Waite Park is fun -- seriously, it's really fun! Every summer, it celebrates for a full week with the Waite Park Fun Festival, and because that was so much fun, they added a Fall Festival as well!
Waite Park is a town (not to be confused with the neighborhood called Waite Park located in the city of Minneapolis) located in the north central area of Minnesota in the St
Waite Park is fun -- seriously, it's really fun! Every summer, it celebrates for a full week with the Waite Park Fun Festival, and because that was so much fun, they added a Fall Festival as well!
Waite Park is a town (not to be confused with the neighborhood called Waite Park located in the city of Minneapolis) located in the north central area of Minnesota in the St. Cloud metropolitan area, and about an hour from the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. There were 6,715 people in Waite Park as of the 2010 census, and just over 200,000 in the entire St. Cloud MSA. Waite Park is located immediately west of the city of St. Cloud, with County Road 75 and Minnesota State Highway 23 running through the center of town. The town of Waite Park includes no fewer than seven parks in its 8.9 miles of land, including town-favorite Quarry Park, which features a popular swimming hole.
Waite Park is a great place to live -- it has a low cost of living, stable housing market and lots of local amenities. Transportation in Waite Park, like most of Minnesota, is mostly by car, though there is public transportation available. There is a strong sense of community here and people look out for their neighbors. You should be aware that the weather can be severe in the winter time, and that winter is long and cold in Waite Park; if you love winter outdoor sports, you will love Waite Park.
As mentioned, your apartment search in Waite Park should be pretty painless. There are plenty of rental properties, and the pricing is quite affordable regardless of the type of rental needed. Indeed, the apartment communities are very competitive and aggressive in pricing and renting their available units. The town offers a range of apartment communities and apartments for rent; small complexes are available, as well as large and luxurious gated communities, depending on your preferences. Two of the most popular neighborhoods for apartments are the east side of town near the Sauk River, and the western part which is near Quarry Park.
You will find amenities like swimming pools, large floor plans, fitness centers and pet-friendly accommodations in Waite Park and you will get a lot of bang for your buck in Waite Park, no matter what type of apartment home you prefer! That, combined with the many amenities in the area, makes this town in Minnesota a great place to live.
When anticipating a move to Waite Park, you will have ample choices for renting an apartment in all areas of town. You could find a one-bedroom apartment for rent, studio apartments for rent, and larger apartments and townhouses as well. Supply is very good, so contacting your main choices a month or so ahead of your planned move should be sufficient. Because of its small size, there are no distinct neighborhoods in Waite Park, but that doesn't stop everyone from acting neighborly! Get to know the people around you, and start your own community persona.
Waite Park is a neighborly town; block parties and cookouts on summer weekends are typical, and the National Night Out is celebrated in a big way here in the town, second just to the Fun Festival. Most people spend time at the fabulous parks in town, which offer hiking, swimming, mountain biking, rock climbing and fishing. In the winter, you will find lots of people snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
Employment and Income
Common occupations in Waite Park include careers in driving, electrical equipment and vehicle mechanics, metal and plastic work, maintenance and grounds work, material moving and other sales and related work. Local businesses include Waite Park, the colleges in town, schools, banks and other retail locations. Many people also commute to nearby St. Cloud for work, and a larger percentage work from home than the nationwide norm. (Might be that cold weather keeping them from wanting to go outside!)
Climate
Minnesota usually has two seasons: winter and construction season (also known as any time it's warm and dry enough to do construction). As mentioned, Waite Park has long, often very cold winters. The coldest temperature averages about 13 degrees in January, and dips down into the sub-zero category are not uncommon at all. Though it does not snow a lot in the area in comparison to some other places, the snow usually does not melt until springtime. July is the warmest month of the year, with average temperatures around 72 degrees; there are extremes in summer as well, with temperatures as low as 25 and as high as 101 being recorded. August is the wettest month of the year, with over four inches of rain on average.
Recreation
The locals love their parks, and with good reason. Quarry Park is 684 acres large and offers a variety of different activities for people of all ages all year round. The swimming hole is a short and easy walk along winding trails with lots of that Minnesota wildlife. The Healthy Living Trail runs through town and offers exercise stations and tips about healthy lifestyles; the beautiful perennial gardens make it a pleasant trail. River's Edge Park is handicapped accessible and has baseball fields and a Splash Pad alongside the Sauk River. Community Park has an all-season pavilion, grills and a playground. Basically, there is never a shortage of natural environments to find some fun in (makes sense, given the whole focus on fun in this town. When you start your search for apartments, you might want to be aware of the proximity of your favorite recreational spot for convenience of use.
Overall, there isn't much about Waite Park that isn't idyllic and ideal for your next home. Whether you prefer the greenery that comes with living in a small Minnesota town or the convenience of being close to two incredible cities of commerce, sports teams, and fun, there's sure to be a place for you in the lovely area of Waite Park
