Minneapolis and St. Paul are the two cities in Minnesota that are commonly referred to as the Twin Cities, which make up the largest urban area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit. Despite the name, both cities are far from being identical; Minneapolis is more cosmopolitan with modern skyscrapers, while St. Paul is more laid back and can be likened to a European city with quaint neighborhoods. Minneapolis and Saint Paul’s strong, diversified economy, along with numerous recreation options, outstanding schools, and robust health care system has made the area a destination for thousands of new residents every year.
Relocating to Minneapolis
Minneapolis is divided into 11 communities, each of which is divided into several neighborhoods. There are 81 official neighborhoods, with each one having its own unique character. Most of the city uses a grid layout system, with housing of all types like single-family residences, apartments, and condos largely available, including refurbished warehouse apartments in the old industrial districts around downto>In contrast to Minneapolis, St. Paul has only 17 neighborhoods, but each one is distinct from one another, and the character of the city changes markedly between neighborhoods. St. Paul also uses a grid layout system for its streets, with homes that are mostly single-family residences, which include well-preserved late-Victorian architecture. Redevelopment of the mostly residential neighborhoods is occurring near the downtown area, with old factories being converted into housing and new condominiums being built.
Living in Minneapolis
Minneapolis-Saint Paul has often been cited as the best place to find employment and is among the top cities for career advancement. Most of the state’s Fortune 500 companies are located in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area, including 3M, Best Buy, Medtronic, Supervalu, Target, UnitedHealth Group, and Xcel Energy.
In terms of education, Minneapolis-Saint Paul has one of the best educated and most literate populations in the country and is home to the University of Minnesota, the prestigious Macalester College, and the largest private university in Minnesota, The University of St. Thomas.
Minneapolis consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top cities for biking, with 92 miles of on-street bikeways and 85 miles of off-street bikeways. There’s even a bike share program that makes it so easy to take a pedal around town. If you’re the type who enjoys leisurely strolls in parks, Minneapolis has 197 of them, and the city’s park system has been called the best-designed, best-financed, and best-maintained in America.
Winter in the Twin Cities can be long and harsh, and those who don’t want to go outdoors can actually do so by traversing Minneapolis’ famed Skyway system, which interconnects about 52 blocks of offices, shopping centers, restaurants, and more, so you can just walk above your destination without stepping outside the cold, winter weather.