St. Paul
The First Years of
St. Paul
St. Paul
,
Minnesota
is a thriving city, and the capitol of
Minnesota
. The history of
St. Paul
is an interesting part of
Minnesota
history as a whole.
Minnesota
’s history is one of both native peoples and trade, from early in the 19th century onward. More than 160 years ago,
St. Paul
was just a small settlement called Pig’s Eye Landing near both the
Minnesota
and
Mississippi
rivers. Today, the Mississippi river winds through the city of
St. Paul
, reminding us of its role as a trade center in
Minnesota
history.
Minnesota
state history is the history of this area, today a part of the thriving
Minnesota
twin cities.
Native Settlements
The river valley where
St. Paul
now sits holds some of the most ancient of
Minnesota
state history. The Hopewell Indians buried their dead in mounds in this area more than 2000 years ago, today located in
Indian
Mounds
Park
. The Dakota Indians later used the same area for burials. As traders entered the area in the early 19th century, the native population left the region. A treaty in 1837 removed the Dakota from the
St. Paul
area entirely, ending their role in the history of
Minnesota
’s capitol city.
Fort Snelling and Pig’s Eye Landing
Fort
Snelling
drew traders, explorers and missionaries to the area. Over time, the military staff at
Fort
Snelling
grew uncomfortable with the traders, who had drifted north from the
United States
and south from
Canada
and Pig’s Eye Landing was established as little more than a trading post, inhabited by fur traders and bootleggers, then a small side note in
Minnesota
state history. In 1841, a Catholic church was established, and the name of the now thriving trading center changed to
St. Paul
.
The Founding of
St. Paul
St. Paul
continued to grow and thrive, and its role in the history of
Minnesota
grew as well. In 1849, a year of note in the history of
Minnesota
,
Minnesota
’s status as a
U.S.
territory was established and
St. Paul
named its capitol.
St. Paul
was incorporated as a city in 1854, and
Minnesota
history as a state begins in 1858.
St. Paul
began as a trading post, and the reason is clear as to why it had that role in
Minnesota
state history. The river, easy access to docks, and shortly after the founding, the introduction of the railroad made this an important stop for travelers venturing both to the north and south, as well as from east to west.
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