Editing West St. Paul, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = West St. Paul
|official_name            = City of West St. Paul
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = W.S.P.
|motto                    = "We're Close To It All"
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = West_St._Paul,_MN.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Dakota_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_West_St._Paul_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of the city of West St. Paul<br />within [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota County]], Minnesota
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Dave Napier
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1858
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = February 23, 1889
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 12.98
|area_land_km2            = 12.71
|area_water_km2           = 0.27
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.01
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.91
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.10
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 21794
|pop_est_as_of            = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 20615
|population_density_km2   = 1621.70
|population_density_sq_mi = 4200.29
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 313
|elevation_ft             = 1027
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|54|58|N|93|06|06|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 55118
|area_code                = [[Area code 651|651]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-69700
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 654003<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|654003}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 8.625%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/minnesota/cities/west-saint-paul.html|title=West Saint Paul (MN) sales tax rate|access-date=December 31, 2023}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.wspmn.gov/|wspmn.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''West St. Paul''' is a city in [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 20,615 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/West_St._Paul_city,_Minnesota?g=160XX00US2769700 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=June 17, 2022}}</ref> It is immediately south of [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]] and immediately west of [[South St. Paul, Minnesota|South St. Paul]].

==History==
The city's misleading name comes in part from the fact that it lies on the west bank of the predominantly north-to-south [[Mississippi River]]. A previous City of West St. Paul, incorporated in the late 19th century, was in what is now called Saint Paul's [[Neighborhoods of Saint Paul#West Side|Lower West Side]]. According to the West 7th/Fort Road foundation, Saint Paul annexed the West Side for two reasons: "to aid law enforcement—criminals could escape Saint Paul authorities by crossing to the West Side and Dakota County—and to eliminate the Wabasha Street Bridge tolls which were inhibiting development on the West Side."{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} The current West St. Paul split from the western half of [[South St. Paul, Minnesota|South St. Paul]], and was incorporated in 1889, just south of the city of Saint Paul. The population was 20,615 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/> growing by 1,075 since [[2010 United States census|2010 census]]. West Saint Paul is known for its 2.5-mile retail strip along Robert Street.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|5.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.91|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.10|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name ="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 13, 2012}}</ref>

U.S. Highway [[U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota|52]] (also known as the Lafayette Freeway), Robert Street, and Minnesota Highway [[Minnesota State Highway 62|62]] are three of West St. Paul's main routes. Interstate Highway [[Interstate 494|494]] runs just south of the city and Minnesota Highway [[Minnesota State Highway 3|3]] (unmarked Route 952) runs through the middle of the city and into downtown Saint Paul as Robert Street. Robert Street was named for Captain Louis Robert, a Mississippi River boat captain and early French-Canadian settler of Saint Paul.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 1596
|1900= 1830
|1910= 2660
|1920= 2962
|1930= 4463
|1940= 5733
|1950= 7955
|1960= 13101
|1970= 18802
|1980= 18527
|1990= 19248
|2000= 19405
|2010= 19540
|2020= 20615
|estyear=2022
|estimate=21794
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=December 31, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 31, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 11, 2013}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 19,540 people, 8,529 households, and 4,751 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3979.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 9,139 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1861.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 78.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.9% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 8.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 4.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 19.5% of the population.

There were 8,529 households, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.3% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 39.7 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 17% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 19,405 people, 8,645 households, and 4,875 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|3,874.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 8,779 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,752.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 87.27% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.83% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.62% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.89% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.88% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.49% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 9.98% of the population.

There were 8,645 households, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,103, and the median income for a family was $56,786. Males had a median income of $39,344 versus $29,836 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $23,558.  About 3.8% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
West St. Paul's major employers include:

* TapeMark, a medical adhesives manufacturer (approx. 300 employees)
* Dakota County Government, the Northern Dakota County Service Center and Courthouse (approx. 500 employees)
* Independent School District 197 (approx. 300 employees)

==Government==
* Mayor: Dave Napier
* Council members: Pat Armon (Ward 1), Julie Eastman (Ward 1), Robyn Gulley (Ward 2), John Justen (Ward 2), Wendy Berry (Ward 3), Lisa Eng-Sarne (Ward 3).
* State Senator (Senate District 52): Matthew Klein
* State Representative (House District 52A<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=1854 |title=Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State : MN Legislative Maps |website=www.sos.state.mn.us |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024204709/http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=1854 |archive-date=October 24, 2014}}</ref>): Richard J. Hansen
* County Commissioner (Commissioner District 2): Joe Atkins

==Police==
The West St. Paul Police Department is made up of approximately 25 sworn officers, including four sergeants, 21 patrol officers and three part-time non-sworn Community Service Officers (CSO) under the command of Chief Brian Sturgeon.

==Education==
West St. Paul is served by Independent School District 197 public schools and is home to Moreland Arts and Sciences Magnet School (K-4), Garlough Environmental Magnet School (K-4), Heritage E-Stem Magnet School (grades 5-8), and [[Two Rivers High School (Minnesota)|Two Rivers High School]] (grades 9-12).

Crown of Life Lutheran (K-8)<ref>{{cite web|title=K-8 School|url=http://church.crownoflifemn.org/k-8-school/}}</ref> and [[St. Croix Lutheran Academy High School]] (6-12)<ref>{{cite web|title=About St. Croix Lutheran|url=http://www.stcroixlutheran.org/about-us}}</ref> are two Christian schools of the [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod]] in West St. Paul.

St. Joseph's Catholic School (K-8) is in West St. Paul.

The Thomas Irvine [[Dodge Nature Center]]'s West St. Paul location contains nature preserves and a nature education-based preschool.<ref name=Crum>{{cite magazine|last1=Crum |first1=William |title= Every day a field trip at Garlough |magazine=[[Star Tribune]] |date=May 6, 2012}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Tom Gibis]], voice actor
* [[Karl F. Grittner]], Minnesota state legislator and educator
* [[Joan Kroc]], philanthropist and wife of [[McDonald's]] founder [[Ray Kroc]]
* [[Harold Stassen]], former Minnesota governor, presidential candidate, statesman, and university president
* [[J. Robert Stassen]], Minnesota state senator and businessman

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.wspmn.gov/ City of West St. Paul – Official Website]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/mn/dak-w-st-paul.htm 1881 History of West St. Paul]

{{Dakota County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Dakota County, Minnesota]]