Chanhassen is a city in Carver and Hennepin counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 20,321 at the 2000 census, with a 2006 estimated population of 23,520. The origin of the name comes from the Dakota word chanhasen meaning "sugar-maple tree" (chan, tree; haza, a tree with sap). The northern metro area Hassan Township carries the latter syllable of the word to avoid confusion. Chanhassen was ranked as the #2 best place to live in America in 2009 by Money Magazine.