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City Summary - St. Paul, Minnesota

St. Paul doubles as the seat of Ramsey County and the state capital of Minnesota. The city has a population of more than 281,000, 59.7 percent of which are white. African Americans make up the largest minority group, accounting for 14.3 percent of the population with Asians at 13.4 percent and Hispanics and Latinos at 9.5 percent. Germans comprise the largest ethnic group at 25.5 percent of the total population. Irish, Norwegian and Swedish immigrants also played a large role in founding the city and have vibrant communities that still remain there. When St. Paul's population is combined with that of neighboring Minneapolis, the greater Twin Cities area boasts more than 3.5 million residents, making it the 16th largest metropolitan area in the United States.

Educational services is the largest employer in St. Paul with 11.9 percent of all jobs found in the industry. The city has the second largest number of post-secondary institutions per capita in the United States. Some of the well-known colleges located in St. Paul are Saint Catherine University, Concordia University, Hamline University, Macalester College, the University of St. Thomas, Metropolitan State University and Saint Paul College.

With 48 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 7 high schools, 3 alternative schools and one special education school, the St. Paul school district is the second largest in Minnesota. The city has long been known for its top-notch charter schools and was the first major city to have such an institution when the first one opened in 1993.

Health care is the second largest industry in St. Paul, employing 9.6 percent of all residents. The HealthEast Care System is one of the largest employers in the city and among the top 25 largest companies in Minnesota. Professional, technical and scientific services account for 7.4 percent percent of all jobs in St. Paul. Other major companies with headquarters in the city include the 3M Company and Lawson Software. The federal and state governments are also among some of the largest sources of jobs for St. Paul residents.

Every year, St. Paul holds its Winter Carnival, which features an ice castle, ice sculpting, games and live entertainment. The city's Parks and Recreation department has more than 170 public parks, golf courses lake recreation areas and a local zoo under its supervision. The Twin Cities are home to numerous sports teams, including the Minnesota Wild in the NHL, the pro lacrosse Minnesota Swarm, the Minnesota Twins in the MLB, the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA, the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL and the St. Paul Twin Stars of the National Premier Soccer League.