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Minnesota · Twin Cities Metro Southwest · #443
Scott County, Minnesota
Southwest of Minneapolis along the Minnesota River, Scott County has combined the Twin Cities' most significant Native American gaming enterprise, a Canterbury Park horse racing track, and rapid suburban growth into one of the most economically layered suburban counties in the metro.
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Office: Scott County Emergency Management – (952) 496-8177 | scottcountymn.gov
Services: Alert system via MN Alert, Scott County Alert, and NOAA Weather Radio; FEMA Region 5. Scott County is a south Twin Cities suburban county (population ~155,000) and one of Minnesota’s fastest-growing counties, facing severe winter storms, tornado risk, and flooding along the Minnesota River, its northern boundary.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-169 (north-south through Shakopee, the primary Scott County corridor, connecting the Twin Cities to the north and Mankato to the south) and Minnesota Highway 13 (north-south through Savage and Prior Lake); I-35W is accessible to the east. Shakopee, the county seat, is about 25 miles southwest of Minneapolis
Transit: SouthWest Transit provides express bus service connecting Scott County to downtown Minneapolis.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Scott County Community Development – Shakopee, MN 55379, (952) 496-8100
Services: One of Minnesota’s most rapidly growing counties, with significant residential and commercial development; building and zoning permits are handled through the county Government Center.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
County VSO: Scott County Veterans Services – Shakopee, MN 55379
Notes: Minneapolis VA Health Care System serves the county’s large veteran population; the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community also offers tribal veteran services.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Scott County Library – multiple branches throughout the county
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Scott County is home to Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, one of the largest casinos in the United States, operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community – one of the wealthiest tribal nations per capita in the country, known for extensive philanthropic giving and its Tatanka Organic Farm. Valleyfair in Shakopee is the Twin Cities’ primary regional amusement park, a beloved family destination with roller coasters and a water park. The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge extends into the county along the Minnesota River corridor, offering strong birding, and Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve (a Three Rivers Park District property) provides rolling-terrain trails for mountain biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Canterbury Park in Shakopee is one of Minnesota’s leading horse racing venues, and Prior Lake itself offers strong recreational fishing
Notes: The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Mystic Lake Casino and its extensive philanthropy, alongside Valleyfair’s status as the Twin Cities’ primary amusement park, are genuine and well-documented features of Scott County.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Scott County GIS / Open Data – accessible via scottcountymn.gov/308/Geographic-Information-Systems-GIS and gis.co.scott.mn.us
Parcel Search: Scott County Assessor – Shakopee, MN 55379
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Scott County Emergency Management
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Carver Scott Humane Society – serving Carver and Scott Counties, carverscotths.org; also Scott County Humane Society, sc4paws.org
Services: Foster-based rescue and adoption services for dogs and cats; the Scott County Sheriff’s Office also provides animal control services for the 11 unincorporated townships (residents within Prior Lake, Shakopee, Jordan, Savage, Belle Plaine, or Elko New Market city limits should contact their local police department).
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – pca.state.mn.us
Notes: Minnesota River watershed management, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge habitat management, and stormwater management amid the county’s rapid suburban growth are significant local environmental focus areas.
NOTES
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Mystic Lake Casino and its extensive philanthropy, alongside Valleyfair’s status as the Twin Cities’ primary amusement park, are genuine and well-documented features of Scott County. All contact information above was sourced from official county, city, and shelter pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Scott County
Scott County’s economic landscape is more unusual than its suburban position suggests. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, is one of the largest and most profitable tribal casinos in the United States – a Class III gaming facility that generates enormous revenue for the tribe and provides employment for thousands of county residents. The SMSC’s economic success has made the community one of the wealthiest Native American nations per capita in the country and has enabled significant philanthropic and infrastructure investment in the surrounding area. Canterbury Park, a horse racing facility in Shakopee with poker room and simulcast wagering, adds a second entertainment economy.
Beyond gaming, Scott County has grown rapidly as a Minneapolis southwest suburb. Prior Lake, Savage, and the expanding communities in Jordan township have absorbed families seeking newer housing at lower price points than Eden Prairie or Minnetonka. The county’s Minnesota River valley – including the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge – provides significant natural corridor protection against complete suburbanization. The county’s school districts perform well, and its combination of recreational assets (the Minnesota River, Cleary Lake Regional Park), entertainment anchors, and highway access (Highway 169, I-35W) make it a genuinely competitive suburban address.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Minnesota assesses property at 100% of market value annually. The homestead classification reduces effective rates on owner-occupied primary residences through a tiered market value exclusion. Property owners may file an objection by April 30; further appeal goes to the Minnesota Tax Court. The Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral is available for qualifying homeowners 65+ with income at or below $96,000. Minnesota has an estate tax on estates above $3 million; no Minnesota inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
SENIOR SERVICES
Scott County Senior Services
200 Fourth Avenue West, Shakopee, MN 55379
Phone: (952) 496-8686
Senior transportation, Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, ADRC services, home modification, and long-term care options counseling for Scott County residents.
Senior Services
Scott County Senior Services
200 Fourth Avenue West, Shakopee, MN 55379
Phone: (952) 496-8686
Senior transportation, Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, ADRC services, home modification, and long-term care options counseling for Scott County residents.
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Scott County District Court (probate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Scott County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Scott County District Court Scott County Justice Center, 200 Fourth Avenue West, Shakopee, MN 55379 (952) 496-8200 Scott County is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, seated in Shakopee.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Minnesota follows the Uniform Probate Code, which keeps most estates on a streamlined informal track. Minnesota’s small-estate shortcuts are unusual among states in that they can include real property, not just personal property.
Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1201) – for personal property only. The entire probate estate – including the contents of any safe deposit box, less liens and encumbrances – must be under $75,000. Joint tenancy property and assets that pass by beneficiary designation (life insurance, transfer-on-death accounts) don’t count toward the threshold. A 30-day waiting period applies after death, and no court filing is required – the affidavit is presented directly to the institution holding the property.
Summary Assignment – can include real property, and is court-based. Covers estates up to $75,000, including real property. A certified copy of the court’s Decree of Distribution is filed in the county real estate records to transfer title.
Summary Administration (Minn. Stat. § 524.3-1203) – the higher-threshold real-property option, covering estates up to $150,000, exclusive of the exempt homestead. The homestead itself is excluded from the value calculation entirely for both Summary Assignment and Summary Administration – Minnesota’s homestead exemption protects the family home from most creditor claims and it descends to the surviving spouse free of most claims against the estate. If closing and distribution follow the terms of a will, a formal probate hearing for the will is still required before a summary decree can issue.
STEP 2: FORMAL/INFORMAL PROBATE (for estates above the thresholds)
File with the District Court in the county where the decedent was domiciled; informal probate is available for most estates, with the personal representative appointed by the Registrar and minimal ongoing court interaction.
The personal representative publishes a creditor notice and directly notifies known creditors, opening a 4-month creditor claim period.
Once the creditor period closes and debts are paid, assets can typically be distributed and the estate closed without returning to court, unless there’s a dispute or a beneficiary requests a formal accounting.
Formal probate – requiring a hearing before a judge – is used in more complicated situations, such as will contests or disputes over the personal representative.
THE 3-YEAR DEADLINE – MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN MOST STATES Informal probate is no longer available after 3 years from the date of death, though formal probate may still be possible in limited circumstances.
What it costs
Small estate procedures can move relatively quickly once the 30-day wait passes. Standard informal probate is largely governed by the 4-month creditor period, so most straightforward estates take at least that long to close.
Minnesota has its own state estate tax, but the exemption threshold is relatively high – $3 million – so most Minnesota families aren’t affected. Rates on the amount above the exemption range from 13% to 16%, applied on a graduated scale; the exemption is not portable between spouses. Minnesota has no state inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
301 Fuller St. S., Shakopee, MN 55379
(952) 445-1411
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
200 4th Ave. W., Shakopee, MN 55379
(952) 496-8180
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
MN DHS — Metro Region
(952) 496-8686
St. Francis Regional Medical Center
stfrancis-shakopee.com (Shakopee — quality regional hospital; Twin Cities Health affiliate)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Scott County Public Health – Shakopee, MN 55379
Hospital: Ridgeview Medical Center – Waconia, MN, (952) 442-2191, a highly rated regional hospital accessible to the west; M Health Fairview Shakopee also serves the county directly.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Shakopee
Population: 160,000
Area: 357 sq mi
Established: 1853
Tier: 2
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Scott County facilities via Amazon.
