Life in Saint Paul flows deep with tradition, wide with talent and
diversity, and strong with economic and cultural vitality. Our character
is in our people. You can feel it in the firmness of our handshake and
the warmth of our welcome. The sights, sounds and aromas are the
breath of our unique, charming old neighborhoods.
Saint Paul, the head of navigation of the great Mississippi River,
is a City of neighborhoods. Like a network of urban villages, our
neighborhoods are strong and stable, each with its own fascinating
texture of historic interest, cultural landmarks, ethnic heritage and
time-honored traditions. This is why people lucky enough to live here
feel a remarkable sense of belonging, a sense of place.
Our commitment to not only preserving, but growing this sense of
the urban village is exemplified by our continuing development of
Downtown. Now one of our most desirable neighborhoods, the City’s
core is thriving, not just as a place to work, but as a place to live, learn
and spend leisure time. We have reclaimed our riverfront, which now
pulses with the energy of both concerts and commerce.
Saint Paul is a thriving commercial center in our own right—home
to Fortune 500 company headquarters, large regional enterprises and
countless small businesses and professional firms. We are playing an
ever-more-vital role in both powering and piloting the fortunes of
the dynamic Minneapolis/Saint Paul Metro region. As large-scale,
visionary developments like the Central Corridor (at last linking the
east metro with the metro core in a way that will integrate, rather than
alienate, neighborhood interests) continue to unfold, we are committed
to seeing that role continue to broaden.
Just as clearly as we are the seat of government for Minnesota, Saint
Paul is undoubtedly the state’s historical and cultural heart. This is not
just a source of great pride for those of us who live here, but it also
gives Saint Paul the unique stature of belonging to every resident of the
state. We recognize and welcome that responsibility.