Set against rolling hills and the curling Minnesota River, Saint Peter is somewhere between a college town and a quaint village. Home to the Gustavus Adolphus College and an eclectic downtown full of unique shops and restaurants housed in Victorian-era red brick buildings, this community has much to offer its 12,000 residents. Its location in the Minnesota River Valley provides varied outdoor recreation while also making trips and commutes to the larger cities of Mankato and Minneapolis convenient. “It’s kind of an anchor point,” says Kenneth (KC) Lundberg, a Realtor with Re/Max Dynamic Agents. “People like the feel of the small town, but they are close to services and jobs whether they are commuting or employed locally.”
Something old, something new
The median home sale price is $310,000, lower than the national median. American Foursquares, ranch-style homes and New Traditional custom builds are the most common architectural styles. Despite its incorporation in 1873, many of the Saint Peter homes are more modern or feature a mixture of styles from different periods. “Saint Peter had a tornado in 1998 that took out much of the town, so a lot of the older homes were either updated extensively or totally rebuilt,” says Lundberg. “So, it's really a hodgepodge. You might be walking down the street where you’ve got 150-year-old homes that are old and beautiful, and then you’ll see one that doesn’t quite fit in because it was built in 1998.”
The dominant industries are education, health care and manufacturing.
The Saint Peter Public School District and Gustavus Adolphus College
The Saint Peter Public School District serves area residents, scoring a B-plus on Niche. The district supports three elementary schools, two middle and three high schools. The area has two private schools: John Ireland School and Saint Peter Lutheran School. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts school serving about 2,300 students. This internationally recognized institution hosts the Nobel Conference, where students, scientists and researchers from around the world come to participate, focusing on a different scientific theme each year.
Everything from kayaking to cross-country skiing
Surprising for a city of a smaller size, Saint Peter is home to 20 parks. “There are lots of opportunities for children to play or people to recreate without going too far from their homes,” says Lundberg. He lists biking, kayaking and cross-country skiing as local favorites.
Minnesota Square Park provides a playground and a basketball court, but its main draw is the large pavilion at its center, which hosts many of the community events and music festivals. Perched on the banks of the Minnesota River, Riverside Park features picturesque trails, picnic spots and a boat launch. Gorman Park’s main attraction is its unique play equipment, a giant wooden structure with castle-like turrets. The Traverse Des Sioux Park is a popular spot for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The Arboretum At Gustavus Adolphus College offers 130 acres of scenic walking trails through gardens, prairies and woods. According to Lundberg, there is a trail system in the works that will stretch from Saint Peter to Mankato.
An eclectic downtown
Shops and restaurants line the Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway. Though a few fast-food spots and chains are sprinkled throughout, the most common are independent, stand-alone restaurants and unique boutiques. “It's more niche, cutesy shops and things like that,” says Lundberg. “People traveling from out of town, usually to visit students at the college, will make a special point to walk Main Street and visit the shops downtown.” The city is also home to two breweries, Tremendous Brewery and Paddlefish Brewing, located on the downtown stretch.
Music festivals in the park
The Old Fashioned Independence Day celebration picnic draws over 10,000 people, who gather to watch the parade and fireworks. With fall comes the Rock Bend Folk Festival at Minnesota Square Park. “Rock Bend has been pretty big for quite a few years now,” says Lundberg. “That draws a lot of people to the town.”
Clear roads from Minneapolis to Mankato
U.S. Route 169 runs through Saint Peter, connecting it with Minneapolis 68 miles northeast and Mankato 13 miles south. Minnesota River Valley Transit provides dial-a-ride service. For health care, River's Edge Hospital & Clinic is located within Saint Peter. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is 65 miles northeast.
Crime and environment
Saint Peter experiences more snowfall than the average U.S. city, occurring five months out of the year from October to April. U.S. Route 169 and State Route 22 are plowed and maintained regularly. “Commuting to Mankato is rarely an issue,” says Lundberg. “It’s always taken care of.”
According to FBI data, the rates of reported violent crime and property crime in Saint Peter are lower than the Minnesota average and national average.
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