Woodbury ( ) is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, east of Saint Paul along Interstate 94. It is part of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. The population was 75,102 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 81,558 in 2025, making it Minnesota's seventh-most populous city.
History
At almost 36 square miles, Woodbury is a direct descendant of one of the congressional townships into which Minnesota Territory when the Native Americans of the United States ceded the territory and opened it to "settlement". Woodbury was originally named Red Rock, but was renamed after Levi Woodbury, the first justice of the Supreme Court of the United States to attend law school, after it was realized that another Red Rock Township existed in Minnesota. When first settled in 1844, the land was mostly wood, but it was converted to farmland. The township government was organized in 1858. One of the city's few surviving 19th-century farms, the Charles Spangenberg Farmstead, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1955, the first suburban development broke ground in Woodbury: Woodbury Heights. After some years of growth, the town government could not adequately provide services for new developments, and it became clear that Woodbury needed the government of a village with extra privileges. The earliest proposal for incorporation officially came in 1963 after two years of debate.
The Minnesota Municipal Commission had recently found that the fragmented way in which the Minneapolis suburbs and the suburbs around White Bear Lake had developed was disadvantageous, as it made coordinating sewers, public water systems, and other utilities difficult. Thus, the commission had been encouraging towns to incorporate in full whenever possible.
Since 1961, the Town of Cottage Grove had been petitioning to become a village, and the Minnesota Municipal Commission took it upon itself to push for a joint incorporation of Woodbury and Cottage Grove as the Village of Washington. The two town commissions agreed to the idea, and the issue was put up for a vote during the general election of 1963. It lost with 662 votes for joint incorporation, and 1,284 against. Cottage Grove incorporated on its own in 1965.
In 1966, a series of meetings took place setting up the incorporation of the Village of Woodbury. A vote was conducted on February 14, 1967, with 543 voting for incorporation, and 164 against. The Village was officially incorporated on March 7, 1967.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and (2.32%) is water.
The city is bounded on the northern side by Interstate 94, the south by the plane of 60th Street South, the west by Century Avenue, and the east by Manning Avenue. The adjoining cities in these directions are, respectively, Oakdale, Landfall, Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove, Maplewood, Newport and Afton.
Woodbury is composed of upland between the valleys of the Mississippi River and St. Croix River. Its northeast corner lies within the watershed of Valley Creek, one of the few remaining trout streams in the Twin Cities area. Valley Creek flows eastward to the St. Croix River at Afton. Woodbury also contains several small lakes, including Powers, Wilmes, Colby, Carver, and Battle Creek. Battle Creek Lake is the source of Battle Creek, which flows westward to the Mississippi River in Saint Paul.
Climate
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Woodbury, Minnesota – racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)Population1990Population2000Population2010Population2020 Number Percent Number Percent Number PercentNumberPercent White alone (NH) 18,743 93.36% 41,238 88.75% 49,016 79.11% 53,461 71.18% Black or African American alone (NH) 302 1.50% 1,152 2.48% 3,392 5.47% 5,500 7.32% Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 60 0.30% 110 0.24% 147 0.24% 179 0.24% Asian alone (NH) 617 3.07% 2,317 4.99% 5,645 9.11% 8,556 11.39% Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 6 0.01% 15 0.02% 19 0.03% Other race alone (NH) 7 0.03% 52 0.11% 68 0.11% 258 0.34% Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 592 1.27% 1,349 2.18% 3,526 4.69% Hispanic or Latino (any race) 346 1.72% 996 2.14% 2,329 3.76% 3,603 4.80% Total 20,075 100.00% 46,463 100.00% 61,961 100.00% 75,102 100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 75,102 people, 27,290 households, and 19,947 families residing in the city.
The median age was 38.3 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.5 males age 18 and over.
Of these households, 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 59.9% were married-couple households, 11.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 28,304 housing units, of which 3.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.
99.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.2% lived in rural areas.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 54,319 72.3% Black or African American 5,578 7.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 246 0.3% Asian 8,576 11.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 19 0.0% Some other race 1,072 1.4% Two or more races 5,292 7.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 3,603 4.8%
2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 61,961 people, 22,594 households, and 16,688 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 23,568 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 81.4% White, 5.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 9.1% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.
There were 22,594 households, of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.20.
The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 29.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 8.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 46,463 people, 16,676 households, and 12,657 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 17,541 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.04% White, 2.51% African American, 0.24% Native American, 5.01% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 16,676 households, out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $76,109, and the median income for a family was $84,997. Males had a median income of $60,224 versus $37,676 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,606. About 0.8% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.
Recent estimates According to realtor website Zillow, the average price of a home in Woodbury as of October 31, 2025, is $451,932.
As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 31,236 estimated households in Woodbury, with an average of 2.57 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $111,734. About 5.0% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Woodbury has an estimated 66.5% employment rate, with 54.5% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 94.4% holding a high school diploma. The survey estimated 32,796 housing units at an average density of . Economy State Farm Insurance was a large-scale employer in the city, employing about 2,000 people in a building that opened in 1994. In 2006 the multi-department facility was relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska, and the building remained vacant until it was demolished in 2015 for redevelopment. There are many smaller employers, such as the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology and offices for financial corporations. Many Woodbury residents work at 3M, whose headquarters are a few miles west, in Maplewood.
A large part of the economy is retail. The two largest retail centers are Tamarack Village, near the intersection of Radio Drive and Interstate 94, and Woodbury Village, near the intersection of Valley Creek Road and Interstate 494. Woodbury Lakes, an upscale retail development with an open-air mall layout, was completed in 2005.
Largest employers According to the city's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report:
Rank Employer # of Employees1M Health Fairview (HealthEast)1,0132South Washington County School District ISD 8339643Target Corporation86443M7595Self Esteem Brands4726Summit Orthopedics3977HealthPartners (includes TRIA)3938Long Term Care Group, Inc.3179City of Woodbury25010Saint Therese199Total5,628
Other important employers include eFunds, Long Term Care Group and Dean Foods/Land O'Lakes.
Arts and culture There are many local events year-round. On the last weekend of August, the Woodbury Days Council hosts a festival in Ojibway Park called Woodbury Days. It includes a parade, carnival, live music, fireworks, and booths for the city's shops, organizations, and services. City ambassadors for the event are called "royalty". Woodbury Days is also known for its "Taste of Woodbury" tent, with food from many local restaurants.
Parks and recreation
Woodbury has 63 parks, covering about , and about of trails.The trails, most of which are paved, connect many of the parks. The parks contain features such as playgrounds, splash pads, a skatepark, a sand volleyball court, and a disc golf course. Three of the largest parks encircle Colby, Wilmes, and Powers lakes. The indoor Central Park is adjacent to the public library. M Health Fairview Sports Center is the primary athletic location, including softball fields, baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields, two indoor ice arenas, and an outdoor ice arena.
Two golf courses are in the city: Prestwick (privately owned) and Eagle Valley (public).
Government Woodbury has a weak-mayor, mayor-council government. In presidential election years, Woodbury elects two city council members at large. In midterm election years, it elects a mayor and two city council members at large. As the city's population has grown, Woodbury has shifted toward the Democratic and Democratic-Farmer-Labor parties, with the city not voting for a Republican in a presidential election since 2004.