Frogtown, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Last updated
Thomas-Dale
Church of St Agnes 2013.jpg
The Church of St. Agnes, which is prominently visible in the center of the neighborhood.
Nickname: 
Frogtown
Frogtown, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Ramsey
City Saint Paul
Area
[1]
  Total1.714 sq mi (4.44 km2)
Population
 (2010) [2]
  Total17,049
  Density9,900/sq mi (3,800/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55101, 55103, 55104
Area code 651
Website http://www.frogtownmn.org/

Frogtown is a neighborhood in Saint Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Built around University Avenue, the Thomas-Dale neighborhood is colloquially known as Frogtown (German : Froschberg, meaning "Frogmountain"). Historically, Frogtown was a subsection of the current Thomas-Dale neighborhood. It is bordered by University Avenue on the south, the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks to the north, Lexington Parkway on the west and Rice Street on the east. [3]

Contents

Early settlement

The neighborhood was first settled 18601880 as the downtown area outgrew its borders. Workers on the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, now BNSF Railway, which was built just to the north of the neighborhood sought housing nearby. Minnesota's first successful locomotive run occurred on these tracks in 1882. Shortly thereafter the Jackson Street Railroad Shops were built just northeast of Frogtown. The Jackson Street Shops were then joined by other railroad related industries in the area including the Saint Paul Foundry, built near Como and Western Avenues, providing additional employment opportunities for residents. [3]

Residential development moved westward through the neighborhood as Polish, Scandinavian, German, and Irish immigrants took blue-collar jobs in the area. They built modest wood frame and brick houses on small lots in the neighborhood. Urban renewal has wiped out many of these homes, but working-class Victorian homes from the 1880s are extant, some adorned with arched window and door openings, brick window hoods, and frilly intact open porches.[ citation needed ]

The name "Frogtown" likely comes from the fact that the neighborhood was developed over several swamps and marshes, which were filled in over time. Archbishop John Ireland referred to the area as “Froschberg” or "Frog City” because of the many frogs in the area originating from the swamps. [4]

Commerce

The University Avenue corridor through Frogtown is known as Little Mekong. Little Mekong banner, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States.jpg
The University Avenue corridor through Frogtown is known as Little Mekong.

Commercial buildings lined University Avenue as street cars along the corridor were able to efficiently transport workers to employers. The line also became the first intercity street car line, connecting Minneapolis with Saint Paul in 1890. [3]

Hmongtown Marketplace, a 200+ vendor Hmong-American mall and cultural center, is in Frogtown along Como Avenue. [5] A Hmong cultural and business corridor along University Avenue in Frogtown is known as Little Mekong, named for the river many Hmong refugees crossed to Thailand. [6]


Today

A young Hmong-American woman selling produce at the Frogtown farmer's market Hmong farmers market vendor.jpg
A young Hmong-American woman selling produce at the Frogtown farmer's market

Today many view Frogtown as a new enclave for Vietnamese and now Hmong immigrants, who, in Saint Paul, comprise the largest urban contingent in the United States. [3] [7] Amenities include a full-service bank, gas station, community medical clinic, family services organizations, two parks, several Asian supermarkets, a traditional butcher shop, several convenience stores, the historic No.18 Fire Station.

Frogtown is the center of Saint Paul's immigrant communities, with very large populations of Hmong, Burmese, Vietnamese, Somali, and Ethiopian immigrants.

A profusion of immigrant-owned businesses line University Avenue, offering clothing, shoes, jewelry, household items, entertainment media (DVDs, CDs, video games) and groceries. Immigrants from Africa operate several Halal meat markets in the area, which also offer traditional African breads, spices and foodstuffs. Mexican-American immigrants operate small traditional Mexican carnicerías. The avenue is dotted with restaurants serving Cambodian, Thai, Laotian, Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese-American, Somali, Ethiopian, and Mexican cuisine, some of it very authentic.

Transportation

The METRO Green Line light rail, which opened on June 14, 2014, serves the neighborhood with stops on University Avenue at Victoria Street, Dale Street, and Western Avenue. [8]

Education

St. Paul Public Schools serves Frogtown. [3] Some residents are zoned to Jackson Elementary, while some are zoned to Galtier Elementary. [9] Some residents are zoned to Ramsey Middle, and some are zoned to Washington Middle. [10] Some residents are zoned to Central High School, and some are zoned to Como Park High School. [11]

The Catholic parish of St. Agnes also serves the area of Frogtown with its comprehensive elementary and high school (Saint Agnes School), classes of kindergarten through senior high school. [12]

Saint Paul Public Library operates the Rondo Community Library adjacent to Frogtown. [13] The newly renovated Rondo Library opened in late August 2006.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Paul, Minnesota</span> Capital city of Minnesota, United States

Saint Paul is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center of Minnesota's government. The Minnesota State Capitol and the state government offices all sit on a hill close to the city's downtown district. One of the oldest cities in Minnesota, Saint Paul has several historic neighborhoods and landmarks, such as the Summit Avenue Neighborhood, the James J. Hill House, and the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Like the adjacent city of Minneapolis, Saint Paul is known for its cold, snowy winters and humid summers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University Avenue (Minneapolis–Saint Paul)</span> Street in Minnesota, U.S.

University Avenue is a street that runs through both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. It begins near the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul and extends westward into neighboring Minneapolis, where it passes the University of Minnesota, and then turns north to pass through several suburbs before its main portion ends in Blaine, Minnesota, although there are stretches of road designated as University Avenue that are north of the Blaine terminus, the final stretch ending near Andree, Minnesota. For many years, the road carried U.S. Highway 12 and U.S. Highway 52, and University Avenue is still a significant thoroughfare in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dale Street station</span> Light rail station in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Dale Street station is a light rail station along the Metro Green Line in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is located along University Avenue on both sides of the intersection with Dale Street. The station has split side platforms, with the westbound platform on the north side of the tracks west of Dale and the eastbound platform on the south side of the tracks east of Dale.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Agnes School (Saint Paul, Minnesota)</span> Private school in Saint Paul, , Minnesota, United States

Saint Agnes School is a Private, Roman Catholic PreK-12 School in the Frogtown Neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and is affiliated with the Church of St. Agnes in Saint Paul.

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Saint Paul is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, the county seat of Ramsey County, and the state capital of Minnesota. The origin and growth of the city were spurred by the proximity of Fort Snelling, the first major United States military installation in the area, as well as by the city's location on the northernmost navigable port of the Upper Mississippi River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summit-University, Saint Paul</span> Neighborhood in Ramsey, Minnesota, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selby Avenue</span> Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Selby Avenue is a street in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, that runs east–west from Summit Avenue near downtown toward the Mississippi River. The street runs through the Summit-University and Union Park neighborhoods. The street, especially between Dale Street and Snelling Avenue, has been associated with Saint Paul's black community. The far eastern end of the street has historically been more densely developed and architecturally significant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unidale Mall</span> Commercial area in Saint Paul, Minnesota

The Unidale Mall is a shopping mall located at the intersection of University Avenue and Dale Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. The mall is in the Summit-University neighborhood just across from the Frogtown neighborhood. The Rondo Community Outreach Library is west across Dale Street. The Dale Street station on the Green Line is also at the intersection.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFNU-LP</span> Radio station in Minnesota, United States

WFNU-LP is a community low-power broadcast radio station licensed to Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving Frogtown and much of Saint Paul on 94.1 MHz. The station has a hyper-local focus on the Frogtown community and surrounding neighborhoods. Programming is varied, with multiple genres of music to local talk with community members. WFNU-LP broadcasts from an antenna on top of the Frogtown Square building on the corner of University Avenue and Dale Street in Frogtown.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hmongtown Marketplace</span> Market and cultural hub in St. Paul, Minnesota

Hmongtown Marketplace is an indoor-outdoor marketplace focused on Hmong American products and culture in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Hmongtown was the first Hmong-owned and operated marketplace in the United States and is today noted for its cuisine and produce.

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References

  1. "Thomas-Dale neighborhood in Saint Paul, Minnesota (MN) detailed profile". City-Data. 2013. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  2. "Saint Paul Neighborhood Profile: Thomas-Dale". Minnesota Compass. October 2011. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Frog Town or Thomas Dale". Ramsey County Historical Society. 2005. Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  4. McClure, Jane. "Frogtown: Why Call it Frogtown?". Saint Paul Historical. Historic St. Paul. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  5. "What's at Hmongtown Marketplace?". Meet Minneapolis. Explore Minnesota. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  6. "Home | Little Mekong Cultural District". Little Mekong. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  7. Tom Kenworthy (2004-11-29). "Hmong get closer look since shootings". USA Today.
  8. "Three stations added to Central Corridor LRT Line". Metropolitan Council. January 25, 2010. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010.
  9. "Saint Paul Elementary Schools" Map. Saint Paul Public Schools. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
  10. "Saint Paul Middle Schools Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine " Map. Saint Paul Public Schools. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
  11. "Saint Paul High Schools Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine " Map. Saint Paul Public Schools. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
  12. Koumpilova, Mila (2012-09-19). "St. Paul: Frogtown's St. Agnes Catholic School marks turnaround". Twin Cities Pioneer Press . Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  13. "Rondo Community Outreach Library Archived July 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine ." Saint Paul Public Library. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.

44°57′46″N93°7′34″W / 44.96278°N 93.12611°W / 44.96278; -93.12611