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St. Paul, Minn. - MSA

The information in our study covers the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis., Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In each community, the Soul of the Community Study identified factors that emotionally bond residents to where they live. Some of these community characteristics were rated highly by residents, and are therefore community strengths while others were rated lower, making them opportunities for improvement. This information can provide communities a roadmap for increasing residents’ emotional attachment to where they live, which the study found has a significant relationship to economic vitality.

Most Important ProblemResidents of St. Paul cited crime and violence as the area's most pressing problem in 2009.

In the St. Paul area, openness (how welcoming the place is), aesthetics (an area's physical beauty and green spaces) and education (local colleges and universities and K-12 public schools) are the most important factors emotionally connecting residents to where they live.

Education and aesthetics were perceived as community strengths – particularly the area’s colleges and universities and its parks, playgrounds and trails. In fact, local colleges and universities were rated significantly higher by residents in 2009.

Meanwhile, the area’s social offerings (particularly residents caring about each other) and openness (particularly to college grads) need improvement, the survey found. Also, though area residents rated openness to families with young children significantly higher in 2009, they rated nightlife significantly lower in 2009.

Demographic FactsResidents most attached to St. Paul tend to be 65 or older, college graduates, retired, suburban-dwelling and higher-income.

Not surprisingly, ratings of the local economy were down in 2009, however the economy is still not a key factor emotionally connecting residents to their communities.

Residents who are most likely to be emotionally attached are older, retired, suburban dwelling, higher educated and higher income residents. Those least likely are under 55, rural dwelling, non-employed (including students) and lower educated residents.

Blog entries about this community

Gallup: Local perception of Twin Cities remains high in bad times - Finance-Commerce.com

From Finance and Commerce: Although the national economy is still in the tank, that’s not coloring how residents of the Twin Cities and 25 other U.S. cities feel about their communities. A Gallup study released today called “Soul of the Community” found that the worst economic crisis in decades isn’t a major factor in attracting [...]

Strong cities don't just happen - PioneerPress.com

From the Pioneer Press: Minnesota is a place where people and businesses tend to give generously to charities, foundations and non-profit organizations. A new report suggests that those doling out grants should pay more attention to advocacy and community organizing as a way of getting more return on the philanthropic dollar. At the same time [...]

Thoughts on the findings in Saint Paul

Polly Talen is Knight’s program director for Saint Paul. While Knight Foundation does most of its local work in Saint Paul and the East Metro, it is important to note that the survey covers residents in the 12-county Twin Cites metro area. That means we can use this data to make comparisons with some other [...]

Twin Citians' love for hometown is above average, survey finds - TwinCities.com

From the Pioneer Press: Nine out of 10 residents think it's a bad time to get a job in the Twin Cities, and crime and violence are viewed as the area's most pressing problem. But it's not a good economy or safe streets that are the top factors in determining how emotionally attached metro-area residents [...]

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