and people are excited about it. Peg’s only serves breakfast and lunch, and most people order their breakfast all day. Be sure to check this one out if you’re looking for an intimate and delicious experience.

Shopping in Medina

Because Medina is a small town, there aren’t too many local shops that you’ll find outside of your standard Target. But, here are three that are local to the area. If you’re looking for some of the best shopping in this area, check out the stores listed in our Minnesota boutique shopping guide.

Urban Market Medina

Urban market is a local spot where you can find anything from new furniture and decor, custom-built furniture, custom paintings, Minnesota signs, hand-thrown pottery, women’s fashion items, and more. This is a great store to stop by and browse for a bit.

Art 2 Heart

Art 2 Heart is a 501(c)3 non-profit focused on connecting people with their passions, inspiring hope, and community outreach. They do this by raising funds through their gift shop that they stock with items from entrepreneurs around the developing world and then donating those proceeds to ministry partners.

Rusted Nail

Looking for a local antique store that offers consignment and purchasing? Rusted Nail is such a great shop with many beautiful antique items for sale. You’ll be able to find decor items, tables, dressers, lamps, other furniture, and so much more! Be sure to stop by their shop soon.

Best Parks and Recreation

Medina offers many outdoor recreation opportunities. There are a number of trails that run throughout the city and many athletic fields for community use. There are also several golf courses located near the city.

Fields of Medina

The Fields of Medina park offers a great time outside, including a tennis court, basketball court, playground, and picnic area. Of course, there are also various fields ready to be run through and enjoyed by kids of all ages!

Hamel Community Center

The Hamel Community Center is an offers-it-all type of park. There are restrooms, tables, baseball fields, a playground, a great winter sledding hill, and a building that can be rented for private use. Whatever it is you’re looking to do at the park, this place can probably handle it well.

Final Thoughts

It’s clear to see that Medina has a lot of great things to offer. With restaurants, parks, and shopping it’s easy to plan a great day filled with memorable activities, but why not take it a step further? Not only is Medina a great place to enjoy endless fun activities but it’s a stunning place to live. The cosmopolitan area is a balanced industrial, commercial, educational, and cultural center, and functions much as one city.

The area is one of the most economically diverse in the country, serving as headquarters to large firms in agriculture, food, banking, technology, retailing, healthcare, and transportation – making it a great place to live! Whether you decided to custom-build a home or buy Medina is a great place to settle down and raise a family. Looking for a modern home builder in Minneapolis? Reach out to Sustainable 9, to get started today.

Did you find the Medina MN City guide helpful? If so, tell us in the comments below!