St. Paul is a city located in the state of Minnesota. It serves as the county seat for Ramsey County.
St. Paul Population Statistics
Most of the residents that follow a religion are Christian, but it also has communities of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Wiccans. Over 82% of residents work in the private sector.
St. Paul Population Growth
The city of St. Paul has seen significant population growth throughout its history. By the 20th century, the population had exceeded 150,000. By the time of the 1910 census, the population was over 200,000. By 1950, the city’s population was well over 300,000. In 1960, the population reached 313,411, which was where it peaked. The population then fell through the 1970s and 1980s before growing slightly in 1990 and more significantly in 2000. In 2010, the city’s population was down less than 1%. However, the city’s population according to recent estimates has risen by almost 7% since the 2010 census and is now over 300,000 again, indicating that efforts to revitalize the city seem to be working.
Evidence shows that the region that is now St. Paul has been inhabited for thousands of years. It is believed that the area was first inhabited by Hopewell Indians. In the 17th century through the 19th century, St. Paul was also the home for the Mdewakanton Dakota tribe.
After the Louisiana Purchase, an Army officer purchased 100,000 acres from the tribe. This included what is now St. Paul, and it was used to establish Fort Snelling, which was completed in 1819. In 1837, a treaty allowed that all land east of the Mississippi would be transferred to the federal government, and the tribe moved out. Explorers, missionaries, and traders then used the fort. By the mid-19th century, the area was a famous trade center for settlers that were going west.
It was in 1841 when a chapel was established in what is now St. Paul. Later the decade, the first school was built. By the end of the 1840s, the Minnesota Territory was established and St. Paul was designated as the capital. Minnesota was designated as a state in the late 1850s and St. Paul remained as the capital.
The city continued to grow as it became a gateway for settlers of the Minnesota frontier. The arrival of railroads continued to help boost the population. However, there were some troubles ahead for St. Paul. At the beginning of the 20th century, tornadoes and storms destroyed the downtown area causing millions of dollars in damages. However, the city rebuilt and continued to grow. Ford Motor Company opened a plant in 1924, which remained in service until 2011. Neighborhoods were constructed, and Interstate 94 was built. In the 1970s, skyscrapers were built in the downtown area. Today, the city is divided into 17 different neighborhoods. It is home to many major corporations including Ecolab and Securian Financial Group. St. Paul features many historical sites, new businesses including retail centers and restaurants, and cultural centers and museums.