About the City of Orono
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Orono
Until 1851, Orono and the region around it remained largely unexplored by white settlers, partly because of the Dakota Indians' efforts to keep Lake Minnetonka a secret. But once it was "discovered," settlers and farmers moved into the area, just a day's journey from the city markets. They began clearing forests, and in the late 1860's rail lines began carrying vacationers who built summer cottages along the shores of the lake. Today, Orono covers 24 1/2 square miles in Western Hennepin County. It continues to draw people in search of a rural way of life. It is prestigious community, with large, wooded lakeshore lots and estates.
Orono officials say that preserving the beauty and allure of the community is dependent on careful management of its most significant resource: Lake Minnetonka, the area's largest lake, covering 21 1/2 square miles.
Because the lake is replenished from precipitation, not spring or a river, it is very sensitive to pollutants. Orono residents and planners adhere to a comprehensive plan that seeks to preserve a rural quality and to maintain an ecological balance on land and lakeshore.
It's residential development philosophy is one of slow growth and low density. Besides Lake Minnetonka, Orono has five small lakes that also provide waterfront property. In fact, about half of Orono is open water or marshland.
