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www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ced/index.htm Community Profile of Ramsey County Location & Access Ramsey County is the home of Saint Paul, a major port city and the state capital of Minnesota. It occupies most of the southern half of the county. The rest extends north and east of the city along the Mississippi River. With 156 square miles of land and about a half million residents, Ramsey is the smallest and most densely populated county in Minnesota. It’s also one of the most densely populated counties in the U.S. Businesses are well connected by an integrated transportation system comprising four interstates, three U.S. highways and six state highways. Saint Paul/Ramsey County also offers businesses the advantage of river shipping – one of the most efficient methods of transporting bulk commodities in the U.S.
Major Industries & Employers Government (state, federal and county) is the major employer in Ramsey County, employing more than 90,000 people. The county also supports a diverse nonprofit and professional association sector that benefits from its proximity to government. Financial services, high-tech manufacturing, chemicals and food production are also dominant. The county is rich in corporate headquarters: Medtronic, Travelers, 3M, Ecolab, St. Jude Medical, Deluxe Corp., H.B. Fuller, Gander Mountain and Lawson Software all rank among the top 50 public companies in the Metro MSP region. The largest private employers include 3M, Land of Lakes, Agriliance, AgriBank, Securian Financial and APi Group.
Population & Workforce The Ramsey County labor force is among the most highly educated in the state. Well over 38% of the adult population has a college degree or higher, compared to 30% of Minnesotans and only 27% of the nation. While its employer base remains strong, Ramsey County’s population has dropped slightly since 2000. Easy access to larger, adjoining counties has prompted the suburban migration. The 2006 population estimate was 515,059 (Metropolitan Council). It is expected to decline by less than 2% by 2012. The workforce is expected to follow a similar trend. However, the east metro workforce, from which county employers draw, will continue to be in an expansion mode. Labor Force Profile of Ramsey County
Transportation Interstates 35E and 35W dissect the county and serve as the major north/south thoroughfare. They merge just outside the region, linking Ramsey County companies to markets as far away as Canada and Mexico. Interstates 94 and 694 provide easy east/west access though and around the metro core. Three U.S. highways (10, 52 and 61) and a half dozen Minnesota highways connect Ramsey County businesses to the rest of Metro MSP region. Daily rail freight service is provided by four railways: BNSF, -->Canadian Pacific -->, Union Pacific, and Twin Cities & Western. Amtrak's Empire Builder passenger train between Chicago and Seattle stops daily in each direction at Midway Station in Saint Paul. The light rail transit line planned for the Central Corridor on University Avenue will link downtown Saint Paul, the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis, making it easier to share workers and suppliers. Located just minutes from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Ramsey County offers business travelers the choice of two reliever airports – one in Downtown Saint Paul, the other in Lake Elmo. The county’s Mississippi River port is a unique asset to businesses needing an efficient means of shipping bulk commodities. Saint Paul’s four shipping terminals form a critical link in a highly sophisticated intermodal freight transportation system. They enable businesses in the heartland to move huge quantities of product all the way to the Gulf of Mexico via the inland waterway system. Outbound commodities include grain, oil seeds, fertilizers, scrap steel and scrap aluminum. Inbound commodities include fertilizers, salt gravel, cement, asphalt and coal.
Quality of Life The county takes its name from Alexander Ramsey, who left his imprint as the first governor of the original Minnesota Territory, the second mayor of Saint Paul, and the second governor of the state. He later served as a U.S. senator and secretary of war. Ramsey County benefits from the dynamic cultural corridor in downtown Saint Paul – one of the most concentrated in the country. Entertainment venues include Xcel Energy Center, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Landmark Center, Science Museum Minnesota, Children’s Museum and many intimate performance spaces. The county is known for three major events – the Taste of Minnesota at the Capitol, the Minnesota State Fair, and the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. The county also enjoys the economic impact of the Minnesota Wild NHL team and Saint Paul Saints minor league baseball team, both of which draw fans to Saint Paul. Rosedale Mall, Maplewood Mall and Downtown Saint Paul are popular retail areas. Specialties retail districts also thrive in Saint Paul’s Grand Avenue and downtown White Bear Lake. Despite its small size, the county values green space. It has nine regional parks, five county parks and three special use facilities within its perimeter. It also boasts more than a dozen colleges and universities – a testament to its long-standing commitment to an educated, informed citizenry.
Demographics Demographic profile of Ramsey County
Consumer Spending Consumer Spending profile of Ramsey County
Colleges & Universities Century College Minneapolis Business College, Roseville Campus University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus
Major Cities & Populations
2010 population estimates are provided by Applied Geographic Solutions.
Economic Development Contact Denise Beigbeder www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ced/index.htm
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