Victoria has a way of making you slow down and look around. There’s a downtown where you can meet someone for coffee or dinner, lakes and trails close by, and plenty of places to spend an afternoon outdoors. If you haven’t spent much time here, it’s worth getting to know the city that Estoria Laketown will call home.
Victoria sits in Carver County, west of the Twin Cities. It has grown considerably from its early days as a farming community, yet its lakes, parks, and downtown still give it a character of its own.
From Laketown to Victoria
The area’s history reaches back to the 1850s, when settlers established farms and a small community began to take shape. There’s a connection in that history to Estoria’s name: when a post office opened in 1863, mail for the community was addressed to “Laketown.” The post office name changed to Victoria in 1883, and the village incorporated in 1915. The city’s name came from St. Victoria Church, whose parish was organized in the 1850s.
Victoria looks quite different today, but that history is still part of the place. The city has grown around a long-established downtown, with neighborhoods, businesses, and public spaces that give people reasons to spend time close to home.
A Downtown Worth Getting to Know
For someone new to Victoria, downtown is a good place to start. It’s a place to meet a friend, find a restaurant, or make a stop while you’re out for the day. It gives Victoria a center that feels distinct from the surrounding communities.
That matters when you’re considering where to live. The appeal of a location goes beyond the address itself. It’s also about the places you’ll return to and the ways you’ll spend your time once you’re there.
Lakes, Trails, and Room to Explore
Victoria calls itself the “City of Lakes and Parks,” and the name makes sense when you look at what’s nearby. The city has more than 50 miles of trails and sidewalks, while Carver Park Reserve sits just north of downtown. The reserve includes trails, lakes, wooded areas, and Lowry Nature Center, with ways to enjoy the park throughout the year.
You don’t need a full day planned to enjoy any of it. A walk, a visit to the nature center, or an afternoon near Lake Auburn can be enough. Victoria makes it easy to keep those options close.
Why Estoria Laketown Fits Here
Estoria Laketown is planned for more than 30 scenic acres near Lake Auburn, minutes from downtown Victoria. That setting brings together two things many prospective members are looking for: a home with less upkeep and a city where they can continue doing the things they enjoy.
Cooperative living gives member-owners a way to step back from responsibilities such as lawn care, snow removal, and exterior maintenance while keeping the benefits of ownership. What they do with that time is up to them. For some, it may mean traveling more often. For others, it may mean seeing family, getting outside, or becoming a regular at a favorite place in Victoria.
Estoria Laketown will be a new community, but Victoria already has plenty to discover. Its history, downtown, lakes, and parks make it a fitting place to picture what life here could look like.