Population of Anoka-Hennepin School District community tops 260,000

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board certifies a population for district residents annually, a number now estimated at 260,284. The number represents a projected 4,639 resident increase in one year according to state demographer projections. 

Why it matters: The approved census figure is used to determine tax levies for funding community education programs in the district. It is also an indicator of school and community vitality as a preferred place to live and raise a family. 

Go deeper: For comparison, if Anoka-Hennepin communities were one city it would be the third largest in Minnesota and in the top 100 in population in the nation. The district covers approximately 176 square miles and includes all or parts of the cities of Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Dayton, Fridley, Ham Lake, Nowthen and Oak Grove townships.

Steady enrollment: Despite a lower overall resident population than either Minneapolis or St. Paul, Anoka-Hennepin Schools is projected to enroll 37,411 students next year, a number which is nearly the same as 2025-26 enrollment and the highest enrollment for a school district in the State of Minnesota.