St. Paul Taxi Service & Visitor Guide

The St. Paul Downtown Airport—officially known as Holman Field (FAA LID: STP)—has a rich aviation history that traces back to the very infancy of commercial flight.

1. History & When It Started

• The Beginnings (1926): Holman Field officially opened in 1926 on the flats of the West Side along the Mississippi River, just across from downtown St. Paul.
• Named After a Legend: The airport is named in honor of Charles W. "Speed" Holman (1898–1931), a famous 1920s barnstormer, stunt pilot, wing walker, and airmail pioneer who was hired as Northwest Airways' very first pilot. In 1928, Holman famously set a world record by performing 1,433 consecutive airplane loops in just five hours right over the St. Paul airport.
• Early Commercial Hub: In its early decades, Holman Field was a premier passenger and airmail hub, serving as an early base for Northwest Airways (which later became Northwest Airlines). Its historic Art Deco Administration Building (built in 1939) and the Riverside Hangars (where bombers were modified during World War II) are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Transition to a Reliever Airport: As commercial aircraft grew much larger, the major scheduled airline traffic shifted across the river to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). In 1943, the newly formed Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) took over management, turning Holman Field into a vital "reliever" airport for corporate, private, and military aviation.

2. What Does It Do Today?

Today, St. Paul Downtown Airport does not operate like a major commercial hub with scheduled passenger airlines (like Delta or United). Instead, it functions as a premier corporate, private, and general aviation reliever airport. Its current roles include:

• Corporate & Business Aviation: It serves as a primary base of operations for regional business executives, charter flights, and private aircraft owners.
• Military & Training: It houses a Minnesota Army National Guard aviation unit and supports flight training schools.
• Fixed-Base Operators (FBOs): It features full-service aviation hubs providing fueling, maintenance, and hangars.
• Aviation Dining: It is notably home to Holmans Table, a popular upscale restaurant built right into the historic terminal building overlooking the runways.

3. What Cities Does It Fly To?

Because Holman Field is not a scheduled commercial airline airport, it does not have fixed commercial flight routes or destination cities (you cannot buy a standard airline ticket from STP to Chicago or New York). Instead, flights out of STP are private charter or corporate flights. Because of this, it flies to any destination a private client or corporate team requests. Common on-demand charter and private jet hops out of STP include:

• Regional Hubs: Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Kansas City.
• Business Centers & Coast-to-Coast: New York, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.
• Leisure Destinations: Up-north Minnesota lake country resorts, Florida, and seasonal vacation spots.

4. What Type of Planes Fly and Land There?

St. Paul Downtown Airport features the longest runway of any MAC reliever airport in the Twin Cities (its primary runway, 14/32, is nearly 6,941 feet long), allowing it to handle a wide range of aircraft up to roughly 60,000 lbs maximum takeoff weight. The aircraft types pulled, housed, and serviced there include:

• Turboprops: Popular for shorter regional hops (e.g., Pilatus PC-12, Beechcraft King Air 350, TBM 940).
• Light & Very Light Jets (VLJs): Agile business jets used for quick trips around the Midwest (e.g., Cessna Citation Mustang/CJ4, Embraer Phenom 300, Learjet 75).
• Midsize & Super-Midsize Jets: Jets equipped with stand-up cabins for cross-country flights (e.g., Cessna Citation XLS+, Bombardier Challenger 350, Gulfstream G280).
• Heavy Jets: Select large-cabin corporate jets (such as Dassault Falcon series and smaller Gulfstream models, depending on weight and fuel restrictions).
• Military & Rotorcraft: Minnesota Army National Guard helicopters and utility aircraft.

The airport section for St. Paul, Minnesota.

Here is a history of St. Paul, its founding, the establishment of Ramsey County, and an overview of the incorporated cities and unincorporated communities (historically called villages) located within the county.

1. History of St. Paul

Early Native American & Colonial History

For thousands of years, the land surrounding the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers was inhabited by indigenous peoples, most recently the Dakota (Sioux). In the late 17th and 18th centuries, French fur traders and explorers explored the area. Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the U.S. government established a presence in the region, leading to the construction of Fort Snelling (completed in the 1820s) to protect American fur trade interests.

Founding of St. Paul & "Pig's Eye"

In the late 1830s, squatters and fur traders were evicted from the Fort Snelling reservation land. Among them was Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant, a French-Canadian bootlegger and fur trader who established a tavern near a river landing in 1838. The settlement became informally known as "Pig's Eye Landing" (OEye-de-Cochon). In 1841, Father Lucien Galtier built a small log chapel near the landing and dedicated it to St. Paul the Apostle. He requested that the growing settlement be called Saint Paul instead of Pig's Eye.

• First City Incorporation: Saint Paul was incorporated as a town in 1849 and officially chartered as a city on March 4, 1854, making it the first official city in the region and the state capital.

2. County History: Ramsey County

Establishment & Origins

• When Established: Ramsey County was created on October 27, 1849, by the first Minnesota Territorial Legislature. It was named in honor of Alexander Ramsey, the first governor of the Minnesota Territory.
• The First City in the County: Saint Paul was the first incorporated city within Ramsey County and served as the initial county seat.
• Size & Significance: Ramsey County was originally much larger, encompassing parts of modern-day Anoka, Isanti, and neighboring counties. In 1857, its boundaries were reduced, making it the geographically smallest county in Minnesota, but today it is the state's second-most populous county.

3. Cities in Ramsey County

Under Minnesota law, all incorporated municipalities are legally classified as "cities" (the formal designation of "village" was abolished in Minnesota state law in 1974). There are 19 cities located entirely or partially within Ramsey County:

• Arden Hills
• Blaine (partially in Anoka County)
• Falcon Heights
• Gem Lake
• Lauderdale
• Little Canada
• Maplewood
• Mounds View
• New Brighton
• North Oaks
• North St. Paul
• Roseville
• Saint Paul (County seat and Minnesota state capital)
• Shoreview
• Spring Lake Park (partially in Anoka County)
• St. Anthony (partially in Hennepin County)
• Vadnais Heights
• White Bear Lake (partially in Washington County)
• White Bear Township (unincorporated organized township, operates similarly to a municipality)

4. Historical Villages & Unincorporated Communities

Over time, older villages and townships were annexed by Saint Paul or incorporated into surrounding suburbs. These smaller named communities, historic villages, and unincorporated enclaves include:

Historic Villages & Townships Annexed into St. Paul

• West St. Paul Township: Originally a separate jurisdiction south of the Mississippi River; annexed by St. Paul in 1874 to become the West Side ward.
• McLean Township: Annexed by St. Paul in 1885.
• Reserve Township: Annexed into St. Paul in 1887 (forming parts of the Highland Park area).
• New Canada Township: Historic township out of which Little Canada, North St. Paul, and Maplewood were formed.

Unincorporated Communities & Historic Settlements

• Bald Eagle (located in White Bear Township)
• Bellaire (located in White Bear Township)
• Highland Park (originally a settlement/township area, now a St. Paul neighborhood)
• Merriam Park (originally an independent suburban development, annexed into St. Paul)
• St. Anthony Park (originally a separate suburb, annexed into St. Paul)

Would you like more details on a specific neighborhood within St. Paul, or further information regarding a particular historic timeline event?

Here is the detailed history of the Rahway station (often associated with Union County, New Jersey, and served by NJ Transit / Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor) as well as its historical relationship to major transportation routes.

1. Early Origins & 19th Century Founding

• First Station (1836): Train service in Rahway, New Jersey, began on January 1, 1836, when the New Jersey Rail Road and Transportation Company (NJRR) completed its rail link from Jersey City through Newark to Rahway. This was one of the earliest rail lines constructed in the United States.
• Disaster & Rebuilding (1884–1885): On November 12, 1884, a fire destroyed the original depot. A replacement station was constructed and opened in 1885 to handle increasing passenger and freight traffic.
• Pennsylvania Railroad Era: By the late 19th century, the NJRR had been leased and fully integrated into the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) network, serving as a primary artery for PRR’s main line between New York City and Philadelphia.

2. Grade Separation & Expansion (1911–1914)

As rail travel expanded dramatically in the early 20th century, street-level railroad crossings (grade crossings) became increasingly dangerous.

• Track Elevation: Between 1911 and 1914, the PRR undertook a massive infrastructure project to elevate the tracks six miles through Linden and Rahway to eliminate 14 hazardous street-level crossings.
• 1913 Elevated Station: An elevated two-story station featuring terra cotta walls, a tile roof, island platforms, and under-track tunnels opened in July 1913. This elevated facility allowed for seamless passenger boarding above street level.

3. Post-WWII Transition, Penn Central, & Amtrak

• Penn Central Era (1968): Following the merger of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad, the station came under the jurisdiction of the short-lived Penn Central Transportation Company.
• Creation of Amtrak (1971): When passenger rail service across the U.S. was federalized in 1971, the station and line became part of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC).
• State Commuter Ownership (1983): In 1983, ownership of the Rahway station transferred from Amtrak to NJ Transit, New Jersey's newly consolidated public transportation agency. Though owned and operated primarily for suburban commuters by NJ Transit, it remains a critical junction on Amtrak’s main Northeast Corridor infrastructure.

4. Modernization & Today's Station

• 1990s Rebuilding: Between 1996 and 1999, NJ Transit launched a comprehensive overhaul of the station. The modern station was rebuilt with state-of-the-art high-level island platforms, elevators, ADA accessibility features, and improved pedestrian access.
• Rahway Station Plaza (2000): In 2000, the City of Rahway completed an 18,000-square-foot public plaza adjacent to the station, transforming the depot area into a central downtown anchor and catalyst for transit-oriented development.
• Key Rail Junction: Today, Rahway Station serves as a major transfer point where the North Jersey Coast Line splits off from the main Northeast Corridor Line.

Would you like to explore specific train schedules, historical photographs/architecture details, or learn more about other transit hubs in Union County?

Here is the history of early personal hired transportation in St. Paul, covering the horse-drawn carriage era, the transition to traditional cabs, and the arrival of motorized taxicabs.

1. The First Horse-Drawn Carriages & "Hackney" Cabs

Early Steamboat Era (1850s)

• The "Hacks": Before modern taxicabs existed, hired transportation was known as hacks or hackney carriages (driven by operators called hackmen).
• The Pioneer (c. 1851): Historical accounts from the Minnesota Historical Society link the first organized horse-drawn hired-carriage service in St. Paul to a local pioneer named William "Billy" Potts around 1851.
• How It Operated: As steamboats arrived at the Mississippi River landings near downtown St. Paul (Lower Landing and Upper Landing), Potts and other early hackmen met incoming travelers with horse-drawn wagons and carriages, charging a fare to ferry passengers and luggage to local hotels, businesses, and residential wards.

2. The Traditional "Cab" Era & Regulations (1870s–1880s)

Streetcars vs. "Traditional" Cabs

• In 1872, St. Paul introduced fixed-route horse-drawn streetcars along rails.
• To distinguish individual point-to-point service, traditional enclosed horse-drawn carriages—such as hansom cabs and broughams—served as individual, private door-to-door transportation.
• City Regulation: By the late 1870s and 1880s, the City of St. Paul established official ordinances establishing designated hack stands along 4th Street, Minnesota Street, and near the original Union Depot to prevent hackmen from blocking roadways and overcharging passengers.

3. The Transition to Automobiles (The First Motorized Cabs)

The First Automobiles in St. Paul

• The first self-propelled steam wagon was tested in St. Paul as early as 1880 by Herman Saroni on Cedar Street.
• The first official gasoline-powered automobile made its appearance in the Twin Cities in May 1896.

The First Motorized Taxicab Companies (1908–1911)

• First Motorized Taxicabs: Motorized taxicabs (fitted with taximeters to calculate mileage fares automatically) began replacing horse-drawn cabs in St. Paul between 1908 and 1911.
• The First Formal Companies: By July 1911, dedicated commercial taxicab companies expanded rapidly across St. Paul and Minneapolis. These early fleets largely utilized custom-built gasoline vehicles, such as early Ford Model Ts and specialized Taxicab Co. chassis, to operate full-time fleet services.
• The Rise of Yellow Cab: By the late 1910s and early 1920s, the Yellow Cab Company established a dominant presence in the Twin Cities, introducing standardized metered fares, radio dispatching, and distinct bright yellow cars across St. Paul.

Would you like to know more about early transportation infrastructure in St. Paul (like historic streetcar networks or early river routes)?

The evolution of the taxicab industry—from gas-powered fleets to modern hybrid/electric cars, followed by the near-total collapse of traditional cab companies—spans three main eras:

1. The Fleet Era & Shift to Alternative/Fuel-Efficient Vehicles (1970s–2000s)

For much of the 20th century, taxi fleets were dominated by heavy, gas-guzzling American V8 sedans (most notably the Checker Marathon and later the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor).

Early Fuel-Efficiency & Hybrid Transitions

• 1970s Fuel Crises: Oil embargoes in 1973 and 1979 forced cab operators to look for alternative fuels like propane or natural gas, though gasoline remained dominant.
• The Hybrid Wave (Mid-2000s): The first major technical shift toward modern fleets occurred between 2005 and 2010, led by cities like New York, San Francisco, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Fleet owners shifted to the Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, and Toyota Camry Hybrid.
• Benefits: Hybrids cut fuel costs by 50% or more, reduced emissions in city traffic idling, and offered much higher reliability, becoming the standard silhouette for urban cabs by 2012.

2. The Great Disruption & Breakdown of Cab Companies (2010–2020)

Between 2011 and 2015, the traditional taxicab business model faced a sudden collapse caused by two major factors:

A. The Rise of Smartphone Ridesharing (Uber & Lyft)

Around 2011 to 2014, App-based Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft entered major markets, including the Twin Cities.

• Regulatory Arbitrage: Rideshares operated outside traditional taxi licensing constraints, allowing anyone with a personal vehicle to offer rides.
• Surge in Driver Supply: While taxi supplies were strictly capped by municipal licenses (or "medallions"), rideshare services inundated cities with tens of thousands of drivers.

B. Medallion Collapse & Widespread Bankruptcies

• Value Collapse: Cities historically used a strict permit system (like New York's Medallions or local municipal taxi licenses) to control supply. In NYC, medallion values peaked at over $1,000,000 in 2013 before crashing by over 80% to 90% by 2018–2019.
• Fleet Shut downs: Fleet owners and traditional dispatching firms went bankrupt nationwide. Major historically dominant entities like Yellow Cab, City Limo/Cab, and local dispatch services across North America either declared bankruptcy, scaled back massively, or ceased operating street hails.
• Impact in the Twin Cities: In the St. Paul/Minneapolis metro, licensed taxicabs dropped by over 90% between 2012 and 2024, leaving only a fraction of active licensed vehicles.

3. The Modern Cab Landscape Today

Today's remaining taxi industry looks drastically different from its 20th-century origins:

• Specialized Contracts & Niche Operations: Modern cab companies survived by pivoting away from night-life bar pickups and street hails. They now primarily rely on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), local school district routes, government contracts, and airport-specific service lines.
• Transition to All-Electric (EVs) & App Integration: Surviving fleets use hybrid or 100% electric vehicles (such as Tesla, Chevy Bolt, and Hyundai Ioniq) and utilize app-based dispatch software similar to Uber.
• Autonomous "Robotaxis": The next phase of the taxi evolution features driverless taxi networks (such as Alphabet's Waymo and Cruise), which have expanded into major markets to test and roll out fully automated passenger services.

For a visual look at the decline of traditional taxis in local communities, check out this news segment covering the recent Evie carshare shutdown leaves 4000 riders scrambling in the metro, which discusses how local transit options in the Twin Cities continue to shift.

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