BigDaddyData.Com: Minnesota St. Paul

    Saint Paul, the capital of Minnesota and seat of Ramsey County in the southeastern part of the state, is situated on the north and south banks of the Mississippi River, to the east of Minneapolis, with which it forms the Twin Cities. Saint Paul's population is 272,235 (1990 census). The city is a major port, rail terminus, and educational, cultural, and commercial center. Saint Paul is an important industrial center, producing automobiles, abrasives, chemicals, beer, paints, refined petroleum, and electronic communications equipment. It also has printing plants and serves as the market center for the grain and livestock produced in the surrounding farmlands.

    Principal landmarks in Saint Paul are the state capitol (completed 1904) and Carl Milles's peace memorial in the lobby of City Hall (completed 1932). A recent addition to the city is the Saint Paul Arts and Science Center. The city's many educational institutions include Macalester College (1853), the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota (see Minnesota, state universities of), and Hamline University (1853). The city annually hosts the Saint Paul Winter Carnival and the Minnesota State Fair.

    The Saint Paul area was settled as Fort Saint Anthony (later renamed Fort Snelling) in 1820. Squatters near the fort were moved east with trader Pierre Parrant and established the settlement of Pig's Eye in 1840. Father Lucien Galtier built a chapel at Pig's Eye in 1841 and named the chapel and the settlement Saint Paul. It soon developed into a river port, attracting fur traders and pioneer farmers. The town became territorial capital in 1849 and state capital in 1858. From the Civil War period it developed as a railroad terminus, book and shoe manufacturing town, and major livestock market.