Burnsville was a rural, primarily Irish, farming community which has grown from 2,700 people in 1960 to become the tenth largest city in the state with a population of over 60,220 people.
Burnsville is home to a regional mall comprised of 1.2 million square feet, more than 3,300 acres of parks and wildlife refuge lands, a variety of recreational opportunities including a major ski resort, over 2,200 businesses, and many fine lodging and dining facilities.
The city is fifteen minutes or less from the Minnesota Zoological Gardens, Valleyfair Amusement Park, Mystic Lake Casino, the Renaissance Festival, and the Mall of America. Burnsville is conveniently close to both Minneapolis and St. Paul.