Living in St. Cloud: Granite, Gardens and the Mississippi

A local look at St. Cloud: riverside gardens, the Beaver Islands Trail, 95+ parks, colleges and neighbors Sartell and Sauk Rapids.

St. Cloud is the hub of central Minnesota. The 2020 Census counted 68,881 residents, and the city reaches across three counties. The City of St. Cloud notes that a property here will be in Stearns, Benton or Sherburne County, which matters when you look up taxes or records. Visit Greater St. Cloud describes the city as the county seat of Stearns County, sitting along the banks of the Mississippi River about a 1 hour 6 minute drive from Minneapolis.

The Granite City

St. Cloud's nickname comes from its stone. According to Visit Greater St. Cloud, granite quarries have operated in the area since the 1880s, and the first quarry was founded in 1868. You still see local granite in buildings and landmarks around town.

Munsinger and Clemens Gardens

The city's riverside gardens are a point of local pride. Munsinger Gardens, at 1515 Riverside Dr SE, sits on the banks of the Mississippi with winding paths and a gazebo that hosts summer concerts. Clemens Gardens, at 1301 Kilian Blvd, is known for brick walkways and roses. The city says as many as 1,100 roses in more than 70 varieties bloom there from June through September. William and Virginia Clemens donated property to the city and funded the rose garden, which is named for Virginia. The gardens are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Trails along the water

The Beaver Islands Trail is one of the best ways to see the river. Visit Greater St. Cloud says the paved trail runs a little more than 5 miles from near the St. Cloud State University campus south toward River Bluffs Regional Park. It follows the route of a railway built in 1882 by the Minneapolis and Northwestern Railway Company. At its northern end, the River Walk continues along the Mississippi past five blocks of downtown. Other riverside stops include:

Riverside Park at the St. Cloud Dam
Wilson Park, a picnic spot with river views
Sauk Rapids City Park, a spot known for smallmouth bass fishing

In all, Visit Greater St. Cloud counts more than 95 parks in St. Cloud alone, totaling over 1,603 acres.

Schools and colleges

St. Cloud Area School District 742 runs eight elementary schools, two junior high schools and two high schools, Apollo and Tech, along with alternative and online programs. The area is also a college town. St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud Technical and Community College, and the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, with campuses in St. Joseph and Collegeville, all serve the region.

Neighbors across the river

St. Cloud blends into its neighbors. Sauk Rapids, in Benton County along Highway 10, had 13,862 residents in 2020 and sits across the river from St. Cloud, with Sartell to the north. Sartell counted 19,351 residents. Buyers often compare homes across all three cities before they decide.

How David helps

David Olson is a Realtor | Broker with Tri-County Property Finder, working as a team with Twin Cities Property Finder. He grew up in Monticello, has more than 20 years in the business and 3,127 homes sold, and he is a licensed general contractor and fourth-generation builder. If you own a home in St. Cloud, Sartell or Sauk Rapids, David can help you understand how buyers compare these neighboring cities, and his builder background helps him spot issues before an inspector does.

Seller-first pricing and preparation advice built on what buyers in this market notice
A builder's eye for repairs worth doing before listing, and those that are not
Help gathering disclosures, well and septic paperwork and permit history early
Straight answers from someone who knows these river towns personally

Call David at 952-314-9446 to talk through your plans.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm details for a specific property with the local office that has authority there.

Thinking about selling your home in Wright, Sherburne or Stearns County?
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