Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul, often called St. Paul, is the capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is also the county seat of Ramsey County. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 311,527, making it Minnesota's second-most populous city.

Saint Paul and its neighbor Minneapolis form the core of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which is the third most populous in the Midwest with around 3.7 million people.

Important places in Saint Paul include the Minnesota State Capitol and the Science Museum of Minnesota. The city is also home to several sports teams, such as the Minnesota Wild, Minnesota United FC, and the minor-league baseball team the St. Paul Saints.

Saint Paul was established in November 1849 by the Legislative Assembly of the Minnesota Territory near Dakota Sioux settlements. It became a city in 1854 and later grew important because of railroads. The city has a mayor–council government, and its current mayor is Kaohly Her, who began her term in 2026.

History

Main article: History of Saint Paul, Minnesota

The area now known as Saint Paul has a long and rich history. Native American burial mounds show that people lived there as long as 2,000 years ago. The Dakota people, called the Mdewakanton, lived near the river and called the area Imniza-Ska, meaning 'white cliffs,' because of the sandstone cliffs there.

In the early 1800s, American soldiers built Fort Snelling nearby. Traders and settlers came to the area, and a small community grew up, first called “Pig’s Eye” after a local tavern owner. In 1841, a priest named Lucien Galtier built a chapel and named it after Saint Paul, and the settlement soon took that name too.

Saint Paul became an important place for travel and trade. Many steamboats stopped there, and it was the last good place for boats to land before the river became too shallow. Later, railroads were built there as well. Over time, many different groups of people came to live in Saint Paul, including new immigrants from many parts of the world.

In 1904, storms and tornadoes damaged many buildings in the downtown area. In the 1960s, some neighborhoods were torn down to make way for new roads. This changed the city and brought attention to unfair housing practices.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Saint Paul continued to welcome new immigrants, including many people from Southeast Asia. The city has a special archive to preserve the history of the Hmong community.

In late 2025 and early 2026, there were large efforts to enforce immigration laws, leading to many protests and legal actions.

Geography

Saint Paul is a city in Minnesota that is shaped by water. The city sits where the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers meet, a place formed long ago during the last ice age. Glaciers and ancient lakes helped create the rivers and the steep hills in the area. Saint Paul is located in the eastern part of the state.

The Mississippi River forms part of the city's western border, with Minneapolis nearby to the west. Other nearby cities and towns include Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Roseville, Maplewood, West Saint Paul, South Saint Paul, Lilydale, Mendota, and Mendota Heights. The city's largest lakes are Pig's Eye Lake, Lake Phalen, and Lake Como. According to the United States Census Bureau, Saint Paul covers an area of 56.18 square miles (145.51 km²), with 51.98 square miles (134.63 km²) of land and 4.20 square miles (10.88 km²) of water.

The city has many parks and recreation areas, ranking second in the United States for park quality and access.

Neighborhoods

Main article: Neighborhoods in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul is divided into 17 planning districts to help neighborhoods take part in local government. These districts give neighborhood groups a say in land use and development, and they help organize community activities.

The city's 17 Planning Districts are:

1. Southeast
2. Greater East Side
3. West Side
4. Dayton's Bluff
5. Payne-Phalen
6. North End
7. Thomas Dale (Frogtown)
8. Summit-University
9. West Seventh
10. Como Park
11. Hamline-Midway
12. Saint Anthony Park
13. Union Park
14. Macalester-Groveland
15. Highland Park
16. Summit Hill
17. Downtown

Climate

See also: Climate of the Twin Cities and Climate of Minnesota

Saint Paul has cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers, typical of the Upper Midwest. The city can experience many types of weather, including snow, ice, rain, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and fog. Because it is far north and lacks large lakes to control the temperature, Saint Paul can get very cold in the winter.

Climate change may bring more extreme heat and heavier rains, which could lead to flooding. Changes in temperature and rain patterns might also affect the spread of certain diseases carried by insects.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Saint Paul, Minnesota

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 311,527. The population density was 5,994 inhabitants per square mile (2,314.3/km²). There were 127,392 housing units at an average density of 2,451 per square mile (946/km²). In terms of race, the city's population was 50.5% White (21.1% German), 19.2% Asian (10.9% Hmong, 2.53% Burmese, 0.85% Vietnamese, 0.69% Chinese, 0.51% Indian), 16.8% Black or African American, 1% Native American, 4.8% from other races and 7.6% from two or more races. Residents of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race, made up 9.7% of the population.

According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016–2020, the median income for a household in the city was $59,717, and the median income for a family was $74,852. Male full-time workers had a median income of $50,186 versus $45,541 for female workers. The per capita income was $32,779. About 13.2% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over. Of the population age 25 and over, 87.6% were high school graduates or higher and 41.3% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 285,068 people, 111,001 households, and 59,689 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,484 inhabitants per square mile (2,117.5/km²). There were 120,795 housing units at an average density of 2,324 per square mile (897/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.1% White, 15.7% African American, 1.1% Native American, 15% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.6% of the population.

The median age in the city was 30.9 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.6% were from 25 to 44; 22.6% were from 45 to 64; and 9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

Ethnic history

The earliest known inhabitants of the St. Paul area, from about 400 AD, were members of the Hopewell tradition, who buried their dead in mounds on the river bluffs (now Indian Mounds Park). The next known inhabitants were the Mdewakanton Dakota in the 17th century.

By 1800, French-Canadian explorers came through the region and attracted fur traders. Fort Snelling and Pig's Eye Tavern also brought the first Yankees from New England and English, Irish, and Scottish immigrants, who had enlisted in the army and settled nearby after discharge. The first wave of immigration came with the Irish, who settled at Connemara Patch along the Mississippi.

In 1850, the first of many groups of Swedish immigrants passed through St. Paul on their way to farming communities in northern and western regions of the territory. A large group settled in Swede Hollow.

By the 1980s, the Thomas-Dale area became home to Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian people who had left their war-torn countries. A settlement program for the Hmong diaspora came soon after, and by 2000, St. Paul had the largest urban Hmong contingent in the nation.

Hmong Americans make up 11% of St. Paul's population as of 2021. Other large Southeast Asian populations live in Saint Paul, particularly Burmese Americans of the Karen and Karenni ethnic group, who immigrated to the U.S. as refugees in the 2000s and 2010s due to internal conflict and discrimination in Myanmar.

Mexican immigrants have settled in St. Paul since the 1930s; although Mexican populations exist throughout Saint Paul, by far the largest concentration of Mexican Americans is on St. Paul's West Side.

St. Paul has become home to a large number of Somalis and Ethiopians since the 1990s, largely as refugees fleeing conflict in their home regions.

African Americans in St. Paul initially entered through servitude to officers at Fort Snelling. Today, African Americans are one of the largest groups among Saint Paul's population.

Economy

The Minneapolis–Saint Paul–Bloomington area has many jobs, with most people working in services.

Big companies based in Saint Paul include Ecolab and Securian Financial Group Inc.. The 3M Company moved to Saint Paul in 1910 and had a historic headquarters building.

Saint Paul has used special funding methods to help build the city, including for a stadium and affordable housing.

Housing

In 2021, Saint Paul tried to control rising rent prices by limiting how much rent could go up each year. However, this rule was later changed, and rent increases became similar to nearby Minneapolis. The city has many homes, with about the same number of people renting as owning.

Culture

Every January, Saint Paul hosts the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, a fun event that started in 1886. It includes ice and snow sculpting contests, a treasure hunt, food, and activities. The Como Zoo and Conservatory and its Japanese Garden are popular spots to visit all year. The historic Landmark Center in downtown Saint Paul is home to many cultural groups.

Saint Paul is the birthplace of famous cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, creator of Peanuts. His work has inspired large decorations around the city. The city has many places to enjoy music and theater, including the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and the Minnesota Opera. Saint Paul also has many museums, such as the Minnesota Children's Museum and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Sports

Main articles: Sports in Minneapolis–Saint Paul and Sports in Minnesota

Saint Paul has many sports teams and activities. The Minnesota Wild play hockey in downtown Saint Paul at the Grand Casino Arena, which opened in 2000. This arena can host many different sports and concerts. It is where the Minnesota high school boys hockey tournament and girls volleyball tournament take place.

The St. Paul Saints are a baseball team that plays at CHS Field in downtown Saint Paul. Saint Paul also has teams for soccer, roller derby, and curling, among other sports. There are over 1,500 organized sports teams in Saint Paul run by the city's Parks and Recreation department.

Saint Paul is home to many famous sports players, including several who became well-known in Major League Baseball while playing for the Minnesota Twins. The city also has a big circus school called Circus Juventas.

In 2019, a new soccer stadium called Allianz Field opened in Saint Paul. It is where the Minnesota United FC team plays.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government and politics in Saint Paul, Minnesota and List of mayors of Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul has a form of government where a mayor leads the city, and a group of seven council members help make decisions. The mayor is chosen by everyone in the city, while council members are chosen by smaller areas called wards. The city uses a special voting system called ranked choice voting, and leaders serve for four years.

The city is led by its first African-American mayor, Melvin Carter. All seven council members are women, making Saint Paul a city with an all-female group of leaders. Saint Paul is also the capital of Minnesota, home to important state buildings and offices. It is part of Minnesota's 4th congressional district, represented by Betty McCollum.

The city is the county seat of Ramsey County, named after Alexander Ramsey, the state's first governor. Ramsey County is the smallest and most crowded county in Minnesota. It has a special form of government where a board chooses a county manager.

Education

Main article: Education in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul is known for its many schools and colleges. It has more colleges and universities than many other cities in the United States, except for Boston. Some well-known schools in Saint Paul include Saint Catherine University, Concordia University, Hamline University, Macalester College, the University of St. Thomas, and the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus.

The Saint Paul Public Schools district is the largest in Minnesota, serving around 39,000 students. The schools are very diverse, with students speaking many different languages. The district has many types of schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as special programs for students of all ages.

Media

Main article: Media in the Twin Cities

People in Saint Paul can watch 10 television stations, with five of them broadcasting from the city itself. There is one main newspaper, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, along with several smaller neighborhood papers. Media outlets based in Minneapolis, like the Star Tribune, also serve the Saint Paul area.

Saint Paul is home to two big national broadcast companies. Hubbard Broadcasting is located between Saint Paul and Minneapolis on University Avenue. Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is a network with nearly 40 stations across the Midwest. It offers local news, classical music, and a variety of other music types. The station has many listeners and members in the region.

Transportation

Residents of Saint Paul use Interstate 35E that runs north–south and Interstate 94 that runs east–west. Other important roads include U.S. Highway 52, Minnesota State Highway 280, and Minnesota State Highway 5. The city has special roads like Ayd Mill Road and Shepard Road/Warner Road that follow the shape of the land. Biking is becoming more popular with new bike lanes connecting to other paths in the metropolitan area. Downtown Saint Paul has a covered skyway system that stretches over many blocks.

Metro Transit offers bus and light rail service. The METRO Green Line is a light rail line that links downtown Saint Paul to downtown Minneapolis. It started service in 2014 and has many stops along the way. Plans are also in place for new rail lines to connect Saint Paul to the airport and shopping centers.

The Empire Builder train, operated by Amtrak, stops in Saint Paul on its trips between Chicago and Seattle or Portland. A new train service called the Borealis began in 2024, running between Saint Paul and Chicago.

Although Holman Airfield was important in the past, most flights in the area use the large Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. This airport is home to many airlines and serves as a main hub for Delta Air Lines and Sun Country Airlines.

Sister cities

Saint Paul has many sister cities around the world. These cities are friends and work together in many ways. Some of Saint Paul's sister cities are:

• Changsha, China
• Ciudad Romero, El Salvador
• Culiacán, Mexico
• Djibouti City, Djibouti
• George, South Africa
• Manzanillo, Mexico
• Modena, Italy
• Mogadishu, Somalia
• Nagasaki, Japan
• Neuss, Germany
• Novosibirsk, Russia
• Tiberias, Israel

Notable people

Saint Paul, Minnesota has been home to many famous people across different fields. Some well-known names include actors like Walter Abel and Josh Hartnett, comedians such as Louie Anderson and Mitch Hedberg, and authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The city has also produced many athletes, including Olympic gymnast Sunisa Lee, baseball players like Joe Mauer and Paul Molitor, and hockey players such as Herbie Brooks and Lindsey Vonn. Other notable individuals include Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, who grew up in Saint Paul, and Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota.