Hamline-Midway

St. Paul, MN

Midway as Hamline University lies along its eastern boundary) earned its name due to its location: The neighborhood sits directly between the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis, along University Avenue. Hamline-Midway is also home to an actual midway, when the Minnesota State Fair opens each summer. A bevy of Mexican, Asian, Russian and American restaurants line University Avenue, now also called the Central Corridor and home to the new Green Line light rail, along with shopping malls and locally owned shops. The neighborhood is packed with amenities, from numerous parks and recreation centers to a library and community garden. A family friendly and active community, parents and civic groups in Hamline-Midway work hard to keep the area safe, and engage youth and elders in activities. The housing stock includes Victorian and Eastlake styles from the 1880s near Hamline University. Elsewhere are four squares, bungalows, Tudor Revival cottages and houses built in the 1940s and 50s. Intermixed with housing and amenities are several public and charter schools that add to neighborhood pride.