Surveyor's Office

About Saint Paul's Survey Office

The City of Saint Paul's Survey Office documents the public boundaries throughout the city of Saint Paul. 

Access Saint Paul's Land Survey Map

Saint Paul's Coordinates:

LATITUDE    44 degrees 56 minutes 41.25629 seconds North 
LONGITUDE 93 degrees 05 minutes 39.64525 seconds West

Additional Survey Resources

For City of Saint Paul survey resources and tools, please visit St. Paul Surveyor

• Minnesota Board of Registration
• Minnesota State Statutes 
• Minnesota Society of Professional Surveyors 
• MN/DOT Geodetic Control Point Inventory
• National Geodetic Survey (NGS)/National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA
• United States Army Corps of Engineers
• Ramsey County Public Works
• Land Surveyor Reference Page

Saint Paul's Survey History

Saint Paul, east of the Mississippi River, was originally surveyed into 6x6 mile squares called townships. This survey was done by James M. Marsh in October of 1847. The townships were then surveyed into 1x1 mile squares called sections by Issac Higbee, Deputy Surveyor, during the months of October & November of 1847. Saint Paul, west of the Mississippi River, was surveyed into sections by Jesse T. Jarrett in September of 1853. The area now covered by Saint Paul was surveyed off the 4th Principal Meridian which runs through Wisconsin. Saint Paul covers parts of Townships 28 & 29 North and Ranges 22 & 23 West of the 4th Principal Meridian.

The City of Saint Paul was originally established as the "The Town of St. Paul" by an act of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Minnesota in November of 1849. Saint Paul remained a town until March of 1854 when it became the "City of Saint Paul, Minnesota Territory". In May of 1858 when Minnesota became a state the city became known as "The City of Saint Paul, State of Minnesota".

When "The Town of St. Paul" came into existence in 1849, it occupied approximately 280 acres. The original town site consisted of two subdivisions (plats) "Town of Saint Paul" (sometimes referred to as the "Saint Paul Proper") and "Irvine & Rice's addition" filed as Rice and Irvine's addition to Saint Paul. The plat of "The Town of St. Paul" was filed on February 28, 1849 in County of St. Croix, Wisconsin Territory and was surveyed by Ira B. Brunson. The plat of "Rice's and Irvine's addition to Saint Paul" was filed on May 16, 1849 in the County of St. Croix, Minnesota Territory and was surveyed by Benjamin W. Brunson.

As result of an Act of Minnesota legislature on February 14, 1866 the town plat was brought to St Paul and filed with the Ramsey County Recorder's Office on March 17, 1866. The original town site boundaries were Elm Street on the west, Smith Ave & East Seventh Street on the north, Wacouta Street on the east, and the left bank of the Mississippi River on the south. Between years 1849 and 1887 Saint Paul has gone through 14 boundary changes.