West St facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Saint Paul, Minnesota
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| City of West Saint Paul | |
| Nickname(s):
W.S.P.
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| Motto(s):
"We're Close To It All"
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Location of the city of West Saint Paul
within Dakota County, Minnesota |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Dakota |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.01 sq mi (12.98 km2) |
| • Land | 4.91 sq mi (12.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,027 ft (313 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 19,540 |
| • Estimate
(2015)
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19,727 |
| • Density | 3,979.6/sq mi (1,536.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
55118
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| Area code(s) | 651 |
| FIPS code | 27-69700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0654003 |
| Website | City of West St. Paul |
West Saint Paul is a city in Minnesota, located right next to Saint Paul in Dakota County. Even though it's called "West Saint Paul," it's actually on the west bank of the Mississippi River, which flows mostly north to south here. This can be a bit confusing!
Long ago, in the late 1800s, there was another city called West St. Paul. It was located in what is now known as Saint Paul's Lower West Side. Saint Paul decided to take over that area for two main reasons. First, it helped with law enforcement, as criminals could escape Saint Paul authorities by crossing into the West Side. Second, it removed tolls on the Wabasha Street Bridge, which was slowing down development in the area.
Contents
City Geography
West Saint Paul covers about 5 square miles (12.98 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 4.91 square miles (12.72 square kilometers), is land. A smaller part, about 0.10 square miles (0.26 square kilometers), is water.
Main Roads and Highways
Several important roads run through West Saint Paul. These include the Lafayette Freeway (also known as U.S. Highway 52), Robert Street, and Minnesota Highway 110.
Interstate Highway 494 is just south of the city. Minnesota Highway 3 (also called Route 952) goes right through the middle of West Saint Paul and continues into downtown Saint Paul as Robert Street. Robert Street was named after Captain Louis Roberts, an early French-Canadian settler and a captain of boats on the Mississippi River.
Population and People
West Saint Paul has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how its population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,596 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,830 | 14.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,660 | 45.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,962 | 11.4% | |
| 1930 | 4,463 | 50.7% | |
| 1940 | 5,733 | 28.5% | |
| 1950 | 7,955 | 38.8% | |
| 1960 | 13,101 | 64.7% | |
| 1970 | 18,802 | 43.5% | |
| 1980 | 18,527 | −1.5% | |
| 1990 | 19,248 | 3.9% | |
| 2000 | 19,405 | 0.8% | |
| 2010 | 19,540 | 0.7% | |
| 2015 (est.) | 19,727 | 1.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2015 Estimate |
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2010 Population Data
In 2010, West Saint Paul had 19,540 people living there. There were 8,529 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. The city had about 3,980 people per square mile.
The people living in West Saint Paul came from many different backgrounds:
- 78.0% were White
- 6.0% were African American
- 0.9% were Native American
- 2.2% were Asian
- 0.1% were Pacific Islander
- 8.6% were from other races
- 4.3% were from two or more races
About 19.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was about 39.7 years old.
- 22.3% of residents were under 18 years old.
- 17% of residents were 65 years or older.
There were slightly more females (52.4%) than males (47.6%) in the city.
Community and Beliefs
West Saint Paul is home to different places of worship. For example, Crown of Life Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and is located in the city.
City Government
The city of West Saint Paul has leaders who help run things and make decisions for the community.
- Mayor: Jenny Halverson
- State Senator (for District 52): Matthew Klein, M.D.
- State Representative (for District 52A): Richard J. Hansen
- County Commissioner (for District 2): Kathleen Gaylord
- Council Members: Dick Vitelli (Ward 1), Bob Pace (Ward 1), Anthony Fernandez (Ward 2), Ed Iago (Ward 2), John Bellows (Ward 3), Dave Napier (Ward 3).
Local Economy
The economy of West Saint Paul is supported by several major employers that provide many jobs for residents.
- TapeMark: This company makes medical adhesives and employs about 300 people.
- Dakota County Government: The Northern Dakota County Service Center and Courthouse are located here, employing around 500 people.
- Independent School District 197: This school district employs about 300 people, helping to educate the children of West Saint Paul and nearby areas.
Famous People from West Saint Paul
Many notable people have connections to West Saint Paul.
- Tom Gibis: A voice actor.
- Joan Kroc: A kind person who gave a lot of money to good causes. She was married to Ray Kroc, who founded McDonald's.
- J. Robert Stassen: A businessman and former state senator in Minnesota.
- Harold Stassen: A former governor of Minnesota, who also ran for president and was a university president.
- Richard M. Schulze: The person who started the electronics store Best Buy.
 | Mary Eliza Mahoney |
 | Susie King Taylor |
 | Ida Gray |
 | Eliza Ann Grier |
