South St. Paul, Minnesota

South St. Paul is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, immediately south and southeast of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is also southeast of West St. Paul, Minnesota. The population was 20,160 at the 2010 census. It is notable as one of the historic major meat packing cities in the United States. Subsequently, many residents are descendants of immigrants from Southern Europe and Eastern Europe.

A post office called South St. Paul has been in operation since 1888. The city was named from its location south of St. Paul.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.14 square miles (15.90 km²), of which 5.65 square miles (14.63 km²) is land and 0.49 square miles (1.27 km²) is water.

Interstate Highway 494, U.S. Highway 52, and Minnesota Highway 156 are three of the main routes in South St. Paul.

South St. Paul is home to a small general aviation airport, Fleming Field.

The main industry for much of South St. Paul's history was the Saint Paul Union Stockyards. These remain active but much reduced in size, and much of the stockyards area is being redeveloped.