The Department of Planning and Economic Development (DPED) divides Saint Paul into seventeen Planning Districts. These areas have significant land-use control and are organized by neighborhood, but the boundaries of each are subject to change depending on the changing population. In addition, the city also has numerous state departments, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Those wishing to find out more about Saint Paul's population and its demographics should check out its official website.
Saint Paul's East Side neighborhood has long been an immigrant gateway. The area's proximity to industrial sites and low-cost housing made it a popular destination for immigrants. In the 1920s, many immigrants migrated to the area, including Germans, Irish, and Swedes. The district also had meatpacking plants and remained home to a diverse population. The city's diverse demographics continue to attract immigrants of all races.
Among Saint Paul's attractions are the Minnesota Children's Museum, the Schubert Club Museum of Musical Instruments, and the Minnesota Museum of American Art. The city is well-connected to other cities by the U.S. Highway 52, Minnesota State Highway 280, and Minnesota State Highway 5. There are also unique roads and neighborhoods within the city, many of which follow the local geography. Bike riders can take advantage of the nonprofit Nice Ride Minnesota bicycle sharing system, which has more than 1,550 bikes at 170 stations across the city.
While there was a small increase in the number of people of color in the 1990s, the percentage of African Americans remained fairly constant. Black residents made up 62 percent of the population in 2000. Immigration to the area also increased the number of Latino and Asian residents. Still, these groups still made up a small percentage of the population, with each group making up less than half of the total.