Wed, September 03, 2008
ST. PAUL, United States, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Republican National Convention will be held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, between Sept. 1 and 4, though opening day activities have been scaled back in anticipation of Hurricane Gustav.
St. Paul is the capital of Minnesota state and its second most populous city.
The city lies on the north bank of the Mississippi River, downstream of the river's confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city.
Known as the Twin Cities, these two cities form the core of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the 16th largest metropolitan area in the United States, with a population of about 3.2 million.
Founded near historic Native American settlements as a trading and transportation center, St. Paul rose to prominence when it was named the capital of Minnesota in 1849.
Though Minneapolis is more nationally recognized, St. Paul is home to important institutions and is the state's political activity hub.
