Community

Fast Facts

Community

The St. Cloud area is a thriving regional center of commerce in Central Minnesota with deep agricultural and industrial roots and a modern history that dates back to the settlement of Sauk Rapids at the confluence of the Sauk and Mississippi rivers in 1851.

Enhanced by those rivers, the area’s natural resources guided the way to economic prosperity, with prominent activity early on in fur trading, farming, lumbering and printing industries.

Not long after St. Cloud was established in 1856, large granite deposits were discovered, prompting the establishment of many area granite companies. The rock and stone industry mushroomed after colored granite deposits were discovered in 1868, and the area is still recognized today as “Granite Country U.S.A.”

St. Cloud is the third-largest metropolitan area in the state and one of the fastest-growing, featuring the best in living, education, health care, commercial, cultural and recreational offerings – not to mention expanding economic development that continues to raise the quality of life for residents and businesses alike.

Population
St. Cloud68,043
Sartell18,428
Sauk Rapids13,879
Waite Park7,718
St. Joseph7,147
Stearns Co.159,256
Benton Co.40,545
Sherburne Co.96,036

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, State and County Quickfacts, (July 1, 2018 estimates)

Median Household Income (2017)
St. Cloud$46,601
Sartell$74,391
Sauk Rapids$48,994
Waite Park$41,095
St. Joseph$56,754
Stearns Co.$59,564
Benton Co.$53,574
Sherburne Co.$83,895

Source: 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year estimates 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 Census

St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area
2018 Population199,801
2018 Labor Force111,550
2018 unemployment rate3.0%
2018 private sector payroll$4.84 billion

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

Getting Here
City        Miles
Minneapolis/St. Paul          65
Duluth, MN         145
Rochester, MN         154
Fargo, ND            171
Des Moines, IA         309
Madison, WI         337
Winnepeg, Manitoba         394

*Distance from the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce office in downtown St. Cloud.