Saint Paul, Minnesota

History

St. Paul Located in the state of Minnesota in America is the state’s 2nd largest city. Saint Paul is a city that has vast historical significance, and there are many exciting places to visit. Saint Paul grew up along the banks of the upper Mississippi river and developed as a port town. 

In 1819 Fort Snelling, which was initially called Fort Saint Anthony, was built. This fort marked the spot where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers crossed and merged. The fort was developed to help dominate the fur trading industry and became a place where hunters and traders could sell their wares. Later the whiskey trade began to boom, and the fort was also a place where whiskey was traded. 

In the 1830s military officers who were stationed at Fort Snelling tightened the laws on whiskey and fur trades. They stopped the distilleries from operating on land controlled by the fort. A retired fur trader named Pierre Parrant made history in 1883 by moving his home and trading station further down the river by just five miles. He set himself up, along with other traders on the north bank of the river, this irritated the military offers and became known as “L’Oeil de Cochon,” which means pigs eye, a nickname given to Parrant. Today the area is known as downtown St. Paul.

St. Paul became the railroad Gateway

St. Paul would become the railroad gateway to the Pacific Northwest and the hub for Canadian railroad executive James J. Hill’s Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway by the late 1800s. The new trading location soon became home to many French Canadians, and in 1837 a treaty was created with the natives, which allowed the city to be occupied as a white settlement. Four years later, in 1841, this new settlement was officially named by Father Lucien Galtier, a French priest. He called the town St. Paul after Paul the Apostle. The area continued to grow and was soon an important trading center. It was often used as a rest point for people who were traveling west. The city was known locally as pigs eye landing. In 1849 the Minnesota Territory was formed, and St. Paul became its capital. The success of St. Paul was down to its natural geography, as this allowed traders to move their goods along the river quickly. The river valley has a series of stone bluffs, which line each side of the Mississippi River.

Industry Flourishes St. Paul

Although St. Paul started from humble beginnings, it has grown into a popular tourist destination today and is an exciting city with a cosmopolitan feel. Many of its sites of historical significance remain. The city has been shaped over history by its people. There are now many immigrants and languages spoken in the area. Immigrants from Mexico and Europe have settled in St. Paul bringing with them new cultures, food, and religions. St. Paul is also an Industrial center of Minnesota, with several large companies serving the area and taking advantage of the road and railway links. These include 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacture Company), Eco Lab Chemical and Cleaning Company, and Securian Financial Group. St Paul is now one of America’s most important commercial centers.