02020124 – Minnesota

MINNESOTA

With an average depth of 500 feet, Lake Superior is the deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes. The lake stretches nearly 350 miles from east to west and 160 miles north to south. Lake Superior has approximately 2,800 miles of shoreline through the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario.

Aerial Lift Bridge

The famous Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth is raised approximately 5,000 times each year to let traffic through.

A land of lakes, rivers, forests, and wide-open skies, Minnesota combines hot summers and long, snowy winters with a culture that reflects its strong Scandinavian heritage. More than any other state in the Midwest, Minnesota retains the influence of the Nordic and German immigrants who arrived during the nineteenth century, drawn by opportunities in farming, logging, and mining.

Bordering Canada to the north, Minnesota is home to the remote Northwest Angle, a small and sparsely populated exclave that makes the state the northernmost point in the contiguous United States. This unique geography, combined with its abundant waterways and forests, has helped shape both the state’s character and its economy.

Rise of the Mississippi

The name Minnesota comes from a Dakota word often translated as “clear blue water,” an appropriate description for a state known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” In reality, Minnesota contains more than 11,000 lakes, creating endless opportunities for boating, fishing, canoeing, and other outdoor activities. These waters also provide vital habitat for a rich variety of wildlife, including the common loon, Minnesota’s official state bird.

The state’s northeastern corner touches the shores of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. Farther inland, within Itasca State Park, lies Lake Itasca, the source of the mighty Mississippi River. From this modest beginning, the river begins its 2,300-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding forests, lakes, and wetlands make the area a favorite destination for camping, hiking, and wildlife watching.

Minnesota’s diverse landscapes support an abundance of wildlife, including black bears, gray wolves, white-tailed deer, and the famous gopher that serves as the state’s unofficial mascot. Protected populations of elk and bison also survive in selected areas, while the state’s lakes and rivers are renowned for their trout, walleye, and other game fish.

The Mississippi River joins the Minnesota River near the state capital, Saint Paul, which sits alongside the state’s largest city, Minneapolis. Together, they form the Twin Cities metropolitan area, home to more than half of Minnesota’s population. The region grew from the military outpost of Fort Snelling, established in 1819, and flourished thanks to the water-powered mills that harnessed the energy of the nearby rivers. By the late nineteenth century, Minneapolis had become one of the world’s leading flour-milling centers.

The success of the lumber, agriculture, and milling industries attracted large numbers of settlers from New England and Europe. As the population grew, Minnesota was admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state on May 11, 1858.

The rapid expansion of settlement, however, led to increasing tensions with the Dakota people, culminating in the Dakota War of 1862. The conflict resulted in significant loss of life and had devastating consequences for the Dakota communities. Efforts to recognize and preserve Dakota history and culture have continued into the modern era.

Musical Heritage

Beyond the Twin Cities, Minnesota’s major population centers include Saint Cloud in the heart of the state, Rochester in the southeast, and Duluth on the shores of Lake Superior. Rochester is home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, while Duluth is known as the birthplace of legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.

Music has long been one of Minnesota’s greatest cultural contributions. In addition to Dylan, the state produced influential artists such as The Andrews Sisters, Eddie Cochran, and Prince, whose groundbreaking work helped shape modern popular music. Minnesota has also been home to many notable literary and artistic figures, including author F. Scott Fitzgerald and Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz.

Today, Minnesota is celebrated for its natural beauty, outdoor recreation, thriving arts scene, and high quality of life. Whether exploring its forests and lakes, visiting its vibrant cities, or discovering its rich cultural heritage, visitors quickly understand why the state remains one of the jewels of the American Midwest.

STATEHOOD

May 11, 1858

CAPITAL CITY

St. Paul

STATE PARKS

Minnesota has 64 state parks.

NATIONAL PARKS

Minnesota is home to one national park.

Voyageurs National Park

FUN FACTS

The Mall of America in Bloomington is the largest shopping mall in the United States. It is so enormous that you could fit 32 Boeing 747 airplanes inside, and it features a 7-acre indoor amusement park with full-size roller coasters.

Downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul feature extensive indoor, climate-controlled skyway systems. You can walk for miles through connected buildings and never have to step outside into the winter cold.

The Los Angeles Lakers basketball team got their name because they originally played in Minnesota—the land of 10,000 lakes!

Minnesota is the birthplace of Post-it Notes, Rollerblades, Tonka Trucks, and Scotch Tape.

You can thank Minnesota for popcorn, microwave popcorn, Milky Way candy bars, and the beloved Bundt pan.

Despite its famous nickname, Minnesota boasts nearly 15,000 lakes and more shoreline than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined.

The Mississippi River begins as a narrow, shallow stream easily stepped across at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, before starting its 2,500+ mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico.

Minnesota is home to more gray wolves and bald eagles than any other state in the lower 48.