# Ramsey County, Minnesota *County in the U.S. state of Minnesota* Ramsey County is a county of [[Minnesota]]. Its county seat and largest city, Saint Paul, is the state capital and the twin city of [[Minneapolis]].[^1] The 2020 census counted 552,352 residents, second among Minnesota counties, and the 2025 estimate was 541,623.[^1] The county was founded in 1849. It takes its name from [[Alexander Ramsey]], the first [[governor]] of the [[Minnesota Territory]].[^1] The county lies within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul–Bloomington, MN–WI metropolitan statistical area. It is the smallest of Minnesota's counties by area and the most densely populated, and in 2010 it ranked 38th in population density among U.S. counties.[^1] The county government publishes an official website, whose nameplate was live as of June 11, 2026.[^2] ## History Ramsey County was one of nine counties formed in 1849, when the Minnesota Territory was organized. At its creation it took in the whole of what are now Ramsey, Anoka, Isanti and Kanabec counties. It also included portions of Washington, Pine, Carlton, Aitkin, Mille Lacs and Hennepin counties.[^1] The farm of Heman Gibbs, an early settler, survives in Falcon Heights as the Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life, also called Gibbs Farm.[^1] The land stayed mostly agricultural until villages formed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. North St. Paul incorporated in 1887, New Brighton in 1891 and White Bear Lake in 1921.[^1] ## Government and politics No Republican presidential nominee has carried Ramsey County since 1924. In 2020 the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, won more than 71% of the county's vote, the highest share any candidate has recorded there.[^1] ### County sheriff The [[Ramsey County Sheriff's Office]] dates to 1849, in the Minnesota Territory. The [[sheriff]] serves a four-year term and is elected in the same cycle as federal midterm elections. Bob Fletcher won the office in 2018 and was reelected in 2022.[^1] The office patrols and investigates in communities that have no police force of their own and backs up every community in the county. It also provides police service under contract to Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Township.[^1] Its legally mandated duties include detention and other services for the courts, along with safety, rescue and law enforcement on the county's waterways. The office also teaches safety classes and coordinates community volunteers.[^1] It runs the county jail, formally the Adult Detention Center, which has capacity for 500 prisoners and roughly 150 staff.[^1] ### County attorney The [[Ramsey County Attorney]] prosecutes felonies committed in the county. The current officeholder, [[John Choi]], was first elected in 2010 and was reelected in 2014, 2018 and 2022.[^1] ### County commissioners Commissioners choose a chair from among themselves to preside over meetings.[^1] ## Geography Census Bureau figures give the county a total area of 170.013 square miles (440.33 km²). Of that, 152.257 square miles is land and 17.756 square miles, or 10.44%, is water.[^1] No Minnesota county is smaller, and the [[United States Census Bureau]] has classed Ramsey as wholly urbanized since the 1990 census.[^1] The county borders Anoka County to the north, Washington County to the east, Dakota County to the south and Hennepin County to the west. Part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area lies within it.[^1] ## Transportation ### Rail The county is a major freight hub on BNSF's Northern Transcon, and Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific also run trains there.[^1] Amtrak's *Empire Builder* provides daily intercity service from Union Depot in Saint Paul.[^1] Metro, the light rail and bus rapid transit network operated by [[Metro Transit]], links communities in Ramsey and Hennepin counties. Its Green Line runs from Union Depot to Target Field station in Minneapolis.[^1] ### Road Interstate 35 crosses the county in two branches. I-35E comes north from Dakota County through Saint Paul, where it crosses [[Interstate 94]]. It then briefly shares roadway with I-694 at Little Canada and leaves through Vadnais Heights for Washington County.[^1] I-35W enters from Minneapolis through Saint Anthony and turns north through New Brighton, where it meets I-694, before continuing into Anoka County.[^1] I-94 enters from Minneapolis roughly parallel to University Avenue and continues east past I-35E to Washington County. I-494 crosses the county's southeast corner between Dakota and Washington counties. I-694 runs from Anoka County through New Brighton and Little Canada to Washington County.[^1] US 10, US 52 and US 61 also serve the county.[^1] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded a median age of 35.6 years. Residents under 18 made up 22.7% of the population and those 65 or older made up 15.4%. There were 94.9 males for every 100 females, and 92.2 per 100 among adults.[^1] The census reported 59.6% of residents as White, 15.6% as Asian, 12.9% as Black or African American and 0.8% as American Indian and Alaska Native. Less than 0.1% were reported as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.0% as some other race and 7.1% as two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 8.2%, and the census classed 100.0% of residents as living in urban areas.[^1] The 2023 American Community Survey estimated 219,075 households averaging 2.41 people each. It put the median household income at $81,004 and the share of residents at or below the poverty line at about 11.9%.[^1] The same survey estimated a 68.7% employment rate. It found that 91.5% of residents held a high school diploma and 45.5% held a bachelor's degree or higher.[^1] The median home value in the third quarter of 2024 was $329,720.[^1] ## Communities The county's cities are Arden Hills, Blaine (partial), Falcon Heights, Gem Lake, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North Oaks, North Saint Paul, Roseville, Saint Paul (county seat), Shoreview, Spring Lake Park (partial), Saint Anthony (partial), Vadnais Heights and White Bear Lake (partial).[^1] White Bear Township is the remaining township. McLean, Mounds View, New Canada, Reserve and Rose townships are defunct. Bald Eagle and Bellaire are unincorporated communities.[^1] ## Education Public school districts serving the county include Mounds View Public Schools, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District, Roseville Area Schools, St. Anthony-New Brighton School District, [[Saint Paul Public Schools]] and White Bear Lake Area School District. Charter schools include Hmong College Prep Academy and Metro Deaf School.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ramsey County, Minnesota* (revision 1375468947, retrieved 2026-10-25), CC BY-SA 4.0 — county population, founding and naming, history, elections, sheriff and county attorney, geography, transportation, demographics, communities and education. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsey_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Ramsey County, Minnesota, *Official county government website* (nameplate live as of 2026-06-11) — establishes the county government's official web presence. https://www.ramseycountymn.gov/