Saint Paul Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul is the capital and second most populous city in the state of Minnesota. Located east of Minneapolis, it forms the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Saint Paul is known for its historic architecture, museums, sports teams, and large Hmong immigrant population.

History of Saint Paul

Founded in the 1840s as Pig’s Eye Landing, the city developed around a trading post alongside the Mississippi River. It was later renamed Saint Paul after the historic St. Paul’s Chapel built by early Catholic missionaries. When Minnesota achieved statehood in 1858, Saint Paul was named the state capital.

Due to its location along the river and proximity to Fort Snelling, Saint Paul became a major port and transportation hub in the 19th century. It had an early economy based around logging, steamboating, and railroads. Many immigrants came through Saint Paul on their way westward. Major industries like meatpacking and manufacturing also developed.

Today, Saint Paul has a diverse economy centered around government, healthcare, education, and technology companies. The city retains much of its historic charm and architecture from past eras. For more historical information, visit the History of Saint Paul page on Wikipedia.

Saint Paul Demographics

Saint Paul has a population of around 307,000 residents as of 2019, making it the 63rd largest city in the U.S. The broader Twin Cities metro area has about 3.6 million residents total.

Saint Paul is considered one of America’s most livable cities, with high education levels and standards of living. Over 90% of residents have a high school degree or higher education. Around 39% have a bachelor’s degree or advanced degree.

Government and Politics

As the state capital, Saint Paul is home to the Minnesota State Capitol building and many state government agencies. The city itself follows a “strong mayor” form of government.

The current Saint Paul mayor is Melvin Carter III, first elected in 2018. Saint Paul lies primarily within Minnesota’s 4th congressional district, represented by Democrat Betty McCollum.

More information about the City of Saint Paul government can be found at their official website: https://www.stpaul.gov/

Major Companies and Economy

Major private companies headquartered in Saint Paul include:

• Ecolab – 370 Wabasha Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55102; (800) 352-5326
• Securian Financial Group – 400 Robert Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55101; (651) 665-3500
• HealthPartners – 8170 33rd Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55425; (952) 883-5000

In addition to these large employers, Saint Paul has a healthy mix of mid-sized firms in technology, healthcare, financial services, higher education, and government.

Colleges and Universities

Top colleges and universities in Saint Paul include:

• University of St. Thomas – Private Catholic university. Website: https://www.stthomas.edu/
• Concordia University, St. Paul – Private Lutheran liberal arts university. Website: https://www.csp.edu/
• St. Catherine University – Private Catholic university focused on liberal arts, healthcare, business. Website: https://www.stkate.edu/

The broader Twin Cities area contains dozens of major colleges and universities that help drive the local economy.

Transportation

As part of the Twin Cities metro, Saint Paul has access to extensive transportation infrastructure:

• Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport – Major airport with domestic and international flights. Website: https://www.mspairport.com/
• Metro Transit – Large network of buses, light rail, and commuter trains. Website: https://www.metrotransit.org/
• Interstate Highways 94, 35E, and 694
• Amtrak – Passenger rail service via the Saint Paul Union Depot station.

Nice Ride Minnesota also operates a bike sharing system in Saint Paul from April to November.

Professional Sports

Saint Paul is home to:

• Minnesota Wild – NHL ice hockey team. Website: https://www.nhl.com/wild/
• Saint Paul Saints – Independent league baseball team. Website: https://www.milb.com/st-paul

Other major Minnesota teams like the Vikings (NFL) and Twins (MLB) play next door in Minneapolis but help drive economic activity across the metro area.

Arts and Culture

Top arts and cultural institutions in Saint Paul include:

• Minnesota Museum of American Art – Website: https://mmaa.org/
• Science Museum of Minnesota – Website: https://www.smm.org/
• Cathedral of Saint Paul – Historic Catholic cathedral and landmark. Website: http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/
• Ordway Center for the Performing Arts – Leading performing arts venue. Website: https://www.ordway.org/

Saint Paul hosts annual events like the Saint Paul Winter Carnival and Saint Paul Art Crawl to celebrate the community.

Parks and Outdoors

Saint Paul contains over 170 parks and open spaces. Top parks include:

• Como Park – 379 acre park with zoo, conservatory, and lakes.
• Harriet Island – Island park along the Mississippi River downtown.
• Indian Mounds Park – Park containing 6 Native American burial mounds.

The city oversees an extensive network of trails and paths for biking, walking, and recreation across the community.

Famous Saint Paul Landmarks

• Minnesota State Capitol – Historic seat of state government. Address: 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St Paul, MN 55155
• Cathedral of Saint Paul – Iconic cathedral atop Summit Hill. Address: 239 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
• Como Park Zoo and Conservatory – Historic zoo and botanical gardens. Address: 1225 Estabrook Dr, Saint Paul, MN 55103

Where to Stay in Saint Paul

Some top-rated hotels in Saint Paul include:

• Hotel 340 – Boutique hotel in historic mansion. Website: https://www.hotel340com/
• The Saint Paul Hotel – Historic upscale hotel downtown. Website: https://www.saintpaulhotel.com/
• Holiday Inn & Suites – Reliable chain hotel next to Xcel Energy Center. Website: https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/st-paul/msptw/hoteldetail

National budget chains like Super 8, Days Inn, and Motel 6 also have convenient locations around Saint Paul.

Saint Paul Public Schools

Public K-12 education in Saint Paul is provided by Saint Paul Public Schools. The district has over 60 schools including neighborhood elementary schools, middle schools, and several magnet high schools.

More information can be found at the Saint Paul Public Schools website: https://www.spps.org/

Additional Local Resources

• Official Saint Paul Tourism Website: https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/
• Saint Paul Public Library: https://www.sppl.org/
• City of Saint Paul Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cityofsaintpaul/
• Ramsey County: 15 Kellogg Blvd W, Saint Paul, MN 55102; (651) 266-2000; Website: https://www.ramseycounty.us/

From history to culture to outdoor spaces, Saint Paul offers wonderful amenities as the capital of Minnesota.