Lakeville /ˈleɪkvɪl/ is an exurb of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and the largest city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul along Interstate Highway 35. Starting as a flourishing milling center, its agriculture industry and other major industries are still in operation. Lakeville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Twin Cities area. The population was 69,490 at the 2020 census. making it Minnesota's tenth most populous city.

Lakeville first became notable in 1910 when Marion Savage built the Dan Patch Railroad Line to service his Antlers Amusement Park. While many of Lakeville's workers commute northward to Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and more central suburbs like Bloomington, Lakeville has had major industry since the 1960s—including the Airlake Industrial Park, which is served by Airlake Airport, a regional reliever airport.

A military road was constructed between Fort Snelling and forts to the south.[which?] In 1855, J. J. Brackett, a Saint Paul lumber baron and mail carrier using the road, decided to plant a site halfway between Saint Paul and Saint Peter on a lake he named Prairie Lake. The village was established as Lakeville Township in 1858. Notoriety came when Colonel Marion Savage expanded his entertainment business by constructing Antlers Amusement Park in 1910. Riding on fame from his success with the Dan Patch racing horse and the park's popularity, the lake was renamed Lake Marion, and the rail line servicing the park named the Dan Patch Railroad Line.

With the mostly rural landscape, early settlers were farmers. A high percentage were Scandinavian. Other ethnic groups included Irish, Scots, and English, each of whom had spread out from Hamilton Landing and Burnsville. In Karen Miller's diary from 1840 to 1895, Danes reportedly outnumbered Norwegians; travel to Minneapolis was not uncommon for the rural township. Enggren's Grocery was a downtown staple since 1900 until it closed in 2006.

Lakeville's development later in the 20th century followed the typical pattern for the outer-ring suburban Twin Cities. The town was officially incorporated as the City of Lakeville in 1967. It remained primarily agricultural, as postwar development did not immediately absorb Lakeville (as well as Interstate 35's later completion date). In the early 21st century, housing and population increases were due to rising land costs in the metropolitan area, causing Lakeville to become a boomtown.[citation needed]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 37.83 square miles (97.98 km2), of which 36.06 square miles (93.39 km2) is land and 1.77 square miles (4.58 km2) is water. Lakeville includes the Argonne Farms post-World War I settlement project which failed in the early 20th century and was redeveloped in the 21st century into typical suburban retail. Since it was a semi-autonomous village within Lakeville Township before the city's incorporation, it continues to appear today on maps as Argonne.

A branch of the Vermillion River flows through Lakeville. Its headwaters are just west of the city limits in Credit River Township, and it flows eastward across Dakota County until it empties into the Mississippi River at the Wisconsin border. Much of Lakeville drains into the Vermillion River watershed. North Creek, a major tributary of the Vermillion, begins its flow in northern Lakeville and flows eastward to meet the Vermillion near downtown Farmington just east of Lakeville. The Vermillion River has been designated as a trout stream by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Lakeville's climate is classified as warm-summer humid continental with features of a hot-summer humid continental (Köppen Dfa).

As of the census of 2010, there were 55,954 people, 18,683 households, and 15,158 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,551.7 inhabitants per square mile (599.1/km2). There were 19,456 housing units at an average density of 539.5 per square mile (208.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.3% White, 2.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.

There were 18,683 households, of which 49.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.9% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 18.9% were non-families. 14.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.32.

The median age in the city was 34.8 years. 31.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.8% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 5.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

As of the census of 2020, there were 74,553 people, 27,263 households, and 17,526 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,192.4 inhabitants per square mile (460.4/km2). There were 13,799 housing units at an average density of 381.5 per square mile (147.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.7% White, 4.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 6.0% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.3% of the population.

There are 27,263 households, out of which 56.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75% were married couples living together, 10% were female only owned, and 11% were non-families. The average household size was 2.8 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population is currently 74,551, with 31% under the age of 19, 7% from 20 to 29, 31% from 30 to 49, 24% from 50 to 69, and 7% who were 70 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years old. The population is 51% male, and 49% female.

The median income for a household in the city $119,970, and the median income for a family was $129,069 as of 2023. Males had a median income of $65,474 versus $40,263 for females. The per capita income for the city was $52,634. About 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Airlake Industrial Park, developed by Maynard Johnson with colleagues at Bloomington-based Hitchcock Industries, is home to as many as 200 companies and an estimated 4,500 employees. The 1,500-acre park, one of the state's largest contiguous industrial parks, has attracted companies ranging from start-ups to large corporations.

Airlake Industrial Park was a contrived name – “air” represented the airport that Hitchcock Industries built on the grounds and “lake” signified nearby Lake Marion.

Lakeville is served by the Airlake Airport, which has a single runway with an ILS approach. The airport is managed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission as a reliever facility to draw general aviation traffic. The FAA operates the Minneapolis ARTCC (air route traffic control center) in Farmington, several miles away from the airport. This center provides traffic control services for Minnesota and surrounding states.

Large farms are still in operation, producing most of their revenue in corn, soybeans, and dairy cattle.

Post Consumer Brands has its headquarters in Lakeville since 2015.

Lakeville has many recreational opportunities. As of 2020, Lakeville boasts 3,021 acres of parks, recreation and preserves. The Parks & Recreation Department maintains a total of 62 public properties, including neighborhood and community parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, greenways, trails, tennis courts, skating rinks, picnic areas, conservation areas, nature areas, several public fishing areas, swimming beaches, the City's Central Maintenance Facility, Senior Center, and the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Notable parks include Ritter Farm Park, North Park, Antlers Park, King Park, Valley Lake Park, and Aronson Park, which features a Veterans Memorial.

Antlers Park features a large swimming beach with volleyball courts, baseball diamonds, a playground area, water equipment, a picnic area, a fishing pier, and horseshoe pits. Orchard Lake Beach has a picnic area, shore fishing, playground equipment, and volleyball courts. Valley Lake Beach includes playground equipment, a picnic area, a walking trail around the lake, a fishing pier and seasonal restrooms.

The city of Lakeville is governed by a five-member city council, including a mayor, although a City Administrator runs day-to-day municipal operations. A professional police force and volunteer fire department protect the city's residents. The city operates a large parks department which includes a senior center, an entertainment center, dozens of various neighborhood and community parks, and many miles of multipurpose trails.

Luke Hellier is the mayor of Lakeville. The city is in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented since 2019 by Angie Craig. Lakeville is represented in the Minnesota Senate by District 57 Senator Zach Duckworth. In the Minnesota House, Lakeville is represented by District 57A Representative Jon Koznick, and District 57B Representative Jeff Witte.

The city is served by three different school districts, whose boundaries were determined while the community was largely agricultural. Today Independent School District 196 ("Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan") and Farmington School District 192 serve parts of northern and eastern Lakeville. Most Lakeville households are served by Lakeville Area School District 194. In the fall of 2005, the Lakeville School District opened its second high school, Lakeville South. Some students attend public schools in other school districts chosen by their families under Minnesota's open enrollment statute. Lakeville North was a Blue Ribbon school of excellence in 2009. Each high school has nearly 2,000 students. There are eight public elementary schools and three public middle schools. Century Middle School students go on to attend Lakeville North, McGuire Middle School students go on to attend Lakeville South, and Kenwood Middle School students attend either school, depending on their neighborhood of residence.

Lakeville is directly served by Interstate 35, as well as Cedar Avenue/MN 77 to the east.