Editing Ramsey County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{For|the suburban city in Anoka County|Ramsey, Minnesota}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county             = Ramsey County
 | state              = Minnesota
 | ex image           = Saint Paul City Hall.jpg
 | ex image size      = 300px
 | ex image cap       = [[Saint Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Courthouse|Ramsey County Courthouse]]
 | type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | flag               = 
 | seal               = 
 | logo               = 
 | coordinates        = {{coord|45|00|54.734|N|93|05|59.873|W|region:US-MN_type:county|display=inline}}
 | founded year       = 1849<ref>{{cite web|title=October-27-1849 |url=https://www.mnopedia.org/event/october-27-1849 |publisher=[[Minnesota Historical Society]] |date=July 1, 2015 |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>
 | founded date       = October 27
 | named for          = [[Alexander Ramsey]]
 | seat wl            = Saint Paul
 | largest city wl    = Saint Paul
 | area_total_sq_mi   = 170.013
 | area_land_sq_mi    = 152.257
 | area_water_sq_mi   = 17.756
 | area percentage    = 10.44%
 | population_as_of   = 2020
 | population_total   = 552352
 | pop_est_as_of      = 2024
 | population_est     = 542015 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi      = 3561.234
 | time zone          = Central
 | district           = 4th
 | district2          = 5th
 | website            = {{URL|https://www.ramseycounty.us/|ramseycounty.us}}
 | footnotes          = 
}}

'''Ramsey County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 552,352,<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Ramsey_County,_Minnesota?g=050XX00US27123 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> making it the state's [[List of counties in Minnesota|second most populous county]], and was estimated to be 542,015 in 2024.<ref name="QF"/> Its [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Find a County |url=https://ce.naco.org/?find=true |publisher=[[National Association of Counties]] |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> the state capital and the twin city of Minneapolis. The county was founded in 1849 and is named for [[Alexander Ramsey]], the first governor of the [[Minnesota Territory]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chicago and North Western Railway Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA163 |title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways |year=1908 |page=163}}</ref> Ramsey County is part of the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]–[[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]], MN–[[Wisconsin|WI]] [[Metropolitan statistical area]]. It is Minnesota's smallest and most densely populated county, as well as one of the [[County statistics of the United States#Most densely populated|38th-most densely populated counties in the United States]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ramsey County |url=https://metromsp.org/Communities/ramsey.htm |website=metromsp.org |publisher=Minneapolis Regional Chamber Development Foundation |year=2009 |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>

==History==
With the establishment of the [[Minnesota Territory]] in 1849, nine counties, including Ramsey County, were created. In 1849, Ramsey County included all of what later became the present-day counties of Ramsey, Anoka, Isanti, and Kanabec; and parts of Washington, Pine, Carlton, Aitkin, Mille Lacs, and Hennepin. One of Ramsey County's early settlers was Heman Gibbs, whose farm is now the [[Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life]] ([[Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life|Gibbs Farm]]<ref name="GibbsFarmRamseyCounty">{{Cite web|title=Gibbs Farm |url=https://www.rchs.com/gibbs-farm/ |website=www.rchs.com |publisher=Ramsey County Historical Society |access-date=September 5, 2020}}</ref>) in [[Falcon Heights, Minnesota|Falcon Heights]]. Ramsey County remained largely farmland until small villages began to appear in the late 19th century, with the incorporation of [[North St. Paul, Minnesota|North St. Paul]] in 1887, [[New Brighton, Minnesota|New Brighton]] in 1891, and [[White Bear Lake, Minnesota|White Bear Lake]] in 1921.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Virginia Brainard Kunz |title=A Brief History of Ramsey County |url=https://www.rchs.com/research/your-county-history/ |publisher=Ramsey County Historical Society |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230213314/https://www.rchs.com/research/your-county-history/ |archive-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref>

==Government and politics==
Ramsey County is overwhelmingly Democratic in presidential elections, not having voted for a Republican presidential nominee since 1924. In 2020, Democratic nominee [[Joe Biden]] received the largest share of the vote for any candidate in the county's history, with over 71%.

===County sheriff===
The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office was established in the old [[Minnesota Territory]] in 1849.<ref name="about">{{Cite web|title=About the Sheriff's Office |url=https://www.ramseycounty.us/your-government/leadership/sheriffs-office/about-sheriffs-office |publisher=Ramsey County Sheriff's Office |date=2025 |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> The current sheriff is Bob Fletcher, who was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022. The Ramsey County Sheriff is elected to a four-year term in an election concurrent with the federal [[United States midterm election|midterm elections]].

The sheriff's office provides patrol and investigation for communities without local police forces and is available as backup for all communities. In addition to enforcing the law, the office provides town police services under contract to [[Arden Hills, Minnesota|Arden Hills]], [[Falcon Heights, Minnesota|Falcon Heights]], [[Little Canada, Minnesota|Little Canada]], [[North Oaks, Minnesota|North Oaks]], [[Shoreview, Minnesota|Shoreview]], [[Vadnais Heights, Minnesota|Vadnais Heights]], and [[White Bear, Minnesota|White Bear Township.]]<ref name="about"/>

The Ramsey County Sheriff's office provides a number of unique services as mandated by law. This includes detention for court and other court services, safety, rescue, and law enforcement on the waterways. The office provides safety classes and coordinates community volunteer efforts. It is responsible for the county jail, more officially the Adult Detention Center, which can hold 500 prisoners and has a staff of about 150.

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"
|-
! style="background:#9cf;"| Community !! style="background:#9cf;"| Law Enforcement !! style="background:#9cf;"| Fire Protection !! style="background:#9cf;"| Ambulance
|-
|Arden Hills || Ramsey County Sheriff || Lake Johanna Fire || Allina Medical Transport
|-
|Falcon Heights || Ramsey County Sheriff || Saint Paul Fire || Saint Paul Fire
|-
|Gem Lake || White Bear Lake Police || White Bear Lake Fire || White Bear Lake Fire
|-
|Lauderdale || Saint Anthony Police || Saint Paul Fire || Saint Paul Fire
|-
|Little Canada || Ramsey County Sheriff || Little Canada Fire & Rescue || Allina Medical Transport
|-
|Maplewood || Maplewood Police || Maplewood Fire || Maplewood Fire
|-
|Minnesota State Fairgrounds || Minnesota State Fair Police || Saint Paul Fire || Saint Paul Fire
|-
|Mounds View || Mounds View Police || SBM Fire || Allina Medical Transport
|-
|New Brighton || New Brighton Police Division || New Brighton Fire Division || Allina Medical Transport
|-
|North Oaks || Ramsey County Sheriff || Lake Johanna Fire || Allina Medical Transport
|-
|North Saint Paul || North Saint Paul Police || North Saint Paul Fire || Lakeview Emergency Medical
|-
|Roseville || Roseville Police || Roseville Fire || Allina Medical Transport
|-
|Saint Anthony || Saint Anthony Police || Saint Anthony Fire || Hennepin EMS
|-
|Saint Paul || Saint Paul Police || Saint Paul Fire || Saint Paul Fire
|-
|Shoreview || Ramsey County Sheriff || Lake Johanna Fire || Allina Medical Transport
|-
|University of Minnesota-St. Paul || University Police || Saint Paul Fire || Saint Paul Fire
|-
|Vadnais Heights || Ramsey County Sheriff || Vadnais Heights Fire || Allina Medical Transport
|-
|White Bear Lake || White Bear Lake Police || White Bear Lake Fire || White Bear Lake Fire
|-
|White Bear Township || Ramsey County Sheriff || White Bear Lake Fire || White Bear Lake Fire
|}

===County Attorney===
The Ramsey County Attorney prosecutes felony crimes committed within the jurisdiction of Ramsey County. The current County Attorney is [[John Choi (attorney)|John Choi]], who was elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

===County Commissioners===
The county commission elects a [[chairperson|chair]] who presides at meetings. Commissioners as of February 24, 2025, are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! District
! Commissioner
! Assumed office
! Current term ends
|-
| 1st || Tara Jebens-Singh || January 6, 2025 || January 1, 2029
|-
| 2nd || Mary Jo McGuire (Vice Chair) || January 6, 2013 || January 1, 2029
|-
| 3rd || Garrison McMurtrey || February 24, 2025 || January 4, 2027
|-
| 4th || Rena Moran || January 2, 2023 || January 4, 2027
|-
| 5th || Rafael E. Ortega (Board Chair) || 2014 || January 4, 2027
|-
| 6th || Mai Chong Xiong || January 2, 2023 || January 4, 2027
|-
| 7th || Kelly Miller || January 6, 2025 || January 1, 2029
|}

{{PresHead|place=Ramsey County, Minnesota|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=March 21, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 12,426 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs|Eugene Debs]] received 2,942 votes, [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin|Eugene Chafin]] received 275 votes, and [[Socialist Labor Party of America|Socialist Labor]] candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 167 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|75,284|195,168|7,573|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|77,376|211,620|6,981|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|70,894|177,738|24,511|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|86,800|184,938|7,084|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|88,942|182,974|5,470|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|97,096|171,846|3,635|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|87,669|138,470|18,139|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|66,954|133,878|27,381|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|68,206|130,932|52,777|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|88,736|143,767|2,393|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|95,667|141,623|2,153|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|78,860|124,774|29,110|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|86,480|133,682|7,905|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|95,716|108,392|5,843|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|64,068|122,568|9,020|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|56,898|133,948|746|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|77,408|108,464|655|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|80,701|87,784|554|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|76,093|93,783|1,494|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|48,142|88,528|4,217|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|53,052|78,759|1,933|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|57,093|78,990|2,082|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|30,553|86,286|13,889|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|38,589|66,128|3,263|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|53,054|56,807|1,049|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|39,566|8,407|35,046|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|40,204|21,110|7,273|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|13,317|22,291|2,353|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|4,109|12,431|15,810|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|16,556|11,613|2,131|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|18,269|5,860|1,889|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|15,384|10,931|1,030|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|17,522|12,048|817|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|11,307|12,817|2,802|Minnesota}}

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|170.013|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|152.257|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|17.756|sqmi}} (10.44%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 County Gazetteer Files – Minnesota|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_counties_27.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> It is Minnesota's smallest county by area, and has been considered completely [[urbanization|urbanized]] since the [[1990 United States census|1990 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ramsey County Public Works: A System of Thoroughfares, Highways, Streets and Other Public Ways |url=http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/pw/history.htm |publisher=Ramsey County |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904133501/http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/pw/history.htm |archive-date=September 4, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2011}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka County]] (north)
* [[Washington County, Minnesota|Washington County]] (east)
* [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota County]] (south)
* [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin County]] (west)

===National protected area===
* [[Mississippi National River and Recreation Area]] (part)

==Transportation==
===Rail===
Ramsey County is a major freight hub along [[BNSF Railway|BNSF's]] [[Northern Transcon|Northern Transcon route]] and is also served by [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]] and [[Canadian Pacific Railway|Canadian Pacific]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2015 |title=Twin Cities Area Freight Railroad Map |url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/ofrw/maps/MetroRailMap.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231000108/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/ofrw/maps/MetroRailMap.pdf |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation}}</ref>

[[Amtrak]] offers daily intercity passenger rail service on the ''[[Empire Builder]]'' from [[Saint Paul Union Depot|Union Depot]] in Saint Paul.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Empire Builder |url=https://www.amtrak.com/routes/empire-builder-train.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231001453/https://www.amtrak.com/routes/empire-builder-train.html |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref> [[Light rail]] service is provided by [[Metro (Minnesota)|Metro]], a light rail and [[bus rapid transit]] system operated by [[Metro Transit (Minnesota)|Metro Transit]] that connects several communities in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Transit System Map |url=https://www.metrotransit.org/system-map |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231003733/https://www.metrotransit.org/system-map |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |publisher=Metro Transit}}</ref> The [[Metro Green Line (Minnesota)|Metro Green Line]] connects Union Depot to [[Target Field station]] in [[Minneapolis]], in neighboring [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin County]].

===Road===
Ramsey County is served by several interstate highways, including [[Interstate 35]] and [[Interstate 94]]. I-35 has two routes through Ramsey County. [[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)|I-35E]] enters the county from Dakota County to the south and proceeds north through Saint Paul, where it intersects I-94, then continues north to Little Canada, where it runs east concurrently with [[Interstate 694|I-694]] for several miles before turning north through North Oaks to Washington County. [[Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|I-35W]] crosses from Minneapolis to the west through Saint Anthony before turning north through New Brighton, where it intersects I-694, and then to Anoka County, where it goes on to rejoin I-35E in Washington County.<ref name="mndot-ramsey-highway-map">{{Cite web|title=Ramsey County Highway Map |url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/data/maps/county/ramsey.pdf |publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230221457/http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/data/maps/county/ramsey.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref>

Near the western edge of the county, I-94 enters from Minneapolis where it runs almost parallel to [[University Avenue (Minneapolis–Saint Paul)|University Avenue]] until it meets I-35E in Saint Paul and continues east to Washington County. [[Interstate 494|I-494]] passes through the southeast corner of the county between Dakota and Washington Counties. From Anoka County in the west, I-694 takes a path through New Brighton, where it meets I-35W, to the junction with I-35E in Little Canada and finally to Washington County in the east.<ref name="mndot-ramsey-highway-map"/>

Ramsey County is also accessible by several [[United States Numbered Highway System|U.S. Highways]], in particular [[U.S. Route 10|US 10]], [[U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota|US 52]], and [[U.S. Route 61|US 61]]. US 10 enters from Washington County in the south and continues north to meet I-94 just east of Saint Paul where it turns west to run concurrently with I-94, I-35E, I-694, and finally I-35W before continuing northwest to Anoka County. US 52 runs from [[South Saint Paul, Minnesota|South Saint Paul]] in Dakota County north to downtown Saint Paul where it meets I-94 and turns west to run concurrently with it all the way to the North Dakota border. From the south, US 61 runs concurrently with US 10 and then I-94 until it continues northeast on surface streets through the East Side of Saint Paul. From Saint Paul, US 61 continues north through Maplewood and White Bear Lake before crossing the border into Washington County.<ref name="mndot-ramsey-highway-map"/>

In addition to these federal highways, Ramsey County is served by several Minnesota State Highways, including MN 36 and MN 51, which are divided highways for much of their length.<ref name="mndot-ramsey-highway-map"/>

The county also has jurisdiction over 264.108 miles of [[County state aid highways|County State Aid Highways]] as well as 21,031 miles of county roads and 59 bridges maintained and monitored by the county's Public Works Department.<ref name="pwd-2028-improvement-plan">{{Cite web|title=Ramsey County Public Works 2024-2028 Transportation Improvement Plan |url=https://www.ramseycounty.us/sites/default/files/Roads%20and%20Transit/2024-2028%20TIP.pdf |publisher=Ramsey County Public Works |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>

====Major highways====
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Image:I-35E (MN).svg|25px]] [[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)|Interstate 35E]]
* [[Image:I-35W (MN).svg|25px]] [[Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|Interstate 35W]]
* [[Image:I-94 (MN).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|Interstate 94]]
* [[Image:I-694 (MN).svg|25px]] [[Interstate 694]]
* [[Image:US 10.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 10 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 10]]
* [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 12 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 12]]
* [[Image:US 52.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 52]]
* [[Image:US 61.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 61]]
* [[Image:MN-5.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 5]]
* [[Image:MN-13.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 13]]
* [[Image:MN-36.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 36]]
* [[Image:MN-51.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 51]]
* [[Image:MN-96.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 96]]
* [[Image:MN-120.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 120]]
* [[Image:MN-149.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 149]]
* [[Image:MN-156.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 156]]
* [[Image:MN-280.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 280]]
* [[Image:County 30 (MN).svg|20px]] County Road 30 ([[Larpenteur Avenue]])
* [[Image:County 34 (MN).svg|20px]] County Road 34 ([[University Avenue (Minneapolis–Saint Paul)|University Avenue]])
* [[Image:County 36 (MN).svg|20px]] [[Image:County 37 (MN).svg|20px]] County Road 36/37 ([[Shepard Road/Warner Road]])
* ''[[County roads in Ramsey County, Minnesota|Other county roads]]''
{{div col end}}

===Air===
The primary airport serving Ramsey County is [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport]], in neighboring [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin County]]. The only airport in Ramsey County is [[Saint Paul Downtown Airport]], a smaller commercial airport with three runways primarily used for general aviation and military operations.<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=STP|use=PU|own=PU|site=10974.*A}}, effective December 7, 2017.</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 2227
|1860= 12150
|1870= 23085
|1880= 45890
|1890= 139796
|1900= 170554
|1910= 223675
|1920= 244554
|1930= 286721
|1940= 309935
|1950= 355332
|1960= 422525
|1970= 476255
|1980= 459784
|1990= 485765
|2000= 511035
|2010= 508640
|2020= 552352
|estyear=2024
|estimate=542015
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014}}</ref><br>1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |publisher=University of Virginia Library |url-status=live |date=2007 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212224028/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|last=Forstall |first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=live |date=March 27, 1995 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219135447/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |archive-date=February 19, 1999}}</ref><br>1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}
[[File:RamseyCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Ramsey County, from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]

As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Ramsey County was $329,720.<ref>{{Cite web|title=County Median Home Price|url=https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/county-median-home-prices-and-monthly-mortgage-payment|publisher=[[National Association of Realtors]]|access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>

As of the 2023 [[American Community Survey]], there are 219,075 estimated households in Ramsey County with an average of 2.41 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $81,004. Approximately 11.9% of the county's population lives at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]]. Ramsey County has an estimated 68.7% employment rate, with 45.5% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 91.5% holding a high school diploma.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Ramsey County, Minnesota |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ramseycountyminnesota/PST045224 |access-date=March 24, 2025 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (76.5%), Spanish (5.3%), Indo-European (2.1%), Asian and Pacific Islander (10.6%), and Other (5.4%).

The median age in the county was 36.4 years.

'''Ramsey County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 1980<ref name=1980CensusScope>{{Cite web|title=Ramsey County, Minnesota — Population by Race |url=https://censusscope.org/us/s27/c123/chart_race.html |publisher=CensusScope |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> !! Pop. 1990<ref name=1990CensusScope>{{Cite web|title=Ramsey County, Minnesota — Population by Race |url=https://censusscope.org/us/s27/c123/chart_race.html |publisher=CensusScope |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> !! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ramsey County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=050XX00US27123 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> !! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ramsey County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US27123&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> !! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ramsey County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US27123&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 422,284<br>(91.84%) || 420,949<br>(86.66%) || 384,648<br>(75.27%) || 340,194<br>(66.89%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |320,477<br>(58.02%)
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 14,494<br>(3.15%) || 22,096<br>(4.55%) || 37,978<br>(7.43%) || 54,835<br>(10.78%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |70,101<br>(12.69%)
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 2,993<br>(0.65%) || 4,129<br>(0.85%) || 3,677<br>(0.72%) || 3,143<br>(0.62%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |2,914<br>(0.53%)
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 5,402<br>(1.17%) || 24,209<br>(4.98%) || 44,633<br>(8.73%) || 59,033<br>(11.61%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |85,775<br>(15.53%)
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| — || — || 284<br>(0.06%) || 195<br>(0.04%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |214<br>(0.04%)
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 5,301<br>(1.15%) || 492<br>(0.10%) || 803<br>(0.16%) || 737<br>(0.15%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |2,339<br>(0.42%)
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| — || — || 12,033<br>(2.35%) || 14,020<br>(2.76%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |25,498<br>(4.62%)
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 9,310<br>(2.02%) || 13,890<br>(2.86%) || 26,979<br>(5.28%) || 36,483<br>(7.17%) || style='background: #ffffe6; |45,034<br>(8.15%)
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''459,784<br>(100.00%)''' || '''485,765<br>(100.00%)''' || '''511,035<br>(100.00%)''' || '''508,640<br>(100.00%)''' || style='background: #ffffe6; |'''552,352<br>(100.00%)'''
|}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 552,352 people, 218,077 households, and 125,476 families residing in the county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Ramsey%20County,%20Minnesota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 24, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|3628.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 228,546 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1501.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 59.55% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 12.92% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.81% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 15.58% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.98% from some other races and 7.10% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 8.15% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Ramsey County, Minnesota |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/ramsey-county-minnesota/050-27123/ |access-date=March 24, 2025 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 508,640 people, 202,691 households, and 117,799 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|3341.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 217,196 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1426.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 70.10% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 11.04% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.79% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 11.66% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.91% from some other races and 3.45% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 7.17% of the population.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 511,035 people, 201,236 households, and 119,936 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|3275.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 206,448 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1323.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 77.37% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 7.61% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.83% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 8.77% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.45% from some other races and 2.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 5.28% of the population.

There were 201,236 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.40% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,722, and the median income for a family was $57,747. Males had a median income of $39,806 versus $30,814 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $23,536. About 7.40% of families and 10.60% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Arden Hills, Minnesota|Arden Hills]]
* [[Blaine, Minnesota|Blaine]] (partial)
* [[Falcon Heights, Minnesota|Falcon Heights]]
* [[Gem Lake, Minnesota|Gem Lake]]
* [[Lauderdale, Minnesota|Lauderdale]]
* [[Little Canada, Minnesota|Little Canada]]
* [[Maplewood, Minnesota|Maplewood]]
* [[Mounds View, Minnesota|Mounds View]]
* [[New Brighton, Minnesota|New Brighton]]
* [[North Oaks, Minnesota|North Oaks]]
* [[North St. Paul, Minnesota|North Saint Paul]]
* [[Roseville, Minnesota|Roseville]]
* [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]] (county seat)
* [[Shoreview, Minnesota|Shoreview]]
* [[Spring Lake Park, Minnesota|Spring Lake Park]] (partial)
* [[St. Anthony, Hennepin County, Minnesota|Saint Anthony]] (partial)
* [[Vadnais Heights, Minnesota|Vadnais Heights]]
* [[White Bear Lake, Minnesota|White Bear Lake]] (partial)

===Townships===
* McLean Township (defunct)<ref name="Map of Ramsey County, Minn">{{Cite map|title=Map of Ramsey County, Minn. |date=1874 |publisher=Alfred Theodore Andreas |url=https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~22474~740090:Map-of-Ramsey-County%2C-Minn-?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:ramsey%20county%2C%20minnesota;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=0&trs=1 |access-date= December 9, 2024}}</ref>
* Mounds View Township (defunct)<ref name="Map of Ramsey County, Minn"/>
* New Canada Township (defunct)<ref name="Map of Ramsey County, Minn"/>
* Reserve Township (defunct)<ref name="Map of Ramsey County, Minn"/>
* Rose Township (defunct)<ref name="Map of Ramsey County, Minn"/>
* [[White Bear Township, Ramsey County, Minnesota|White Bear Township]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Bald Eagle, Minnesota|Bald Eagle]]
* [[Bellaire, Minnesota|Bellaire]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ramsey County, MN |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27123_ramsey/DC20SD_C27123.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722182532/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27123_ramsey/DC20SD_C27123.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27123_ramsey/DC20SD_C27123_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Mounds View Public School District]]
* [[North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District]]
* [[Roseville Public School District]]
* [[St. Anthony-New Brighton Schools]]
* [[St. Paul Public School District]]
* [[White Bear Lake School District]]

[[Charter schools]] include:
* [[Hmong College Prep Academy]]
* [[Metro Deaf School]]

==See also==
* [[Ramsey County Library]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Ramsey County, Minnesota]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.ramseycounty.us/ Ramsey County government website]
* [https://rchs.com/ Ramsey County Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Ramsey County, Minnesota
|North     = [[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Washington County, Minnesota|Washington County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Ramsey County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ramsey County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in Minnesota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1849]]