North of Maryland - Saint Paul, MN

Traditionally a working class area, North of Maryland attracted European settlers during the 1870s and 1880s, and these settlers found jobs in the railroad shops, breweries and factories around the area. Around that time, a portion of the neighborhood was annexed by St. Paul, while the rest remained unincorporated until it became part of Roseville.

From 1887 to 1923, streetcars ran down Rice Street and other major arteries of the area, and development continued in the area. Most of the architecture in the area consists of small Victorians, but tract housing built in the 1950s following WWII fills in the spaces not claimed by early settlers.

Residents who live North of Maryland can conveniently access museums and theaters throughout the metro region including the Guthrie Theater and the Walker Art Center. They also have access to annual events including Taste of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Fair.

Most of the restaurants in North of Maryland sit along Rice Street, which runs perpendicular to Maryland Avenue. If you want to try something new, the Friends Cafe serves up Burmese food ranging from egg curry to fish soup, and all of the dishes feature layered flavors with a strong kick of spice.

The Tin Cup, a small eatery with vinyl booths and an old-fashioned menu claims to sell the best Juicy Lucy in the area. This St. Paul classic dish features a ground beef patty stuffed with cheese that melts as the burger cooks, providing you with a burst of gooey dairy goodness in the middle of your burger.

Pubs abound in the area, but locals particularly love McCarrons Pub and Grill. At this neighborhood bar, sit back and listen to live music or enjoy the landscaping and nice weather on the patio. The bar runs specials on drinks and has a comforting menu full of favorites such as tacos, fried fish and sliders.

For a clubbing experience, people who live in North of Maryland need to head to downtown Minneapolis, Lodo or the Warehouse district. There, clubs such as First Avenue play beats late into the evenings.

North of Maryland links to the city center via major thoroughfares such as Maryland and Arlington Avenues and Rice Street, but Interstate 35 also runs through the area. This freeway takes locals into downtown St. Paul or links to Interstate 94 for access to downtown Minneapolis.

Free parking exists in the residential areas, but residents who live close to commercial areas may have to buy a permit for street parking.

Metro Transit buses serve the area, and Route 61 picks up locals every 30 minutes to carry them into the city or the surrounding areas. The streets of the neighborhood offer safety to bikers and walkers, and bike paths make it easy to commute into downtown for work.

Cabs frequently run up and down Rice Street, making it possible for locals to hail a cab in the street. If you don't see a cab, they can easily be called to the area, or Uber serves the area as well.

Whether you want to fish, swim, hike or let your kids and dogs run off some steam, the parks north of Maryland provide you with a spot for all of these activities. Lake McCarron Park, located on North Rice Street, has a lake for fishing and swimming as well as a small playground.

If you just need a patch of grass for a picnic, check out the Eastside Heritage Park. This small park connects to other parts of the city such as Swede Hollow by a series of bike paths, making it a good rest area for bicyclists.

Dog enthusiasts typically head to the Arlington-Arkwright Dog Park to enjoy the off-leash area. There, your dog can run along paths through wooded areas that provide a much needed dose of nature and respite from the city life.

If you live north of Maryland, you also have access to great annual festivals such as Grand Old Days, the Minnesota State Fair and Winterfest.

Living North of Maryland provides a relatively low cost of living. While the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in St. Paul costs $839, the average one-bedroom apartment in North of Maryland costs a mere $652.

Taking a bus into the city costs no more than $3, and if you buy a senior or student ticket, you can travel for less than a dollar. Even gas costs less than average, and locals save 6 percent compared to the national average.

Some bars offer domestic bottles for as little as $2, and you can always find a pint for between $4 and $5, regardless of the time of day.

Locals in search of boutiques bicycle or take I-35 to Grand Avenue, a cozy street packed with boutiques. Check out Bombshell for plus-size fashions, BlackBlue for men's looks, and Karma for funky outfits.

Double Dragon Foods provides the neighborhood with ethnic groceries, or locals can drive to Cub or Rainbow Foods, two chains located in Midway. Scattered throughout the metro area, both of these chains sell conventional groceries, but the Midway locations, in particular, feature great foreign food sections. If you want farm-fresh produce, check out the Frog Town Farmer's Market in this neighborhood during the summer, or drive to the larger farmers' markets in downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis.