Burnsville, Minnesota Belly Dancers

Burnsville Factoid:
The Dakota nation ceded land in 1851 and relocated to Chief Shakopee's village--the current Shakopee-Mdewakanton Indian Reservation in nearby Prior Lake. The first European settlers were mostly Irish who originated in Saint Paul and came down river to seek farmland. Land south of the river was relatively cheap due to few crossing points in the river to access markets in Minneapolis. One of these Irish was William Byrne who had immigrated in 1840 from County Kilkenny, Ireland to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In 1855, he settled at the present day junction of County Road 34 and Judicial Road near the Scott County line, just southeast of old downtown Savage, and is two miles west of I-35W. He subsequently donated land there for a church, school, and a cemetery as well as serving Town Chairman. In 1858, the Dakota County Board authorized Byrnsville Township on the north by the Minnesota River, east by Eagan and Lebanon, south by Lakeville, and west by Scott County. From records known, at the establishment of the village, it was immediately named in honor of William Byrne. The Town Clerk had recorded variations of his name and by the mid-20th century incorporation, the Burnsville spelling prevailed. The school district was organized during this time as well. The Irish and Scottish settlers of this time left their names on many area roads and parks and their religion in Presbyterian, Protestant, and Catholic churches.  Burnsville Belly Dancers