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Ramsey County, Minnesota facts for kids

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Ramsey County
Ramsey County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Ramsey County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Minnesota
Founded October 27, 1849
Named for Alexander Ramsey
Seat Saint Paul
Largest city Saint Paul
Area
 • Total 170 sq mi (400 km2)
 • Land 152 sq mi (390 km2)
 • Water 18 sq mi (50 km2)  11%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 552,352
 • Estimate 
(2021)
543,257 Decrease
 • Density 3,633.9/sq mi (1,403.1/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 4th, 5th

Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 552,352, making it the second-most populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat and largest city is Saint Paul, the state capital. The county was founded in 1849 and is named for Alexander Ramsey, the first governor of the Minnesota Territory.

Ramsey County is included in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the smallest and most densely populated county in Minnesota, as well as one of the most densely populated counties in the United States.

Tamarack Nature Center New Wiki Version
Soils of Tamarack Nature Center

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 170 square miles (440 km2), of which 152 square miles (390 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (11%) is water. It is the smallest county by area in Minnesota. It has been considered completely urbanized since the 1990 United States Census.

Major highways

  • I-35E (MN).svg Interstate 35E
  • I-35W (MN).svg Interstate 35W
  • I-94 (MN).svg Interstate 94
  • I-694 (MN).svg Interstate 694
  • US 10.svg U.S. Highway 10
  • US 52.svg U.S. Highway 52
  • US 61.svg U.S. Highway 61
  • MN-5.svg Minnesota State Highway 5
  • MN-13.svg Minnesota State Highway 13
  • MN-36.svg Minnesota State Highway 36
  • MN-51.svg Minnesota State Highway 51
  • MN-96.svg Minnesota State Highway 96
  • MN-120.svg Minnesota State Highway 120
  • MN-149.svg Minnesota State Highway 149
  • MN-156.svg Minnesota State Highway 156
  • MN-280.svg Minnesota State Highway 280
  • County 30 (MN).svg County Road 30 (Larpenteur Avenue)
  • County 34 (MN).svg County Road 34 (University Avenue)
  • County 36 (MN).svg County 37 (MN).svg County Road 36/37 (Shepard Road/Warner Road)
  • Other county roads

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 2,227
1860 12,150 445.6%
1870 23,085 90.0%
1880 45,890 98.8%
1890 139,796 204.6%
1900 170,554 22.0%
1910 223,675 31.1%
1920 244,554 9.3%
1930 286,721 17.2%
1940 309,935 8.1%
1950 355,332 14.6%
1960 422,525 18.9%
1970 476,255 12.7%
1980 459,784 −3.5%
1990 485,765 5.7%
2000 511,035 5.2%
2010 508,640 −0.5%
2020 552,352 8.6%
2021 (est.) 543,257 6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020
USA Ramsey County, Minnesota age pyramid
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

2010

As of the 2010 Census, there were 508,640 people, 202,691 households, and 117,799 families living in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 70.1% White, 11.0% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 11.7% Asian, 2.9% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. 7.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the 2010–2015 American Community Survey, the largest ancestry groups were was German (26.0%), Irish (11.5%), Norwegian (9.9%), and Swedish (7.4%).

2000

At the 2000 Census, there were 511,035 people, 201,236 households, and 119,936 families living in the county. The population density was 3,281 people per square mile (1,267/km2). There were 206,448 housing units at an average density of 1,325 per square mile (512/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.37% White, 7.61% Black or African American, 0.83% Native American, 8.77% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.45% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. 5.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 201,236 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.00% were 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. (These figures had risen to $53,141 and $71,485, respectively, as of 2008.) 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 line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Township

Unincorporated communities

Records

Ramsey County records are available for research use. They include school records, district and municipal court files, Board of Commissioners records, County Auditor records, Court of Common Pleas, probate court records, Saint Paul City Council records, and agency histories.

Transportation

Rail

Ramsey County is a major freight hub along BNSF's Northern Transcon route, as well as being served by Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific.

Amtrak offers daily intercity passenger rail service on the Empire Builder from Union Depot in Saint Paul. Light rail service is provided by Metro, a light rail and bus rapid transit system operated by Metro Transit that connects several communities in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties. The Metro Green Line connects St. Paul Union Depot to Target Field station in Minneapolis, in neighboring 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. 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 I-694 for several miles before turning north through North Oaks to Washington County. 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.

Near the western edge of the county, I-94 enters from Minneapolis where it runs almost parallel to University Avenue until it meets I-35E in Saint Paul and continues east to Washington County. 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.

Ramsey County is also accessible by several U.S. Highways, in particular US 10, US 52, and 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 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.

In addition to these federal highways, Ramsey County is served by a number of Minnesota State Highways, including MN 36 and MN 51 which are divided highways for much of their length.

The county also has jurisdiction over 264.108 miles of County State Aid Highways as well as 21,031 miles of county roads and 59 bridges that are maintained and monitored by the Public Works Department of Ramsey County.

Major highways

  • I-35E (MN).svg Interstate 35E
  • I-35W (MN).svg Interstate 35W
  • I-94 (MN).svg Interstate 94
  • I-694 (MN).svg Interstate 694
  • US 10.svg U.S. Highway 10
  • US 12.svg U.S. Highway 12
  • US 52.svg U.S. Highway 52
  • US 61.svg U.S. Highway 61
  • MN-5.svg Minnesota State Highway 5
  • MN-13.svg Minnesota State Highway 13
  • MN-36.svg Minnesota State Highway 36
  • MN-51.svg Minnesota State Highway 51
  • MN-96.svg Minnesota State Highway 96
  • MN-120.svg Minnesota State Highway 120
  • MN-149.svg Minnesota State Highway 149
  • MN-156.svg Minnesota State Highway 156
  • MN-280.svg Minnesota State Highway 280
  • County 30 (MN).svg County Road 30 (Larpenteur Avenue)
  • County 34 (MN).svg County Road 34 (University Avenue)
  • County 36 (MN).svg County 37 (MN).svg County Road 36/37 (Shepard Road/Warner Road)
  • Other county roads

Air

The primary airport serving Ramsey County is Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, located in neighboring Hennepin County. The only airport located in Ramsey County is Saint Paul Downtown Airport, a smaller commercial airport with three runways primarily used for general aviation and military operations.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Ramsey (Minnesota) para niños

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