Minnesota's Saint-Named Towns: A Select Few

Debunking the Myth: Most MN Towns Aren't Named for Saints

Despite the prominence of a few well-known cities, the vast majority of Minnesota's 853 incorporated cities and towns do not bear saints' names. Only 11 municipalities carry the "St." or "San" prefix:

The Saintly Eleven

• St. Paul – State capital (named for the chapel of St. Paul)
• St. Cloud – Central MN hub (named for Saint-Cloud, France)
• St. James – Watonwan County seat
• St. Joseph – Stearns County (home to College of St. Benedict)
• St. Leo – Yellow Medicine County
• St. Martin – Stearns County
• St. Michael – Wright County
• St. Peter – Nicollet County seat (named for St. Peter's Church)
• St. Rosa – Stearns County
• St. Vincent – Kittson County
• Sanborn – Redwood County (from "Sanborn," not directly a saint's name)

Why These Few?

Most reflect Catholic settlement patterns in central Minnesota (Stearns County especially) by German, Polish, and Slovenian immigrants who named communities after patron saints. St. Paul and St. Cloud originated from French and French-Canadian influence.

Naming Diversity

Minnesota's other town names derive from Native American languages (Dakota, Ojibwe), European immigrants' homelands, railroad officials, land speculators, geographic features, and U.S. politicians—showing the state's rich cultural tapestry.