St Louis Park

About St. Louis Park

St. Louis Park is a midsize city in Minnesota's Hennepin County, located just west of Minneapolis. It's considered an inner-ring suburb of Minneapolis, meaning that it shares a direct border with the city. St. Louis Park has earned some small fame as the birthplace of well-known movie directors the Coen brothers.

The History of St. Louis Park

St. Louis Park started as a small village named Elmwood, which still exists as one of the city's neighborhoods. In the 1860s, the village grew large enough to petition for incorporation, choosing the name St. Louis Park as a nod to the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway. Lumber tycoon Thomas Barlow Walker began developing St. Louis Park in the 1890s, focusing on creating a balance of commercial, residential and industrial developments. By the turn of the century, St. Louis Park had grown considerably, attracting people with its many industrial jobs and newly-arrived companies.

The community remained fairly quiet until after World War II, when a massive housing boom overtook many cities in America. More than 60 percent of the city's current housing was built during this period to accommodate the waves of veterans and their families looking for a comfortable, suburban lifestyle. In 1954, the city was incorporated, giving it access to a city manager to help handle the incredible growth.

Living in St. Louis Park

Families relocating to St. Louis Park will find 35 distinct residential neighborhoods to choose from. These close-knit communities within the city coordinate neighborhood associations and groups, organizing everything from shared household services to block parties. Many even operate a newsletter to keep everyone closely informed of local happenings.

Many of the city's trails connect directly to downtown Minneapolis for convenient access to all the best urban highlights. Despite its proximity to the city, St. Louis Park offers ample green space among its 51 parks, giving it a distinctly suburban feel. It has become a particularly desirable community for young families, having earned the distinction of being on America's Promise Alliance's "100 Best Communities for Young People" list for six consecutive years.

St. Louis Park Schools

St. Louis Park schools are part of the St. Louis Park Public Schools district. Every school in the district is a National School of Excellence. There are also many private schools in the area, including the Talmud Torah of Minneapolis and The Whole Learning School.

Resources for Moving to St. Louis Park

Here's some useful information to help you plan your move to St. Louis Park:

• Utilities: The city oversees water and sewer services, while Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy provide energy to the area.
• Garbage and Recycling: The city of St. Louis Park offers trash collection through a contract with Waste Management and Advanced Disposal. Pickup takes place once a week. Recycling pickup is provided by Eureka Recycling.
• Transportation: St. Louis Park is part of the Metro Transit transportation network.
• Weather: Snow is a part of living in the Minneapolis area, and the city has procedures in place to deal with it. If there are 3 inches of snow or more, St. Louis Park will observe a snow emergency to keep vehicles off the street. On-street parking is allowed again once streets have been plowed to the curb.

St. Louis Park Housing

Like many Minneapolis suburbs, St. Louis Park can be a slightly expensive place to live. The city's median home price is well above the national average and continuing to rise. With a variety of homes to consider, however, you can still find something to fit your needs and budget.