St. Paul, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Paul, Nebraska
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St. Paul water tower, with image of baseball player Grover Cleveland Alexander
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Location of St. Paul, Nebraska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Howard |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.24 sq mi (3.22 km2) |
| • Land | 1.24 sq mi (3.22 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,811 ft (552 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,416 |
| • Density | 1,945.25/sq mi (750.98/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Zip Code |
68873
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| FIPS code | 31-43265 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396515 |
| Website | http://www.stpaulnebraska.com/ |
St. Paul or Saint Paul is a city in Nebraska, United States. It is the main town, also called the county seat, of Howard County. In 2010, about 2,290 people lived there. St. Paul is also part of the larger Grand Island area.
Contents
History of St. Paul
St. Paul was started by two young surveyors, James N. and Nicholas J. Paul. They were exploring Nebraska when they saw how beautiful the Loup valley was. They decided to make their homes there.
Founding the City
In March 1871, the Paul brothers brought the first settlers to the area. They asked the state government to create a new county, which they named Howard County. They also planned out the town of St. Paul. The first building was a general store and town hall, built by Stillman Hazeltine in the summer of 1871. This building later burned down, but the brick building that replaced it is still used today.
When it was time to name the town, people put their ideas into a hat. The name "Athens" was chosen. However, there was already an Athens in Nebraska. So, Senator Phineas W. Hitchcock suggested the name St. Paul, to honor the Paul brothers who founded the town. In 1874, St. Paul officially became the county seat. It became an incorporated city in 1881, and E.F. Clapp was its first mayor.
Growth and Development
For its first 20 years, Howard County was like a typical Wild West area. There were covered wagons, cowboys, and large groups of cattle. As more settlers arrived and the railroad expanded, St. Paul became an important trading center. The town quickly grew to have about 2,000 residents.
From 1882 to 1917, St. Paul was home to Frank Iams. He was the biggest importer of European draft horses in the United States. Many important people have connections to St. Paul. General C.S. Irvine set records for long-distance flights in a B-29 airplane after World War II. Herbert Paul was in charge of the Nebraska National Guard for 19 years.
St. Paul also had many factories and businesses. These included a broom factory, a canning factory, a brick factory, and two flour mills. One of the flour mills even developed the first self-rising flour! The first chicken hatchery in Nebraska started nearby in 1901 and moved to St. Paul in 1922. It operated until 1956. A medicine called Pirus, which helped with kidney and liver problems, was also invented in St. Paul.
Dorothy Lynch and Grover Cleveland Alexander
A very famous salad dressing, Dorothy Lynch salad dressing, was invented in St. Paul by Dorothy Lynch herself. It is now sold all over the country.
Another famous person from the area was Grover Cleveland Alexander. He was a legendary baseball player who is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was born on a farm nearby and came back to St. Paul after his baseball career ended. The local baseball field is named after him. Every year, St. Paul celebrates "Grover Cleveland Alexander (GCA) Days" after the 4th of July.
Geography and Climate
St. Paul covers an area of about 1.11 square miles (3.22 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
The weather in St. Paul changes a lot throughout the year. Summers are usually warm, and winters can be very cold. The city gets rain throughout the year, with more rain in the spring and summer months. Snowfall is common in winter.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 482 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,263 | 162.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,475 | 16.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,336 | −9.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,615 | 20.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,621 | 0.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,571 | −3.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,676 | 6.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,714 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,026 | 18.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,094 | 3.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,009 | −4.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,218 | 10.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,290 | 3.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,416 | 5.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate |
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Population in 2010
In 2010, St. Paul had 2,290 people living in 989 households. About 590 of these were families. Most of the people living in St. Paul (98.1%) were White. A small number of people were from other racial backgrounds or had mixed backgrounds. About 1.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of households, about 29.4% had children under 18 living there. Many households (47.3%) were married couples. About 36.1% of all households were single people living alone. About 21.8% of people living alone were 65 years old or older. The average household had about 2.28 people.
The average age of people in St. Paul in 2010 was 40.3 years old. About 26% of the residents were under 18. About 21.1% were 65 years old or older. The city had slightly more females (51.7%) than males (48.3%).
Notable People from St. Paul
- Jon Lynn Christensen: He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Nebraska from 1995 to 1999.
- Dorothy Lynch: She created the famous Dorothy Lynch salad dressing.
- Vickie D. McDonald: She was a lawmaker in the Nebraska state government.
- Reynold F. Nesiba: He was a leader in the South Dakota Senate.
- Jean Potts: She was an author who won an Edgar Award for her first mystery novel, Go, Lovely Rose, in 1955.
See also
In Spanish: St. Paul (Nebraska) para niños
