Overview

Introduction to St. Cloud, Minnesota

St. Cloud is located in the central region of the state of Minnesota in Stearns County. The Mississippi River runs through the town. The Mississippi's thirty Beaver Islands are situated at the southern end of the city. St. Cloud is known as a college town and has an active nightlife.

History

St. Cloud was formerly a way station for the Red River Trails, situated between the Canadian border and St. Paul. The cart trains sometimes included hundreds of ox carts. The city was incorporated in 1856. It was created from three communities called the Upper Town, Middle Town and Lower Town. The remains of the deep ravines that acted as partitions for the communities can still be seen. The land became available for private ownership by non-natives after treaty negotiations were completed with the Winnebago Tribe in 1852. The city was named in tribute to Saint-Cloud, a suburb in Paris, by a man named John Wilson who had a French Huguenot ancestry. Years ago, do to its convenient location, steamboats often docked at the city. Granite quarries have been in use since the 1880's and the municipality is known as "The Granite City."

Attractions

  • Cathedral of Saint Mary features Italian Romanesque architecture
  • The St. Cloud Central Business District is included in the National Register of Historic Places
  • Munsinger Gardens showcases giant oak trees and more than one thousand rose bushes
  • Clemens Gardens
  • Granite Trio is a notable sculpture and is considered to be a city landmark
  • Grasshopper Chapel officially named Assumption Chapel is a beautiful structure made out of granite
  • Paramount Theatre and Visual Arts Center
  • The notable Sterns County History Museum offers a nature park
  • St. Cloud Civic Center
  • Stearns County Courthouse is a prominent historic building
  • Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame Museum
  • Central Minnesota Community Theater

Activities

The scenic Beaver Island Trail is situated along the Mississippi River and is popular with college students and the community for outdoor activities. Quarry Park contains numerous trails for hiking, bicycle riding and skiing and granite quarries are located in the park. Sand Prairie Wildlife Environmental Area is a scenic environment and provides excellent opportunities for hiking.

Higher Education

St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud Technical College and Rasmussen College are located in the town.

Transportation

The city is served by the St. Cloud Regional Airport. St. Cloud Metro Bus provides the town bus transportation.

St Cloud Almanac

CategoryValue
County
Phone Area Codes
Time Zone
Approximate Latitude
Approximate Longitude

St Cloud Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationST CLOUD MUNICIPAL AP
Distance5.5 miles
Jan Temp-1 to 19 F
Apr Temp32 to 55 F
Jul Temp58 to 82 F
Oct Temp34 to 56 F
Annual Precip27.1 inches
StationSANTIAGO 3 E
Distance19.2 miles
Jan Temp0 to 22 F
Apr Temp33 to 58 F
Jul Temp58 to 84 F
Oct Temp36 to 60 F
Annual Precip30.5 inches
StationMILACA
Distance29.3 miles
Jan Temp-3 to 18 F
Apr Temp31 to 54 F
Jul Temp58 to 81 F
Oct Temp33 to 56 F
Annual Precip27.7 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Clearwater1,776$84,167
Rockville2,533$90,431
Sartell17,076$93,397
Sauk Rapids13,528$63,693
St. Joseph6,938$66,631
Waite Park7,623$46,406

St Cloud Public Libraries

Great River Regional Library
1300 WEST ST. GERMAIN ST.
St Cloud, Minnesota
(320) 650-2500

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St Cloud Hospitals

St Cloud Hospital
(Non-profit)
1406 Sixth Avenue North
(320) 255-5660
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