Chaska is more than just the self-proclaimed "best small town in Minnesota."
Here are some people, places and things around the world that bear the name Chaska as well:
Chaska House, a turn-of-the-20th-century Revival Style house turned B&B in Texas.
Chaska Beach, a neighborhood in Huron, Ohio along Lake Erie that was originally conceived as a summer cottage resort for Cleveland families.
Chaska Potter, vocalist and guitarist for band Raining Jane. Oddly enough, her bio says that she was the third of six children which would make Chaska, a Native American term meaning "first born," slightly inaccurate in this case.
Chaska Vodka, a domestic vodka "made from purified water and filtered with high quality charcoal varieties. Chaska Vodka is usually consumed chilled and unmixed in small glasses accompanied by appetizers." Good news, there's also Chaska Royal Gin.
Pan Chaska Candy, a sugar-boiled hard candy from India.
Chaska the ship, a tug used by the U.S. Navy from 1944-1956. See photo here.
YOUR TURN: Are there other people, places or things named Chaska that we missed?


Here’s some background on...
Back to page topHere’s some background on the name Chaska, as taken from "Chaska: A Minnesota River City, Volume 1,” by LaVonne Barac.
"While cities are commonly thought of in the female gender of 'she,' Chaska's name belies the practice, for she bears a man's name. Chaska is derived from a Dakota word given as a name to male children. … The Dakota pronunciation has been given as Tchah-skay, but the common pronunciations of Shas-ca and Shas-ky have also been used.”
According to “Minnesota River City,” our city’s founders weren’t the only ones interested in the name. Chaska, along with “All Saints,” “Addiesville” and “Albion” were among “names discarded by the early residents of a bustling community which was finally named ‘Minneapolis.’”