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Community
We are the 8th largest city in Minnesota, making us “just the right size” – large enough to provide the best in big-city business, entertainment and lifestyle amenities, but with a small-town feel of comfort and community in a college-town setting. Our values are square in the center of “Minnesota Nice”. And with our outstanding recreational opportunities, exceptional healthcare services, beautiful gardens, rich history, historic downtown, vibrant arts, restaurants and shopping, friendly neighborhoods, excellent education facilities, fun events throughout the year and growing opportunity everywhere you can see why St. Cloud is a GREATER place to live, work, and play!
Click here to watch a video that shows what makes St. Cloud GREATER!
Awards/Recognitions
As a testament to the livability and quality of life that is enjoyed by residents of the City of St. Cloud and the Greater St. Cloud region, the following is a running list of our awards and recognitions:
- Most Affordable Rental Apartments Per Square Foot in MN - RENTCafe
- Best City for Gig Economy Workers (#4 of 376 U.S. cities) - AdvisorSmith
- Age-Friendly Community - AARP
- 2020 Top STEM City (#1 City in Minnesota) - Insurify
- Budget Friendly City for Renters (#771 of 25,000 U.S. cities) - LendEDU
- City With A High Percentage of College Students (#1,694 of 25,000 U.S. cities) - LendEDU
- #7 Midsize City of the Lowest Unemployment from Coronavirus (#7 of 389 U.S. metro cities) - AdvisorSmith
- A Most Budget-Friendly City for Homeowners (358 of 25,000 U.S. cities and #14 in MN) - LendEDU
- City With High Number of Business Openings Between 2015 and 2016 (#57 of 712 U.S. cities and #1 in MN) - LendEDU
- City With Shrinking Gender Pay Gap Over Last Decade (#190 of 644 U.S. cities) - LendEDU Opens in New Window
- 2020 Best College Town in America - Small City Category (#109 of 200 U.S. cities) - WalletHub Opens in New Window
- Most Liveable City in the World - 75,000-150,000 Population Size Category" - 2019 LiveCom Opens in New Window
- City With the Most Affordable Homes in the U.S. in 2020 - LendEDU
- Most Dog-Friendly City in MN and WI - Edina Realty Opens in New Window
- A Most Romantic City in the U.S. (#4) - EliteSingles.com Opens in New Window
- Top City for Working Parents in 2019 (#13 of 524 U.S. cities) - SmartAsset.com Opens in New Window
- 2018 Best Performing Small City (#58 of 201 U.S. Metro’s ) - Milken Institute Opens in New Window
- Best City for Older Americans to Retire (#14) - 24/7 Wall Street Opens in New Window
- Best City in the Nation for Students Pursuing A Degree in General Psychology - College Factual Opens in New Window
- Best Small Places for Business and Careers (#32 of 200 U.S. cities) - Forbes.com Opens in New Window
- America’s Best Hockey Town in 2019 (#16 of 115 U.S. cities) - Smartasset.com
- Best Small City for Business (#26) - ChamberofCommerce.org Opens in New Window
- Best Place to Live If You’re A College Student Seeking a Quality Education - College Factual Opens in New Window
- 25 Best Places to Visit in Minnesota - VacationIdea.com Opens in New Window
- 2018 Top 10 Best MN Town - Minnesota Monthly Magazine
- Best Small City for Small Business - Verizon Business
- Best City for Older Americans - 24/7 Wallstreet
- Greenest City in Minnesota (#1 of 853 Minnesota cities) - Insurify
- 2017 Best Performing Small City (#57 of 201 U.S. small cities) - Milken Institute Opens in New Window PDF Download
- America’s Best Hockey Town in 2018 (#14 of 114 U.S. cities) - SmartAsset.com Opens in New Window
- Minnesota Safest City - National Council for Home Safety and Security - Alarms.org Opens in New Window
- 2017 Top 10 Best MN Town - Minnesota Monthly Magazine
- 2017 Bicycle Friendly Community - Bronze Category - Bikeleague.org Opens in New Window
- Top Leading Location for Development in 2017 (#197 of 394 MSAs) - Area Development.com Opens in New Window
- America’s Best Hockey Town in 2017 (#17 of 118 U.S. Cities) - SmartAsset.com Opens in New Window
- Best Metro Area for Young Entrepreneurs (#19 of 381 MSA’s) - NerdWallet.com Opens in New Window
- 2016 Best Performing Small City (#47 of 201 U.S. small cities) - Milken Institute Opens in New Window
- Top Leading Location for Development in 2016 (#69 of 394 MSAs) - Area Development.com Opens in New Window
- Best City For Women in the Workforce 2016 (#39 of 529 U.S. cities) - Nerdwallet.com Opens in New Window
- 2016 Innovation in Planning - Comprehensive Plan - MN American Planning Association
- 2016 Clean Energy Community Award - MN Dept. of Commerce Opens in New Window
- Best Tasting Tap Water In MN - American Water Works Association Opens in New Window
- Top Small Town for Eco-Friendly Apartment Living - ApartmentAdvisor.com Opens in New Window
- 12th Healthiest City in the Nation (#12 of 24 U.S. cities) - 24/7WallStreet.com Opens in New Window
- St. Cloud Fireworks - Best Fourth of July 2016 Fireworks Displays in Minnesota Opens in New Window
- Best Place for Teachers (#4 of 917 MSA’s) - Goodcall.com Opens in New Window
- Munsinger Gardens named Minnesota’s Top Outdoor Attraction - OnlyInMinnesota.com Opens in New Window
- St. Cloud to Host 2017 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener Opens in New Window
- Top 20 Most Vibrant Arts Community in America (#16 of 900 cities) - National Center for Arts Research Opens in New Window
- Best City for Young Entrepreneurs (#28 of 181 MSA’s) - NerdWallet.com Opens in New Window
- 2015 Best Performing Small City (#70 of 201 U.S. small cities) - Milken Institute Opens in New Window
- 5th Best City For Singles (Who Like Being Single) - SmartAsset.com Opens in New Window
- 8th Best Hockey Town In Country (#8 of 123 U.S. cities) - SmartAsset.com Opens in New Window
- Top 100 Smartest City (#42 of 100 U.S. cities) – Luminosity.com Opens in New Window
- Smartest City in MN To Live In (#3 of 11 MN cities) – OnlyInMinnesota.com Opens in New Window
- Top 100 Most Affordable Place in America (#74 of 100 cities) - NerdWallet.com
- Best City for Homeownership in Minnesota (#87 of 96 cities) - NerdWallet.com
- Top Place for Renters in the Twin Cities (#3 of 10 cities) - NerdWallet.com
- Top 15 Metro Areas You Can Afford a Home on a $50,000 Income – NerdWallet.com
- Top 10 Large Metro Area for Law Graduates (#8 of 100 MSAs) - GoodCall.com
- Top Leading Location for Development in 2015 (#87 of 373 MSAs) - Area Development.com
- Best Place to Start a Business in Minnesota (#76 of 123 MN cities) - Nerd Wallet.com
- Best Small City in America (#47 of 1,300 U.S. cities) - NerdWallet.com
- 2014 Best Performing Small City (#26 of 179 U.S. cities - #1 small city in MN) - Milken Institute
- Fastest-Growing U.S. City (#7 of 500+ U.S. cities) - NerdWallet.com
- Top 10 Most Exciting Place in Minnesota (#5 of 10 MN cities) - Movoto.com
- Best Small Place for Business and Careers (#24 of 184 U.S. cities) - Forbes.com
- Top 100 Leading Locations For Development in 2014 (#64 of 379 MSAs) - AreaDevelopment.com
- Munsinger and Clemens Gardens received a 2014 Best of Minnesota recognition - Star Tribune
- 2013 Best-Performing Small City (#30 of 179 U.S. cities) - Milken Institute
- Most Livable Winter U.S. City (#5 ◦ St. Cloud ranked No. 5 on list of Most Livable Winter U.S. Cities - Livability.com
- Best Small Place for Business (#55 of 184 U.S. cities) - Forbes.com
- MNAPA Excellence in Community Engagement award for the St. Cloud Urban Area Mississippi River Corridor Plan
- Best Tasting Water in Minnesota - American Water Works Association
- River Friendly Community of the Year - Minnesota Waters
- Top 10 Winter City (#5 of 10 U.S. cities) - Livability.com
- Tree City USA (for 30_ years) - Arbor Day Foundation
- Best Old-House Neighborhood - Midwest - This Old House
- Most Secure U.S. Place (#11 of 20 U.S. cities) - Farmers Insurance - 5th time in Top 20
To learn more details about the awards, click here Version OptionsCommunityHeadline Opens in New Window .
By the Numbers
- 1500 acres of City Parks- 500 developed and 100 natural
- 10 miles of Mississippi River frontage
- 41 square miles with largest population in Central Minnesota
- 4 local historic districts and Downtown St. Cloud listed on National Register of Historic Places
- 137 natural areas inventoried and prioritized
- 7 core neighborhoods organized and active
- 48 million kilowatts produced annually at City’s Hydroelectric Facility powering 7,500 households
- Over 50 recreational opportunities offered year-round
- 760 miles of city streets
- 30,000+ college students in the St. Cloud metro area
- Road access to Interstate 94, and U.S. Highways 10, 15 and 23
- 22 miles of regional trails
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