South St. Paul is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, immediately south and southeast of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is also southeast of West St. Paul, Minnesota. The population was 20,160 at the 2010 census. It is notable as one of the historic major meat packing cities in the United States. Subsequently, many residents are descendants of immigrants from Southern Europe and Eastern Europe.A post office called South St. Paul has been in operation since 1888. The city was named from its location south of St. Paul.