Some of the University of Minnesota Science Department's most significant discoveries have taken place at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, which borders the northern portion of East Bethel. This reserve contains the greatest range of ecological diversity in the entire state, and thus, is the perfect site for advanced research.
If, after a quick tour of East Bethel, you were asked to guess its population, you might assume that the city held no more than a few thousand residents
Some of the University of Minnesota Science Department's most significant discoveries have taken place at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, which borders the northern portion of East Bethel. This reserve contains the greatest range of ecological diversity in the entire state, and thus, is the perfect site for advanced research.
If, after a quick tour of East Bethel, you were asked to guess its population, you might assume that the city held no more than a few thousand residents. Amazingly enough, East Bethel has a population of 11,626 (2010 U.S. Census data), although this is impossible to tell based on the rural feel of the city. Although it is technically a Twin Cities exurb, the city feels more like an extension of rural Minnesota -- it is dotted by several small farms, as well as several parks and a whole lot of open space.
Moving to East Bethel From the Twin Cities
The vast majority of residents who choose to move to East Bethel already live in the Twin Cities, although, typically, they reside in suburbs close to Minneapolis and St. Paul. Often, prospective residents select East Bethel because they have tired of the fast pace of life in the Twin Cities and are looking for something a bit more peaceful. East Bethel serves as a nice in-between for anyone hoping to find apartment opportunities that straddle the fine line between easy access to the city and the slower pace of small town life.
Types of Housing in East Bethel
Most of the housing opportunities in East Bethel involve single-family residences, although duplexes are also fairly common. Finding 2 bedroom apartments for rent may be a bit more difficult, although there are a few complexes located near Interstate 35 and Highway 61. Keep in mind that competition for these rare apartments can be fierce; as such, it's important to turn in your application at least two months before your intended move.
The northern suburbs of the Twin Cities experienced a significant surge in growth during the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers intent on expanding their homes decided to pursue life in the exurbs. Many of these residents moved closer in to the Cities during the economic recession, forced away by a combination of mortgage expenses and the rising cost of gas. This opened up a huge opportunity for those interested in rental houses, as a number of the foreclosed homes were snatched up by landlords. If you're interested in renting a home with a sizable yard, East Bethel may serve as the perfect opportunity for your transition to exurb life.
This Minnesota town can be broken into a few neighborhoods, each with its own places and perks that make people love living there.
Booster Park: At the center of most of the civic and cultural activity in East Bethel lies Booster Park, the edge of which lays claim to the East Bethel City Hall. Booster Park serves as a major recreational center, as it boasts several softball fields, as well as tennis and basketball courts. Every summer, Booster Park is also the site of the East Bethel Booster Days, an annual event featuring a scholarship pageant, a parade and plenty of other entertaining activities.
Coon Lake: Coon Lake is a large body of water bordering the southeastern portion of East Bethel. It is also the site of one of the city's most dense residential areas, although, even here, many of the homes are spaced far apart. A number of residents enjoy living in houses directly on the lake, with others preferring to reside near the much smaller Goose and Anderson Lakes.
Jackson Street: Jackson Street meanders up the western section of East Bethel, serving as the central of a largely agricultural neighborhood. There are a few clusters of single-family homes, with the rest of this neighborhood highlighted by small farms and plenty of open space.
Cedar Creek Ecosystem: The vast swaths of open space in the Cedar Creek Ecosystem border the northeastern section of East Bethel. This is one of the least populous portions of East Bethel, with a few homes interspersed along Naples Street and Fawn Lake Drive. The interspersed neighborhood directly south of the Cedar Creek Ecosystem is perfect for anyone on the hunt for a rural way of life that is still within a relatively short drive of the Twin Cities.
John Anderson Memorial Park: The northwestern corner of East Bethel boasts multiple lakes and parks, including Minard Lake, Coopers Lake, Bonde Park and, of course, the John Anderson Memorial Park. This community is located a short drive from the town of Bethel, which, interestingly enough, is far smaller than the city of East Bethel. Residents of East Bethel regard Bethel as something of an East Bethel neighborhood in and of itself, although, technically, it is classified as a separate city.
There are many benefits to living in East Bethel; unfortunately, access to excellent public transit is not one of them. One of the trade-offs you make when you decide to settle in an area featuring vast swaths of open land is spending quite a bit of time in your car. This may include your daily commute to the Twin Cities -- most residents of East Bethel work in either St. Paul, Minneapolis or one of the inner ring suburbs to the north of these cities, the commute to which will take at least half an hour on a good day. However, in exchange for this added driving, you'll enjoy a sense of peace and quiet no longer available in most of the Twin Cities suburbs. Small farms are common here and as such, it's not uncommon for residents to keep horses, bee colonies and other markers of hobby farms, whether or not they are actually farmers by profession.
Although entertainment options in East Bethel are decidedly scant when compared to similarly sized inner-ring suburbs, there are plenty of opportunities for those dedicated to outdoor recreation. Sports enthusiasts spend the majority of their time perfecting their techniques at Booster Park, which boasts a number of softball fields and other athletic facilities. Recreational opportunities are also abundant at John Anderson Memorial Park and Bonde Park. With such easy access to gorgeous scenery, residents need little else to keep themselves entertained.
