The area that became Apple Valley was first established in 1859 as Lebanon Township, and remained a farming community for nearly a century.

The firm that selected this area was in Apple Valley, California, so Thompson took that name for the development.

According to local developer Henry Broback, Lebanon Township was renamed Apple Valley because "...when you drive east on (County Road) 42 and turn to enter Lebanon, it reminded them of Apple Valley, California, which was a nice community.

"[7][8][failed verification] Voters in the township voted to incorporate in the 1968 general election.

The downtown area and its adjacent residential district (which formed the original core of the city when it was incorporated) are in a shallow valley.

Apple Valley is in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented by Angie Craig, a Democrat.

Apple Valley is home to the Minnesota Zoo, a nationally recognized zoological garden that houses hundreds of animals from several distinct climatological zones.

Collections include an indoor Tropics Trail featuring animals from the worlds rain forests and tropical habitats, the Minnesota Trail with native animals from Minnesota including black bears, wolves, wolverines and beaver pond.

The Northern Trail features large animals from the worlds cold climates.

The zoo also features an aquarium, an exhibit of penguins from South Africa and the popular Japanese snow monkeys,[30] There are six elementary, three middle and three high schools in the city, all operated by Independent School District 196.

[33] Interstate Highway 35E, Cedar Avenue, and County Road 42 are three of the main routes in Apple Valley.

Highway 77 briefly enters the northern part of Apple Valley and becomes County Road 23 / Cedar Avenue.

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority operates many weekday commuter buses to and from Downtown Minneapolis and Saint Paul.