Orono was originally part of Excelsior Township. In 1868, it became part of Medina Township. Residents received permission from Hennepin County to form the independent town of Orono in 1889.[8] It was incorporated as a city in 1955.
On November 21, 2023, a Hennepin County Court found Orono in contempt for violating an injunctive relief order designed to safeguard the Long Lake Fire Department, its longstanding fire service provider.[11] The court issued the order after Orono hired the Long Lake Fire Chief, attempted to take control over Long Lake Station 2, purchased a ladder truck Long Lake was considering, and asked the state legislator to forcibly transfer Long Lake's pensions to Orono to build its own fire department, while Long Lake remains contracted to serve Orono, Minnetonka Beach, and Medina.[12][13] The contempt order was likely the first ever issued to a municipality in Minnesota and resulted from the city willfully disobeying the provisions of the injunction prohibiting the recruitment of Long Lake firefighters and the use of Long Lake Station 2.[14] The court also found Mayor Dennis Walsh and Fire Chief James Van Eyll colluded to intimidate a Long Lake firefighter in violation of the order and fined the city for its violations.[13]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.15 square miles (65.14 km2), of which 15.98 square miles (41.39 km2) is land and 9.17 square miles (23.75 km2) is water.[15]U.S. Highway 12 serves as a main route.
As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 7,437 people, 2,826 households, and 2,155 families living in the city. The population density was 465.4 inhabitants per square mile (179.7/km2). There were 3,209 housing units at an average density of 200.8 per square mile (77.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 2,826 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.7% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.02. As of the 2013 American Community Survey, the Orono median household and family incomes are $100,362 and $117,024, respectively. Less than 2.5% of all families are living at or below the poverty level.[17]
The median age in the city was 45.7 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.7% were from 25 to 44; 38.8% were from 45 to 64; and 12.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.2% male and 48.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 7,538 people, 2,766 households, and 2,196 families living in the city. The population density was 468.9 inhabitants per square mile (181.0/km2). There were 2,909 housing units at an average density of 181.0 per square mile (69.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.73% White, 0.27% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 2,766 households, out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.8% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 32.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $88,314, and the median income for a family was $101,114. Males had a median income of $61,913 versus $34,964 for females. The per capita income for the city was $65,825. About 0.5% of families and 1.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.
