Overview of Community

Life in St. Paul

The city of St. Paul, Minnesota is a vast, dynamic city. With 17 unique neighborhoods, each of which containing their own distinct communities and amenities, there are plenty of different lifestyles to choose from. The following article provides a brief overview of each individual neighborhood and the lifestyle found within.

Not to be confused with the Como neighborhood in Minneapolis, the Como neighborhood in St. Paul is an attractive and peaceful residential neighborhood with a population of almost 12,000 residents. The neighborhood encompasses Como Park, and contains many features such as Lake Como, the Como Zoo, and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. The State Fairgrounds are along the western portion of this neighborhood.

Como has a wide variety of housing styles, fluctuating from large, Victorian-era homes around the lake to smaller one-and-a-half story homes built in the 1920’s throughout the neighborhood. Ranch style homes from the 1950’s can also be found scattered throughout the neighborhood. There are a few schools in Como Park, which are Chelsea Heights Elementary School and the Como Park Elementary School.

The Como neighborhood has many recreational amenities, including a golf course, bike path, several open fields, a pavilion, a municipal pool, several recreation centers, and the Como Zoo. The North Dale Recreation Center offers visitors access to two gymnasiums, an indoor track, a fitness center, a kitchen, and more. The Northwest Como Recreation Center is similar to the North Dale center, but smaller in size. It features a gymnasium, kitchen, and a meeting room. Another popular amenity within the neighborhood is the Oscar Johnson Arena which allows for ice skating and hockey facilities year-round.

The Conway-Battle Creek-Highwood Hills neighborhood is located on the south-east end of St. Paul, bordering the Greater East Side Neighborhood to the north, the city of Maplewood to the east, and the Mississippi River on the west. Although just two-miles from downtown, this residential neighborhood has a more suburban feel, as it is a bedroom community with large lots, modern housing options, and provides amazing views from the bluffs of the river and downtown. The neighborhood of just over 20,000 residents has convenient access to I-94, its own transit service, and is located very close to 3M headquarters. SunRay Center and Suburban Avenue are the neighborhood’s retail corridors, and they host many franchises, local restaurants, grocery stores, retailers, and fitness centers. The parks have programs for senior citizens and young children, hiking and biking trails along streams and bluffs, and activities for all seasons. A popular amenity in the neighborhood is the Harding Arena which offers ice skating and hockey facilities year-round.

Most of the single-family homes in the neighborhood were constructed between the 1960’s and 1990’s in a variety of styles. Houses in the southern portions of the area were constructed in the wooded river bluffs and the homes in the northern portion are located on larger city lots.

Dayton’s Bluff is a neighborhood on the east side of the Mississippi in the southeast part of Saint Paul. It is a historic neighborhood of almost 17,000 with exceptional views of the skyline, the Mississippi River and even downtown St. Paul, and is just fifteen minutes outside of the heart of Minneapolis. Dayton’s Bluff is Saint Paul’s biggest Historic District and possesses homes that fluctuate in style from from large Victorians to small worker cottages. The Mounds Theatre, the campus of Metropolitan State University, amazing coffee shops and restaurants, as well as three large parks: Indian Mounds, Swede Hollow, and Bruce Vento Nature, are located in the neighborhood.

The name of Dayton’s Bluff was derived from Lyman Dayton who lived from 1810 to 1865. On the southern portion is the highest elevation of Dayton’s Bluff along the Mississippi River. Dayton’s Bluff has houses dating from the 1850’s all the way to new construction. Other housing styles in Dayton’s Bluff include, Italianate, side-by-side double houses, craftsman foursquare, Dutch Colonial, bungalow, ramblers, and split-level. With so many options, homebuyers will find something they are looking for with greater ease in this historic city.

Obb’s Sports Bar & Grill was one of the first of 10 bars in St. Paul to be licensed after the repeal of Prohibition in the 1930’s, making this popular local hangout a historical piece of the community. The building started as a grocery & feed store back in 1919. Another great dining spot is the Swede Hollow Cafe, which was founded in 1997 in the historic Stutzman building. Patrons will appreciate the astonishing view of the downtown skyline. The cafe received its title from the historical Swede Hollow Park located behind the building. The distinct area has been a showcase on several PBS documentaries.

The majority of people believe that the Downtown neighborhood’s borders are Interstate 94 to the north and Kellogg Boulevard and the Mississippi River to the south. However, the legitimate border of the neighborhood is a little further north, at University Avenue. Downtown St. Paul is not only know as an arts, amusement, and business center, but is also a host to over 8,000 residents. The city’s residents enjoy living close to its “Twin” city in Minneapolis, the natural beauty of the Mississippi River, gorgeous parks, and the community events year-round. As one of St. Paul’s increasingly growing areas, the Downtown neighborhood possesses historic buildings, an active and involved arts community, and the locally famous St. Paul Farmers’ Market. Easy access in all directions is offered by I-94 and 35E, and with a Light Rail Transit coming soon, the infrastructure is second to none. The neighborhoods are also attached by a unique skyway system, which is useful during the colder months

Homes in the neighborhood consist of old warehouses and commercial facilities transformed into modern apartments. New construction, high-rise condo developments provide residents with excellent views of the river and the Minnesota State Capitol. Compared to Minneapolis, St. Paul’s downtown has much older buildings. The tallest among them is the Wells Fargo Place building, which is 471 feet tall. The most renowned building is the First National Bank Building on Fourth Street.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Rice Park has theater, opera, ballet and children’s performances. In 1980, Saint Paul native Sally Ordway Irvine wanted to create a performance center. Through the donations of over 46 million supporters, she achieved her goal. The Ordway presently consists of 1,900 seats and a music theater, two large rehearsal halls, and magnificent lobbies on each floor. There are many other additions that are constantly being developed which help to make the Ordway even more magnificent.

The Landmark Center is located within the Downtown neighborhood and contains the TRACES World War II History Center, the Schubert Club Museum of Musical Instruments, and several other exhibits. Downtown St. Paul is also home to the Fitzgerald Theater, the Park Square Theatre and the History Theatre. A small art gallery, the Minnesota Museum of American Art, is located on the Mississippi river bank. Museums in downtown St. Paul include the impressive Science Museum of Minnesota, the popular Minnesota Children’s Museum, and the Minnesota History Center. The Science Museum yields full benefit for it’s ideal location on the river. Guests enter on the top floor, and from there the galleries descend downwards towards the river. A large atrium in the heart of the museum features dinosaur skeletons and scientifically-motivated artwork. Galleries on three different floors display the museum’s large paleontology, anthropology, and natural history collections, and many interactive displays demonstrate mathematical, electrical, light and weather phenomena. The museum also offers an Omnitheater, where a large and encompassing screen displays scientific films everyday. The Minnesota Children’s Museum is a magnificent museum devoted to entertaining and educating children. It is a large museum with lots to see and do. It’s easy to view the Minnesota History Center as place only for tourists, however it is also captivating for locals too. The beautiful building is the home of the Minnesota Historical Society, and also houses a museum, galleries, a research library, a theater, a store, and a cafe.

St. Paul has a small selection of restaurants. From the eponymous 24-hour Mickey’s Diner Car, and the casual Key’s Cafe, up to the divine Meritage and the upmarket St. Paul Grill. Mickey’s Diner was created to look like the railroad dining cars of the period. It is distinct in that it is one of the initial diners to be built in the Art Deco style. Mickey’s Dining Car was manufactured in New Jersey and shipped by rail on a flatbed to its present location. Today, it is a fun place to experience a meal inside of a little bit of history. In 1973, the first Keys Café opened in St. Paul on Raymond Avenue. Since that time, the Keys Café has extended to nine Twin Cities locations and has been renowned and awarded both locally and nationally for their fabulous menu. From their characteristically ageless dining room, to the popular oyster bar, Meritage provides an atmosphere that will lighten up any mood. Their terrace provides memorable summer evening dates, or a wonderful place to enjoy some time with family. Whatever the reason for the visit may be, the Meritage is sure not to disappoint. Known continuously as the “best restaurant in Minneapolis and St. Paul”, The St. Paul Grill is everyone’s favorite for any occasion. This downtown dining location showcases a classic, yet astonishingly varied menu from prime steaks and thick-cut chops to juicy poultry and fresh seafood.

International dining selections include Fuji-Ya, Pazzaluna, and Senor Wong. Fuji Ya has a lot of rich history behind it, and has two locations in the state, one in each of the Twin Cities. The restaurant has offered some of the best, most authentic Japanese cuisine for many years, and is more than worth any customer’s time to experience. The critically admired and award-winning Pazzaluna Urban Italian focuses on serving regional Italian food that showcases the best Italian food in the area. Pazzaluna’s active and upscale environment makes it ideal for an outing with family, friends, business partners, or a romantic date. Possessing an impressive Italian wine list, a beautiful mural-adorned dining room, and a high level of service, Pazzaluna deserves its standing as one of the best nights out that the Twin Cities has to offer. Come to Senor Wong Craft Bar for dinner and drinks with friends. They showcase a list of local and regional craft beers, signature craft cocktails, wines, and artisan sake. This is a popular place to eat before a hockey game or any other large scale event going on in the cities. The major sporting facility in downtown St. Paul is the Xcel Energy Center. It’s mostly known for hosting NHL’s Minnesota Wild team, but it also hosts conferences, music concerts, and other sporting events throughout the year.

The Greater East Side neighborhood is between the city’s largest and most densely populated city districts and contains 28,000 residents, most of them middle-class. The neighborhood is located in the northeast corner of St. Paul, with the city of Maplewood bordering it. The Greater East Side neighborhood offers suburban luxuries that are just minutes from downtown Saint Paul, 3M’s headquarters, and employment opportunities in the neighboring city of Maplewood. White Bear Avenue is the major hub of the neighborhood, with churches, schools, unique shops, malls, homes, restaurants, entertainment, libraries, offices, community facilities, and much more.

The Greater East Side neighborhood has many housing options and styles. The majority of homes were constructed after World War II, in rambler and Cape Cod styles. Historic homes as well as apartment buildings can also be found in the neighborhoods.

One of the most popular restaurants in the neighborhood is the Cherry Pit Bar & Grill. The Cherry Pit Bar & Grill works hard to offer more than just a good time for its visitors. The warm and welcoming staff makes them the premiere bar in Saint Paul. With such a great staff and wonderful selection of menu items, this bar is a favorite for not only the neighborhood, but also the entire city.

Started in 1921, Hillcrest Golf Club of St. Paul is one of the most popular and affordable private golf clubs in the Twin Cities Area. Hillcrest Golf Club offers its members a remarkably preserved and manicured golf course, a dining experience not found anywhere else, and a splendid and relaxed club environment for family, friends and business. With topography of rolling hills and mature trees, the Par 72 course will test the skill of players at any level. The spacious deck, patio and pool area offer a convenient environment for the family to relax and enjoy themselves. The golf club is also a popular place to hold events and meetings.

The Greater East Side neighborhood houses two recreation centers. Hazel Park Recreation Center offers visitors a craft room, game/teen room, gymnasium, kitchen and a meeting room. The Hayden Heights Recreation Center is the second recreation center within the Greater East Side neighborhood. Similar to the Hazel Park center, Hayden Heights provides visitors with a craft room, game room, gymnasium, kitchen, meeting room, and a warming room. Both of the recreation centers are attached to local parks and are great resources for residents of the neighborhood.

The Hamline-Midway neighborhood is renowned for being active, family-oriented, and full of amenities. Hamline University and more than ten other educational institutions are scattered throughout the neighborhood, attracting students from around the metro area. Several civic groups speak to local issues from urban greening to engaging youth and elders. Shops, parks, recreation centers, restaurants, and a library are all found within the neighborhood, offering convenience to Hamline-Midway’s 12,000 residents. The neighborhood is centrally located between both downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul and contains the State Fairgrounds, future Central Corridor Light Rail line, and quick access to I-94. The neighborhood also contains the Hancock Recreation Center, which offers residents access to a craft room, gymnasium, kitchen, lounge room, multipurpose room, performing arts area, and The Canvas Teen Center.

The Hamline-Midway neighborhood consists of a collection of large Victorian and Eastlake style houses built in the 1880’s close to Hamline University. Development of the neighborhood happened with the construction of houses in block tracts of foursquare, bungalows, and Tudor Revival cottages in the early 1910’s to 1930’s.

Highland Park is a neighborhood in St. Paul’s southwestern portion. It is bordered by the Mississippi River on the west, south, and east, and Macalester-Groveland to the north. Highland Park Tower is the main local landmark. Highland Park was at one point the site of a large Ford Motor Company plant, and there are current plans to renovate the old site. A retail hub with a blend of stores and restaurants is concentrated around Ford Parkway and Snelling Avenue.

Highland Park is centrally located and yet possesses it’s own small-town feel. Families flourish on the recreational options with miles of park land, golf, little league sports, a theater and a newly refurbished park pavilion. Whether it be walking old-fashioned, tree lined streets to kindergarten or graduate school, or even to the annual 3 day festival, “Highlandfest”, there’s something for every one of the 25,000 residents to appreciate and explore in Highland Park.

Highland Park consists of mainly single-family houses going back to the 1920’s and 30’s. There are plenty of styles such as ranch, split-level, and rambler. Apartments and condos are predominantly located in the West 7th Street-Shepard Road area.

At the Chatterbox Pub, the owners have worked diligently to advance a status as both a unique and flavor-filled pub that will shock visitors, as well as offering excellent and professional services that will make anyone feel content. Laughter and jokes are readily available on any given night. The banquet facility is perfect for rehearsal dinners, business meetings, holiday get-togethers, birthdays and other special events. Movies are available on the projector and screen, including TV specials like major sports events. This pub is a great atmosphere for an evening drink or a late-night hangout.

Highland National Golf Course was renewed and reopened in the spring of 2005. This course is better and more challenging than before with a good variety of patterns and terrains framed by old trees. Pristine holes challenge golfers of all skill levels. Highland National provides the amenities of the modern course with the feel of a traditional and classic old city course. It is an 18-hole, 6,600 yard, par 72 course.

There are several important amenities within the neighborhood. The Highland Park Community Center is a central location. Located within the famous Highland Park, the center offers a large array of amenities to visitors. Guests enjoy the auditorium, computer workstations, craft room, fitness center, gymnasium, indoor track, kitchen, library, meeting rooms, storytime room, study rooms, teen center, and warming room. The center’s convenient location within Highland Park make it a busy and popular destination throughout the year. The Historic Fort Snelling State Park is also located within the Highland Park neighborhood. Built in the 1820’s, Fort Snelling State Park offers costumed re-enactments and educational demonstrations on military history, the fur trade, and slavery, in Minnesota. A member of the National Register of Historic Places, Fort Snelling is a great way to learn about the past in an interactive and immersive environment.

The Macalester-Groveland neighborhood is situated in western Saint Paul. With 18,000 residents, the neighborhood ranges east from the Mississippi River to Summit Hill. The neighborhood is a rich mixture of single-family homes with lively commercial strips. The Summit Avenue Historic District, with superb mansions from the late 1800’s, borders the northern boundary of the neighborhood. Recently, Grand Avenue has developed into a nationally renowned commercial street, with a combination of national retailers and local vendors. Copious amounts of colleges and universities, including the University of St. Thomas, Macalester College, and Saint Catherine University, along with thousands of students,have made this neighborhood their home. The effect of university and college-life is felt all over the neighborhood, providing residents a wide variety of cultural, athletic, and musical exposure.

Single-family homes in the Macalaster-Groveland neighborhood were built in an array of architectural styles between the 1880’s and the 1920’s, including Queen Anne, Craftsman Bungalows, Prairie, Colonial Revivals, and Tudor Revivals. Several pre-war apartment buildings are located in the neighborhood as well.

The Macalester-Groveland neighborhood is home to two recreation centers. The Groveland Recreation Center is located on a park grounds containing a baseball field, basketball court, two hockey rinks, an ice skating rink, playgrounds, a soccer field, two softball fields, and two tennis courts. Inside the recreation center, visitors enjoy the craft room, meeting room, gymnasium, and warming house. The seasonal amenities found at the Groveland Recreation Center make it an amenity enjoyed year-round. The Edgcumbe Recreation Center also enjoys this seasonal relevancy. With a warming room, two racquetball courts, a multipurpose room, kitchen, fitness center, gymnasium, game room, and a craft room, visitors can enjoy amenities all throughout the year. The adjacent park also adds on a baseball field, hockey rink, playground, ice skating rink, soccer field, two softball fields, and four tennis courts for visitors to utilize. Both the Groveland and Edgcumbe Recreation Centers are wonderful amenities for residents of the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood.

The North End neighborhood is predominantly a residential neighborhood of 26,000, with convenient access to shops and restaurants along Rice Street and other small retail corridors. The North End neighborhood is home to several schools, parks, and recreation centers, resulting in a family-oriented neighborhood. The 18-mile Gateway Trail that attaches Saint Paul to Stillwater begins in North End. Oakland Cemetery, Saint Paul’s initial cemetery showcases rolling hills and woodlands, extensive and historic architecture, and gravesites of well-known early Minnesotan business and political leaders. Most homes were built between 1900 through 1930 and are 1.5-story homes in a variety of styles that were popular at that time. Homes from the 1950’s were also built in the neighborhood.

One of the most popular amenities within the neighborhood is the McDonough Recreation Center. The recreation center provides visitors with access to a kitchen, craft room, and two gymnasiums. Additionally, the park on which it is located also offers several amenities. Visitors enjoy the football field, playground, sledding hill, two soccer fields, and softball field that are located outside of the recreation center.

Payne-Phalen is a mainly residential neighborhood that is east of Interstate 35E. The neighborhood is named for its own Phalen Park, Lake Phalen, and Payne Boulevard, the main street. Payne-Phalen is the largest neighborhood in St. Paul, with 30,000 residents. Just a few minutes from downtown St. Paul, and ten miles from downtown Minneapolis, residents are able to be close to major sources of employment. Residents and visitors are attracted to the neighborhood’s architectural history, distinct location, charming culture, and the stunning waters of Lake Phalen. Whatever one’s love is, whether it be hot coffee and homemade pie, tamales, egg rolls, pizza or chow mein, an extensive neighborhood menu can be found in the local restaurants.

The classic housing remains a powerful characteristic of the neighborhood. Worker housing, constructed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s in the styles of Italianate, Folk Victorian, Queen Anne and Bungalow, adds to the matchless appeal and attractiveness of each home. Parts of the neighborhood have rambler and ranch-style homes constructed in the 1950’s or 60’s.

There are many amenities available in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood. The Arlington Hills Community Center, Duluth & Case Recreation Center, Gustafson Phalen Arena, and Wilder Recreation Center can all be found within the neighborhood. Between these four facilities, residents have access to a library, fitness centers, gymnasiums, meeting rooms, craft rooms, an ice arena, and much, much more.

The Saint Anthony Park neighborhood is nearby the University of Minnesota-St. Paul campus, and borders Northeast Minneapolis on the west and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on the east. It has been host to three Minnesota governors: William Marshall, Andrew McGill, Elmer L. Andersen. In the late 1800’s the neighborhood held the estates for the well off and affluent of Minneapolis. ‪The Carnegie Library and St. Anthony Park Elementary School are the neighborhood’s main facilities. The neighborhood has two colleges, the previously mentioned St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota and Luther Seminary. The neighborhood’s biggest park is named after the former St. Anthony Park resident Nathaniel P. Langford, who was the founder of the world’s first national park, Yellowstone.‪

St. Anthony Park is a traditionally small town area nestled equidistant between the downtowns of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. It also offers a distinct global outlook, due to its very diverse culture. The community is home to a wonderful gathering of educational, religious, social service, and arts institutions as well as the St. Anthony Park Foundation, which is St. Paul’s first charitable foundation for a neighborhood. Because of its location between two large business districts, and with countless transportation options all within reach, the community of 7,000 residents have plenty of employment options at their disposal.

Initially set apart as estates for the wealthy of Minneapolis in the late 1800’s, St. Anthony Park has become a neighborhood of diverse architecture ranging from historic Victorian mansions to contemporary-style homes.

The Langford Recreation Center offers several amenities to residents including a game room, gymnasium, kitchen, and a meeting room. It is situated on a local park which includes a basketball court, two hockey rinks, three horseshoe pits, a playground, a skating rink, two softball fields, and two tennis courts. The mix of amenities available at the Langford Recreation Center make it suitable for year-round activity.

Summit Hill encompasses the eastern portion of Grand Avenue, between Macalester-Groveland to the west and Downtown to the east. It’s a more affluent neighborhood, and home to many students who attend nearby institutions. Summit Hill, which is one of the smaller neighborhoods in the city with a population of just over 6,500 residents, is a historic and active community of locals that enjoy nationally owned stores, restaurants, galleries and other businesses that surround them. Well-maintained Victorian-era homes and other historic architectural reserves are scattered throughout this renowned neighborhood. They are so renewed that the American Planning Association recently named Summit Avenue one of America’s 10 Great Streets. The walking character of the neighborhood, mixed with social and business networks functioning throughout and along Grand Avenue, exude a feeling of community and fellowship.

As mentioned previously, Summit Hill boasts one of the nation’s most preserved stock of Victorian-era dwellings along with other traditional styles of homes. Apartment buildings and town homes are also available and are typically utilized by students.

There are several amenities found within the Summit Hill neighborhood that residents enjoy. The Pleasant Arena provides access to ice skating and hockey facilities throughout the year, making it a fabulous amenity for those who enjoy activity on the ice. Additionally, the Linwood Recreation Center adds a craft room, dance studio, fitness center, gymnasium, meeting room, and warming house.

Summit-University is St. Paul’s oldest neighborhood. The high river bluffs give the area its name. The Summit-University neighborhood, with a population of 16,000 residents, is culturally diverse, and home to people from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Well-maintained homes and buildings from the late 1800’s flourished in the neighborhood, with popular and well-known landmarks all around. There are several retail strips in the community, such as Selby Avenue, With its shops, social areas, and dining Selby Avenue is perhaps the most favored area in the neighborhood. The Summit-University neighborhood is close to Downtown, St. Paul, has great transit service and major highway access, and is a very convenient neighborhood to walk or bike around.

The neighborhood showcases an extensive range of housing options and styles. The area is home to rowhouses, apartments, historic single-family homes in the Victorian style, bungalows, and townhouses from the 1950’s and 70’s.

There are several amenities that residents are able to enjoy. The Oxford Community Center is one of the busiest and most popular locations within the entire neighborhood. Home to a recreation center as well as a water park, there are countless amenities to explore. Visitors enjoy the craft room, computer lab, dance studio, fitness center, four gymnasiums, multipurpose room, kitchen, and walking track. Additionally, within the water park, visitors have access to lap swimming, a diving board, water slides, water floats, a concessions stand, a sauna, and more. The Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center is another recreation center within the neighborhood. While not as comprehensive or offering as many amenities as the Oxford Center, the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center still has lots to explore. Inside the center, visitors are treated to a craft room, dance studio, fitness center, game room, gymnasium, two meeting room, and a multipurpose room. The outside of the center includes a playground and two tennis courts. This great balance of amenities makes the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center entertaining for all ages and interests.

Thomas-Dale, with a population of 15,000, is Saint Paul’s most diverse neighborhood. This diversity is replicated not only in its local residents of many ethnicities, but in the amazing and unique shops, restaurants, and services that can also be found. University Avenue is the foremost commercial hub in the neighborhood, as it hosts about 100 businesses, and buses and the approaching Central Corridor LRT line serve it. The affordably priced homes, powerfully united community, vibrant and involved residents, and close proximity to the State Capital, downtown, and I-94 make Thomas-Dale a great place to call home for many people.

Most of the houses in Thomas-Dale are moderately sized two-story foursquares or ramblers, with several homes being built before 1940. There are also a many historic dwellings in the neighborhood from the Victorian era that fluctuate in sizes from “mechanic’s cottage” to the bigger Queen Anne-style homes. Apartment buildings are also available throughout the area.

There are several amenities that residents enjoy within the Thomas-Dale neighborhood. The Biff Adams Arena offers year-round access to ice skating and hockey rinks, making it a popular location for school teams as well as members of the community. At the West Minnehaha Recreation Center, visitors enjoy the craft room, fitness center, gymnasium, handball court, kitchen, meeting room, and multipurpose room. Additionally, outside of the center residents have access to a baseball field, basketball court, two football fields, a picnic area, playground, soccer field, four softball fields and two tennis courts. Like the West Minnehaha Recreation Center, the Scheffer Recreation Center also offer visitors a wide variety of resources. On the inside the center includes a game room, gymnasium, kitchen, and a meeting room. Outside of the center, visitors enjoy the basketball court, baseball field, football field, playground, and two softball fields.

Situated in the western portion of the city of St. Paul, Union Park is a gathering of smaller neighborhoods including Merriam Park, Lexington-Hamline and Snelling-Hamline. Though the neighborhood as a whole is mainly residential, Union Park includes several large sections of the Midway commercial and industrial areas along University Avenue. The Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Line travels through Union Park between the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis, making the Union Park neighborhood some of the most desirable living for employees in the Twin Cities area. The Central Corridor makes many of the other neighborhood’s amenities more easily accessible, including many colleges and universities, excellent parks, and lively commercial districts at the intersections of major streets.

The Union Park neighborhood consists of mainly single-family homes constructed in a variation of architectural styles between the 1880’s and the 1930’s. These styles include Queen Anne, Craftsman Bungalows, Prairie, Colonial Revivals, and Tudor Revivals. Streets patterned in a traditional grid, often with corner stores at the intersections of major streets, are another characteristic of the neighborhood. Mature trees line the walking-friendly sidewalks, making Union Park a beautiful neighborhood for a stroll.

There are several amenities found within the neighborhood. The Town and Country Club is one of the most exclusive locations within Union Park. With a beautiful, 18-hole golf course, heated, outdoor pool, four clay tennis courts, a fitness center, five dining areas, and more, the country club is a longstanding icon of the neighborhood. Regarded as the birthplace of Minnesota golf, the Town and Country Club is a members-only course that has existed since 1893. The Merriam Park Recreation Center is another popular location within the neighborhood. It features a craft room, gymnasium, and a meeting room which are open to the public and often utilized by local schools.

Older neighborhood organizations and new neighborhood gathering spots, thriving entertainment in the Seven Corners area near downtown, and peaceful residential areas make the West Seventh neighborhood of around 10,000 residents a special place to live. West Seventh has miles of trails bordering the Mississippi that attach to downtown and provide excellent views, outstanding schools, a growing arts network, and unique shopping, dining, and entertainment venues along the West Seventh/Fort Road strip. West Seventh hosts some of Saint Paul’s oldest homes in the Irvine Park neighborhood, which is one of Saint Paul’s designated historic districts. The neighborhood has great access to downtown Saint Paul, the MSP airport, and the surrounding suburbs. For this reason it is served by many transit services.

The West Seventh neighborhood offers an extensive blend of historic homes and modern riverfront condominiums. The neighborhood consists of a marvelous stock of larger brick and wood frame houses built from the 1870’s through the early 1900’s in Italianate, Queen Anne, Eastlake, and Colonial Revival as well as other styles. There are also Prairie Style homes, modest Four squares, and apartments close to downtown.

The Palace Recreation Center offers year round access for locals and provides both indoor and outdoor amenities. Some of the indoor amenities include a craft room, ice rink, fitness center gymnasiums, and locker rooms. Although seasonal, the outdoor amenities include a football field, baseball field, and an outdoor skating rink, all of which are often utilized for large scale pick up games.

The West Side neighborhood is rich with diversity, as it has the largest concentration of Latino residents in the Twin Cities. The landscape extends from the River Flats which are home to many businesses to the Bluffs which offer magnificent overlooks of downtown Saint Paul and are home to some of Saint Paul’s premium older homes. Within the West Side neighborhood, local members come from a background of income, age, cultural, and ethnic upbringings; this diversity is honored through a plethora of public art pieces distributed throughout the neighborhood. West Side hosts many parks and picturesque views as well as many neighborhood commercial areas, such as District del Sol, Stryker/George, and Smith Avenue, which all make the neighborhood of 15,500 residents a lively place to call home. The West Side is just minutes from downtown Saint Paul and the surrounding suburbs, offering easy access for commuters.

The majority of homes in the West Side neighborhood were built in the 1880’s through the 1920’s and are single-family, Craftsman and Victorian styles. Spread throughout the neighborhood are new-construction, single family homes and apartment buildings.

One major community facility is the El Rio Vista Recreation Center, which offers year round access for locals and provides both indoor and outdoor amenities. Some of the indoor amenities include computer labs, a dance studio, a fitness center, gyms, meeting rooms, lounge rooms, locker rooms, and a walking track. With these components, locals are able to exercise and hosts meetings of any kind. Although seasonal, the outdoor amenities include a football field, baseball field, softball field, and a soccer field, all of which are often utilized for large scale pick-up games.

While by no means a comprehensive analysis of all that the individual neighborhoods in St. Paul have to offer, this article provides a brief overview of the communities found within the city. For more information regarding the individual neighborhoods of St. Paul, please refer to our supporting articles.

If you have any questions regarding the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, it’s parks, schools, history, or amenities OR if you would like to sell or buy a house in the St. Paul area, please feel free to visit www.DavidOlsonRealEstate.com or text/call Realtor David Olson @ 952.314.9446 or email: [email protected].