Reflecting on Rondo

In honor of Black History Month, we remember the history of the Rondo neighborhood, where YWCA St. Paul is located. A diverse neighborhood since the very beginning, Rondo was once home to 85% of St. Paul’s Black population. But beginning in 1956, Rondo was ripped apart to construct Interstate -94.

Before its destruction, the Rondo neighborhood was a tight-knit mixed income community supported by social clubs, religious organizations, community centers and a thriving business economy. It was home to doctors and lawyers, barbers and maids, civil rights leaders and more.

The construction of Interstate-94 cut the neighborhood in half, causing the loss of 700 homes, around 300 mostly Black-owned businesses and a significant drop in population and homeownership in the area. Historically racist housing practices like redlining and restrictive covenants meant individuals and families had limited choices of where they could move. Hundreds of millions of dollars of community wealth were lost, and displaced residents and business owners were inadequately compensated.

While the construction of I-94 radically changed the landscape of the neighborhood, the community of Rondo—and its rich cultural history and significance—remain. Its persistence and growth are celebrated through events like Rondo Days in July and the Selby Avenue Jazz Festival.

YWCA St. Paul is exceptionally proud to be nestled in the heart of the Rondo neighborhood, which is now more than 150 years old. Located on the very ground that once was a trolley station to downtown, our building serves as a health equity hub for all. This Black History Month, we ask you to join us in recognizing the true history of this community we hold so dear.