The state of Minnesota is located in the Midwest region of the
United States of America. The state is billed as the land of
10,000 lakes, but it actually has over 15,000. Minnesota's
northernmost point, jutting into Lake of the Woods, forms the
northernmost point of the United States excluding Alaska.
Minnesota is bordered by Canada (provinces of Manitoba and
Ontario) to the north, Lake Superior to the northeast,
Wisconsin
to the east, Iowa to the south, and
North and
South Dakota to
the west. The current state of Minnesota was formed from the
eastern half of the Minnesota Territory. Its population, of more
than five million inhabitants, is mainly descended from
emigrants from Western Europe. The main ethnic minorities are
African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans descended
from the original inhabitants, and the recent Somali and Hmong
immigrant communities.
Just over half of its population
is concentrated in the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities,
Minneapolis and St. Paul, which are the state's center of
transportation, business and industry, and home to an
internationally recognized arts community. The rest of the
state, known as Greater Minnesota, consists of vast prairies
dedicated to intensive agriculture to the west, deciduous
forests to the east, and the less populated boreal forest to the
north. The state is also known by its nickname, the “Land of
10,000 Lakes.” Such lakes, along with other waterways and their
numerous national parks and forests, offer residents and
tourists a vigorous outdoor lifestyle.
Its extreme
climate contrasts with the moderation of its inhabitants. The
state is known for its moderate to progressive politics, social
policies, and high civic participation in political issues. It
is among the healthiest states, and has one of the most educated
and literate populations.
Twin Cities
The state's dominant urban area, with
Minneapolis, Saint Paul and their vicinities
Northwestern
Minnesota
The borderland to Canada, with plains and forest
and the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
Northeastern
Minnesota
The North Shore of Lake Superior, Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness and Duluth.
Southern Minnesota
Rolling farmland, the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, and
Rochester.
1 St. Paul, the capital and second-largest city, with a
historic-looking state capitol.
2 Bloomington, home of the Mall of
America, and the only IKEA in the state.
3 Duluth, the primary city
in northeastern Minnesota and gateway to the North Shore and Arrowhead
Region.
4 Mankato, the hub of the smallest metropolitan area in
Minnesota.
5 Minneapolis, the largest city in the state and the
center of the "North". Extremely rich in culture and diversity.
6
Northfield, on the Cannon River with the motto "Cows, Colleges, and
Contentment" and the annual "Defeat of Jesse James Days" celebration.
7 Pine City, the primary city in the East Central region, equidistant to
Minneapolis and Duluth, and home to the Snake River Fur Post.
8
Rochester, the primary city in southeastern Minnesota and a global
destination for health and wellness, home to the Mayo Clinic.
9
St.
Cloud, the largest population center in the State's central region.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness lies southeast of Voyageurs National Park in the state of Minnesota, USA.
Voyageurs National Park is a large expanse of wilderness located near a city of International Falls, Koochiching County.
By plane
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is by
far the state's busiest airport. It is a hub for Delta Air Lines, its
regional subsidiary Delta Connection and Sun Country Airlines, and can
therefore be reached from all parts of the USA and also directly from
Europe (including Amsterdam, Paris and London). Condor only flies from
Frankfurt during the summer months.
Regional airports of some
importance are at Duluth (DLH) and Rochester (RST), as well as micro
airports at Bemidji (BJI), Saint Cloud (STC), International Falls (INL),
Brainerd (BRD), Hibbing (HIB) and Thief River Falls (TRF).
By
train
Railroad stations served by Amtrak are in Winona, Red Wing,
Saint Paul, Saint Cloud, Staples and Detroit Lakes. These are served
daily by the Empire Builder long-distance train, which runs from Chicago
to Seattle/Portland.
Duluth and Rochester are connected to the
Amtrak network by thruway buses from St. Paul/Minneapolis.
By bus
Both Minneapolis and Saint Paul are served by Greyhound.
In the
street
There are three interstate highways running through Minnesota:
Interstates 90 and 94 run east-west, while I-35 runs north-south. Other
national and state highways complete the network.
Metro Transit provides bus and light rail service in and around the
Twin Cities. The average fare for both services is usually $2 ($2.50
during peak hours of 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM). For this
fare, riders can purchase a 150-minute ride or transfer pass on a Metro
Transit bus or train. The Duluth Transit Authority provides bus and
trolley service to the Twin Ports area.
Seniors and the disabled
can ride buses and light rail for a reduced fare of $1.
The
relatively new light rail service provides tourist-friendly routes
between the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), the Mall
of America, the Warehouse District, and downtown Minneapolis.
Information on transit is available here.
However, "flex-fuel"
vehicles, which can run on a combination of gasoline and ethanol, from
E0 (pure gasoline) to E85, are likely to get 20-25% worse fuel economy
in Minnesota using E85 than using standard gasoline with 10 % ethanol.
The worse fuel economy depends on the actual composition of E85, which
varies with the season (winter blend "E85" is actually 70% ethanol)
There are over 350 stations that sell E85.
The Mall of America in Bloomington is the largest indoor mall in the United States, boasting more than 500 stores and an indoor amusement park.
Minnesota's traditional cuisine is typically the hearty
meat-and-potatoes fare common in the Midwest, but in keeping with the
"Land of 10,000 Lakes," fish is at the heart of the cuisine. Two local
favorites are walleye, a fine, tight white fish, and lake trout, a
pinkish, tight-fleshed fish that somewhat resembles salmon.
Lutefisk is a popular dish brought to Minnesota by Norwegian immigrants.
Dried cod, rehydrated in caustic lye, is an acquired taste, to say the
least. This dish is often served at Christmas time at church basement
suppers throughout Minnesota. For the less adventurous, there is a thin,
flat, tortilla-like bread made from potato flour called lefse.
In
the Twin Cities area, Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis is particularly
famous as "Eat Street. Safari Restaurant (Somali food), Blue Nile
(Ethiopian food), and Holy Land Deli (Middle Eastern food) are three of
the best known, and there there are countless hole-in-the-wall
restaurants along Franklin Street, Nicollet Avenue, and Central Avenue.
State Liquor Laws
As in the rest of the U.S., the drinking age is
21. A drinking culture is deeply rooted in Minnesota, even in rural
areas. Bars and restaurants serving alcoholic beverages are open until 2
a.m. seven days a week, but not all are (especially Sunday through
Thursday), and some municipalities have earlier closing hours.
Unlike many other states, grocery and convenience stores do not allow
the purchase of alcoholic beverages unless they are low-alcohol beers
with a 3.2% alcohol content (4% alcohol by volume). Some grocery stores
do not bother to sell 3.2 beer, even though they are allowed to do so,
indicating that the drinking culture in this state is quite prevalent.
If you want regular beer, wine, or liquor, but don't want to drink
it in a restaurant or bar, you must go to a liquor store. By state law,
liquor stores are allowed to be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Local
jurisdictions are allowed to make greater restrictions as they deem
appropriate. For example, Sunday sales were just legalized at the state
level in 2017, and some towns have opted to maintain a ban on Sunday
sales. Some cities and towns operate municipal liquor stores and ban
private liquor stores. Despite this puritanical approach to alcohol
sales, there is a fairly active drinking culture even in rural towns
(“more bars than churches,” the cliché goes). Identity checks are less
common than in other states, but are frequent in areas with large
numbers of college students and tourists.
Perhaps the greatest danger is the weather. Minnesota has a
continental climate and often experiences extreme temperatures. Weather
can be quite nasty, so prepare and plan accordingly.
Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
During the spring and summer months,
Minnesota (especially in the southern part of the state) tends to
experience severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes can also occur. It is
recommended that you pay close attention to the weather conditions
during these seasons to stay aware of the possibility of these severe
storms. Because weather conditions can change very quickly, we recommend
that you check weather conditions frequently when traveling through or
passing through the state during the spring and summer seasons.
If you are traveling outside of a major metropolitan area during the
winter months, it is recommended that you bring extra blankets and warm
clothing in case of accidents or mechanical problems. As a rule of thumb
for Minnesotans, always keep your car at least half full of gas during
the winter months. Winter highs typically range from 10 to 30°F (-10 to
0°C), but temperatures can drop below freezing for several weeks in the
winter. Minnesotans are taught from an early age to bundle up and dress
in layers during the winter months. Also, unlike many other states,
Minnesotans are quite accustomed to driving on icy, snow-covered roads.
In addition, the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles has plenty of
snowplows to plow and salt the roads after a snowstorm. Thus, don't be
surprised if businesses and schools are still open after a heavy
snowstorm.
During the winter months, always check the thickness
of the ice before venturing out on a frozen lake or pond. Do not park
your car on a lake or pond unless local DNR officials deem it safe.
Never walk on river ice. Even if it appears safe, it may not be thick
enough to support your weight due to the river currents below.
In the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota offers beautiful wilderness areas and campgrounds. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW or BWCA) is a 1.09 million acre (4,400 km²) wilderness area in the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. s only national park, Voyageurs National Park. There are also numerous state parks.
Minnesota is the northernmost state except for Alaska; Its Northwest Angle is the only part of the contiguous 48 states that lies north of the 49th Parallel. It is bordered to the north by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, to the east by Wisconsin and Lake Superior, to the south by Iowa, and to the west with North Dakota and South Dakota. With its 225,365 km², or 2.25% of the United States, it is the 12th largest state (the second largest among the Midwest states). It belongs to the Upper Midwest subregion.
Most of the terrain is relatively flat and dotted with lakes, having
been eroded by glacial periods during the Ice Age. The extreme
southeastern part of the state is part of the Driftless Area, which was
not covered by the recent Wisconsin glaciation. Lake Pepin and the high
bluffs of the Mississippi meet here. The northeastern part of the state
is in the Canadian Shield and is covered by rugged series of hills,
notably the iron ore-rich Mesabi Range, the Sawtooth Mountains along the
Lake Superior shoreline, the Misquah Hills, and the Laurentian
Highlands.
Two continental divides meet in the northwest—the
Laurentian Divide and the St. Lawrence Divide—creating three watersheds:
rain that falls in the state can either end up in the Mississippi River,
which flows into the Gulf of Mexico , such as the St. Lawrence Channel,
in the Atlantic Ocean, or the Hudson Bay Basin, in the Arctic Ocean.
The average altitude of the state is 366 m. The highest point is
Eagle Mountain, at 701 m, and the lowest, 183 m, on the surface of Lake
Superior. It is one of the most geologically stable regions in the
country. It has experienced very few earthquakes throughout its history,
most of which have been low intensity; The strongest earthquake of the
last century occurred near Morris in 1975 and had an intensity of
between 4.6 and 4.8 on the Richter scale.
Minnesota is divided into four geographic regions:
The
Dissected Till plains occupy a small area located in the extreme
southwest. They are characterized by the presence of large quantities of
sediments of glacial origin, left by ancient glaciers. They are also
characterized by their relatively flat terrain and very fertile soil.
The latter erodes very easily, causing the rivers present in the region
to excavate very deep valleys.
The Young Drift Plains comprise a long
strip of land that extends from the northwest to the west-central region
of the State, and from there, to the south-central region. It is mainly
characterized by its slightly rugged terrain, marked by the presence of
flat, low-elevation mountains. The glaciers left large amounts of
sediment in the region, although less than in the Dissected Till Plains.
Its soil is fertile, and most of the region is used for farming.
The
Driftless Area is located in the extreme southeast. Unlike the two
plains mentioned above, the Driftless Area was not affected by the ice
ages that occurred more than ten thousand years ago in North America. It
has a very rugged terrain, with high mountains and deep valleys.
The
Superior Plateau is located in the central region and in the northeast.
It is considered part of the Canadian Shield, a region characterized by
its rugged and rocky terrain. Most of the region is covered by forests,
which are mostly located in this region of the State. Both the highest
and lowest points are located here.
Three of North America's great biomes converge in Minnesota: the
western Great Plains, the eastern deciduous forest, and the northern
boreal forest of the Canadian Shield.
While habitat loss has
created problems for native animals such as martens, deer, reindeer and
bobcats, the state contains the nation's largest population of gray
wolves outside of Alaska and is home to sizable populations of moose.
and white-tailed deer.
Located on the Mississippi Flyway, the
state has populations of migratory waterfowl such as geese and ducks, as
well as game birds such as grouse, pheasants, common and turkeys. The
lakes are full of fish such as walleyes, perch, pike and northern pike.
Southeastern streams are stocked with brook trout, brown trout, and
rainbow trout.
Minnesota has a temperate continental climate, with very cold winters
and warm summers, and relatively unstable, where weather conditions can
change suddenly in a short period. The climate is typical of its
continental location, its high latitudes, and its slightly rugged
terrain, which allows the rapid movement of air currents coming from any
direction throughout the state. In general, the state's temperatures
increase as you travel south. However, most of the northeast of the
State has lower temperatures than the northwest, due to its higher
average altitude. Meanwhile, the coastline along Lake Superior has
milder winters and summers than other regions of the state.
It is
nationally known for its harsh winter. The town of International Falls,
located in the northernmost part of the state, has the lowest
temperatures of any American city located in the contiguous 48 states.
In winter, the average temperature in the south is -11°C, while the
northern region has an average temperature lower than -19°C. The average
minimum in the south is -14 °C, and in the north, -21 °C. The average
maximum is -3 °C in the south and -8 °C in the north. The lowest
temperature recorded was -51 °C, in Tower, on February 2, 1996.
In summer, the average temperature in the south is 23 °C, and in the
north, 19 °C. The average minimum temperature is 17 °C in the south and
9 °C in the north. The average maximum temperature is 28 °C in the south
and 26 °C in the north. The highest temperature on record was 46°C,
recorded at Beardsley on 29 July 1917 and at Moorhead on 6 July 1936.
The average annual rainfall rate increases as you travel eastward.
The western region receives less than 50 centimeters of rain per year,
while the eastern region receives more than 80 centimeters. The rate of
snowfall, meanwhile, increases as you travel north. The south receives
about 50 centimeters of snow per year, while the north receives
approximately 180 centimeters per year.
It is one of the states most covered by bodies of water in the United
States. Its nickname, The Land of 10,000 Lakes, is no exaggeration: it
has 11,842 lakes of more than 10 acres (40,500 m²). The largest lake is
Red Lake, with its 1,100 km². The percentage of the state's area
occupied by water is about 5% of its total surface. If we count the
portion of Lake Superior (the largest and deepest body of water in the
state) this percentage increases to 8.4%.
It has 6,564 natural
rivers and streams, which have a total length of 111,000 kilometers. The
longest river in the US and the third longest in the world, the
Mississippi begins its 6,270 km journey at Lake Itasca in the north. It
joins the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling, and to the southeast with
many trout streams. The Red River of the North, at the bed of glacial
Lake Agassiz, drains the northwestern part of the state northward,
emptying into Lake Winnipeg in Canada.
The Mississippi watershed
covers about 57% of the state's surface, followed by the Red River, with
30%. For their part, the rivers that flow into Lake Superior, all
located in the extreme northeast, cover the remaining 13% of the State.
Minnesota is home to many green spaces. The state has 71 state parks,
53 state forests, two national forests, and many other preserves and
regional parks. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is located on
the northeastern border of the state, and Itasca State Park, the
official source of the Mississippi River, is located in the northwest
section of the state. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is
responsible for managing state parks and forests.
The areas under
management of the National Park Service are:
Grand Portage National
Monument in Grand Portage
Mississippi National River and Recreation
Area, within the Twin Cities
North Country National Scenic Trail
Pipestone National Monument in Pipestone
Voyageurs National Park
The word Minnesota comes from the Dakota for the Minnesota River, Mnisota or Mnišota. Mni (on occasion mini or minne) can be translated as 'water', and sota as 'milky, hazy' (with the variant šota 'stuck'). In fact, Mnisota can be translated as 'water dyed from heaven' and Mnišota by 'water enturbed by something'. Native Americans explained the origin of the name to early settlers by pouring milk into water and calling it mnisota. Many places in the state contain the word "minn" for water, such as Minnehaha Falls ("Waterfall"), Minneiska ("White Water"), Minnetonka, ("Big Water"), Minnetrista ("Dead Water"), and Minneapolis, which is a combination of mni and the Greek word polis ("city").
The first European explorers in the region were the French Pierre
Esprit Radisson and Médard Chouart des Groseilliers, in 1660. At that
time, the Sioux Native Americans inhabited it. A second tribe, the
Chippewa, would settle there in the mid-1750s. The Chippewa and Sioux
would immediately become enemies.
In 1679, the Frenchman Daniel
Greysolon, in search of a land route to the coast of the Pacific Ocean,
passed through the region. Greysolon arrived via Lake Superior, explored
the interior and annexed it to the French crown. A year later, the
Belgian Louis Hennepin and his two exploring companions were captured by
the Sioux, in present-day Illinois. Native Americans took them to
present-day Minnesota. Hennepin was thus the first European to visit the
current site of Minneapolis. After learning that the Sioux had captured
three unknown targets, Greysolon organized a search and rescue mission.
In 1769, after encountering the Sioux, he successfully demanded their
release.
The French controlled the region for nearly a century.
Then, this belonged to the colonial province of Louisiana, part of New
France. In 1762, the French ceded to the Spanish all the Louisiana
territories located west of the Mississippi River, which included the
entire southern region of present-day Minnesota. A year later, in 1763,
the Franco-Indigenous War would end, between them and the British, which
would result in French defeat. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris,
they ceded all lands of New France east of the Mississippi to the
British, including the region that is now northern Minnesota. The North
West Company, a British company, quickly founded various trading posts,
including in the Spanish-controlled portion. These had no interest in
the southern region, given its isolated location, distant from the main
colonial centers of Spain in North America.
In 1783, after the
end of the American Revolutionary War, the British ceded all their lands
south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi to the United
States. The region of present-day northern Minnesota immediately became
part of the Northwest Territory. However, the British continued the fur
trade in the region until the end of the War of 1812. Meanwhile, in
1800, the Spanish had ceded Louisiana to the French. In 1803, Napoleon
Bonaparte sold Louisiana to the United States, bringing the entire
region under American control. Two years after the sale, Zebulon Pike
was sent by the United States government to explore the region.
The Americans founded a temporary fort in 1819. A year later, they began
construction of the first permanent settlement, near the confluence of
the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. It was opened in 1825, under the
name Fort Snelling (Fort St. Anthony). This settlement immediately
became the main industrial and commercial center of the region, in
addition to performing military services in the region.
Fort
Snelling also served as a launching point for explorers who wanted to
explore the unexplored parts of the region. One of these explorers,
Henry R. Schoolcraft, discovered Lake Itasca, the source of the
Mississippi River. Americans began clearing the forests during the late
1830s, and the lumber industry quickly became the region's main source
of income. The first crops began in the 1830s in the Young Drift Plains
region of eastern and south-central present-day Minnesota. Quickly, it
was realized that the soil of this region was extremely fertile, which
began to attract more people to the region.
In 1837, the Sioux
and Chippewa sold their lands around the St. Croix River to the
Americans. In 1851, farmers founded St. Paul, and it became the first
city when it was incorporated in 1854.
Between 1783 and 1849,
Minnesota was part of several territories: Louisiana, the Northwest
Territory, the Illinois Territory, the Michigan Territory, and the
Wisconsin Territory. This latter territory encompassed all of
present-day Minnesota, as well as the present-day States of Iowa and
Wisconsin. When Iowa and Wisconsin became states, the United States
Congress, on March 3, 1849, created the Territory of Minnesota, which
occupied the remainder of the former territory of Wisconsin.
The
northern, eastern, and southern borders of the new Minnesota Territory
were the same as today. Its western border, however, extended to the
Missouri and White Earth rivers, encompassing much of the current states
of North Dakota and South Dakota. At that time, nearly four thousand
American inhabitants of European descent lived in the region. After
becoming a territory, the population grew rapidly. Many of the new
settlers settled in the Young Drift Plains region, in the west and
south-central. In 1851, the Sioux, who lived in the south, were forced
by the American government to give up all their lands.
Strong
population growth—concentrated mainly in the eastern part of the
territory—led the eastern portion of the Minnesota Territory to be
elevated to statehood on May 11, 1858, becoming the 32nd State of the
United States. Then, it had more than 150,000 inhabitants, and its
territorial limits were already the current ones. The western portion
would become the Dakota Territory in 1861.
Three years after Minnesota's admission to the Union as the 32nd
American state, the American Civil War broke out in 1861 against eleven
states of the Southern United States, which had seceded from the country
and formed the Confederate States of America. It was the first state to
offer troops to the Union to fight against the Confederates.
In
August 1862, while the main battles and conflicts of the Civil War were
taking place relatively far from the State, the Sioux made a major
attack against communities inhabited by Americans of European descent.
In this attack, the Sioux killed more than 500 people, and destroyed
several communities and plantations. Minnesota militias and American
troops eventually defeated the Sioux.
After the end of the Civil
War, Minnesota went through a period of great economic growth and
prosperity. Large numbers of mills were built to process the wheat grown
in the region, factories were built in Minneapolis, and railroads began
to connect Minnesota with the rest of the country. In addition to this,
the state government, along with the railway companies, was interested
in attracting more people to the region. The local government and
railway companies distributed large quantities of pamphlets in
Europe—especially in the newly united Germany and in Scandinavia. .
Large numbers of European immigrants—mostly Germans, and to a lesser
extent, Norwegians, Swedes and Irish—settled in the State between the
1870s and 1890s.
In the early 1880s, large deposits of iron were
discovered. Several more would be discovered in 1890, and even more
later in the late 1910s. Iron mining quickly became one of the state's
main sources of income.
In 1889, William W. Mayo and his two sons
founded a medical clinic, the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester. The clinic
became well known in the State, and eventually the Mayo family would
convert what was initially a small clinic into a hospital center. Today,
the Mayo Clinic is one of the most prestigious medical research centers
in the world.
In 1894, a large fire broke out in the woods, known
as the Great Hinkley Fire. The fire spread over nearly a thousand square
kilometers of forest, causing the death of approximately 400 people and
nearly a million dollars in damages. Later, in 1918, another large fire
would take place, again claiming the lives of nearly 400 people, and
this time, causing more than 25 million dollars in damages.
The
period of great prosperity and economic growth would last until the
mid-1920s. However, this prosperity, for the most part, was only enjoyed
by the railroad companies (which charged a lot for transporting products
produced in Minnesota to other countries). regions of the country), and
banking and political establishments. During the 1890s and 1900s, large
numbers of farmers, miners, and industrial workers joined together in
unions and cooperatives. After World War I—which significantly increased
the sale of iron ore and agricultural products, and spurred the
industrialization of the state—these groups would join together to form
the Agrarian-Labor Party, which supported small farmers and workers.
industrial. The first politician of this party to become governor, Floyd
B. Olson, was elected Governor of the State in 1931.
Minnesota
began to suffer the first signs of economic recession during the 1920s,
due to low prices and low demand for the agricultural products and iron
ore it produced. Many farms fell into serious debt. This recession was
further aggravated by the Great Depression of the 1930s, when national
demand for the state's two main sources of revenue—wheat and iron
ore—had fallen sharply across the country. Large numbers of workers lost
their jobs. About 70% of workers who worked in iron mining, for example,
were laid off. Many farmers, facing debt, low prices, drought, and
grasshopper infestations, were forced to abandon their farms and move to
cities.
The local government and the United States carried out various
socioeconomic assistance and public construction programs, in an attempt
to minimize the effects of the Depression in the state. Meanwhile, iron
mining companies began mining primarily taconite, a cheaper,
lower-quality type of iron that now makes up about 30% of the iron
produced in Minnesota. The effects of the Depression would come to an
end with the country's entry into World War II, which created demand for
wheat and iron produced in the State. Another result of the war was the
beginning of the acceleration of industrialization.
After the
war, manufacturing had overtaken iron mining and wheat cultivation as
the state's main source of income. Iron mining, for its part, had fallen
drastically after the war, due to the collapse of national demand, and
its economic importance decreased significantly. To stimulate the mining
industry in the state, Minnesota decided to provide tax premiums to its
miners and steel mills in 1964, encouraging the construction of mines
and steel industries in the State. One of the main problems caused by
the iron mining industry was the pollution of the water environment, due
to the waste generated by such mines. In 1978, the state Supreme Court
ordered a Silver Bay mining company to stop releasing its waste into
Lake Superior. The company was forced to build a special landfill,
inaugurated in 1980. During the 1980s and 1990s, other industrial
companies, under pressure from environmental groups and the state
government, did the same.
Meanwhile, due to rapid
industrialization and modernization of the agricultural industry—which
caused an exodus from rural areas to cities—by the mid-1950s the
majority of the State's population was already living in urban areas.
The economy diversified, and sectors such as the provision of financial
and real estate services and tourism became increasingly important in
the State's economy. This process continues.
The capital is Saint Paul, located in the east-central part of the
state, along the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. Saint Paul is
bordered on the other side of the river by the largest and most populous
city, Minneapolis. Both cities along with their suburbs comprise the
Twin Cities metropolitan area, the 16th largest metropolitan area in the
United States and home to approximately 59% of the state's population as
of April 1, 2005. The rest of the state is known as Greater Minnesota or
Outstate Minnesota.
Cities with a population greater than 50,000
(as of 2005) are, in descending order: Minneapolis, Saint Paul,
Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Eagan, St.
Cloud, Coon Rapids, Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Woodbury,
Blaine, and Minnetonka. Of these, only Rochester, Duluth, and St. Cloud
are outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The 2005 census estimates the population at 5,132,799, making it the
21st most populous state in the nation. Its population has increased by
213,307 inhabitants (or 4.3%) since 2000. The demographic increase since
2000 is due to a natural increase of 161,252 people (358,012 births
minus 196 760 deaths) and a net migration of 54,032 people in the state.
External migrations have led to a net gain of 70,800 people, while
internal migrations have led to a net loss of 16,768 people.
In
2004, 6.1% of residents were not born in the United States, compared to
11.1% nationally.
88.2% White (European)
3.5% African Americans
2.9% Hispanic Americans
2.9% Asians
1.1% Indigenous
1.4% Two or
more races
About 75% of the population is of Western and Northern
European ancestry. The largest ethnic groups are Germans (37.3%),
Norwegians (17.0%), Irish (12.2%), and Swedes (10.0%). %).20 The state
had a reputation for being relatively homogeneous, but that is changing.
The Chinese and Japanese have had long presences in the state, and the
Latin American population continues to increase. The immigrants that the
state currently receives come from all over the world, such as the Miao,
the Somalis, the Vietnamese, the Indians, those from the Middle East and
emigrants from the former Eastern Bloc. The state has the third largest
population of Miao speakers in the United States. Many of these new
immigrants are being helped by religious congregations.
In 2011,
non-Hispanic whites accounted for 72.3% of all births.
Age pyramid
The distribution of the population by age in 2000 was:
+18: 3,632,585 (73.8%)
+21: 3,414,300 (69.4%)
+62: 696,775 (14.2%)
+65: 594,266 (12.1%)
Average age (years) 35.4
Around 74% of the population declares themselves Christian. Recently,
immigrants have formed considerable communities of Muslims, Buddhists
and Hindus.
Religious affiliations of the population:
in 2019
Catholics - 22% - 1,244,072
Protestants - 52% - 2,940,535
Other
religions - 5% - 282,743
No religion - 21% - 1,187,523
The US Government's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) estimates the
gross domestic product in 2005 at $233.3 billion. Per capita income was
$36,184 in 2004, 8th in the nation. Median household income was
approximately $48,000 in 1999, also ranked 8th in the nation (U.S.
Census Bureau). . The median household income by county ranges from
$17,369 in Todd County to $42,313 in Hennepin County. In general, wages
are lower in more rural areas, especially in the northwestern part of
the state.
Retail sales per capita were $10,260 in 1997, higher
than the U.S. average of $9,190. Roseville, a suburb of the Twin Cities,
has the highest per capita sales in the state ($14,870), although total
income is much higher in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and Edina.
The economy has transformed over the last 200 years, from an economy
based on raw materials to one based on finished products and the
provision of services. The first economic activities were the fur trade
and agriculture. The latter is still an important part of the state
economy, although today it only occupies a small percentage of the
population, around 2%. It is a leading producer within the US of sugar
beets, soybeans, and corn. The state's agribusiness has changed from
mere production to processing and manufacturing of food products.
Leading companies in the industry include General Mills, Cargill
(milling), Hormel Foods Corporation of Austin (processed meat products),
and Schwan Food Company of Marshall (frozen foods).
Forestry, one
of the first industries to develop in the state, remains strong thanks
to logging, pulp processing, forest products manufacturing, and paper
production.
It was famous for its iron mines, which were
responsible for a significant portion of the iron ore produced in the
world for more than a century. Although pure ore is currently quite
reduced, taconite mining remains strong, which uses locally developed
processes to keep the sector active. 3 M Co. (formerly Minnesota Mining
and Manufacturing Co.), a company that had its origins in mining, today
is a diversified manufacturer of industrial and consumer products.
As you might expect in a state geared toward outdoor activities,
there are several companies that manufacture boats and other
recreational products. Polaris Industries makes snowmobiles and other
off-road recreational vehicles.
Retail is represented by Target
Corporation, Best Buy, and International Dairy Queen, all based in the
Twin Cities. The largest shopping center in the United States, the Mall
of America, is located in Bloomington. Ecolab provides sanitation
services and supplies.
Some Minnesota-based financial
institutions include the U.S. Bancorp, TCF Bank, and Wells Fargo & Co..
The largest insurance companies are St. Paul Travelers and Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans.
The high-tech sector is represented by
Honeywell, Cray Computers, Imation, and an IBM headquarters in
Rochester. Medtronic represents the state's growing biomedical sector,
driven by university research. Rochester is home to the Mayo Clinic, one
of the most famous medical clinics in the world.
Electricity produced by wind turbines has gained some popularity,
especially in the windier southwestern region. In June 2006, the state
was the fourth largest producer of wind energy in the country, with 744
MW installed and a project for an additional wind farm, which will have
a capacity of 128 MW.
Like many Midwest states that endure cold
winters, Minnesota relies heavily on natural gas for home heating. About
two-thirds of households use such fuel. The state does not produce its
own oil, although it has the largest oil refinery of all
non-oil-producing states, the Pine Bend Refinery. One of the longest oil
pipelines in the world, the Lakehead Pipeline, runs through the north of
the state. Most of the oil the state uses comes from Canada and the
northwestern United States.
Minnesota has three income tax rates, ranging from 5.35% to 7.85%.
Sales tax is 6.5% for most items. The state does not levy such a tax on
clothing, some services, or food for home consumption. It does levy
prepared foods, candy, and soft drinks. The state also levies a use tax
on items purchased elsewhere but that are used. Property owners pay a
real estate tax to their county, municipality, school district, and
taxing district. Three factors affect the amount of taxes: the amount
local governments spend to provide services to the community, the
estimated market value of the property, and the classification of the
property.
Minnesota businesses and individuals paid an average of
11.8% of their income in state and local taxes in 1998 (Minnesota
Department of Revenue).
The capital is Saint Paul, located in the east of the state, adjacent to Minneapolis. Since January 6, 2011, the Governor is Democrat Mark Dayton. The Lieutenant Governor is Tina Smith, who also headed the Minnesota Department of Transportation. She has 8 seats in the United States House of Representatives.
As in the national government of the United States, in Minnesota
there is a division of powers: executive, legislative and judicial.
The main official of the Executive Branch is the governor. He is
elected by the voters of the State for a term of up to four years. There
is no limit to the number of times a person can serve as governor.
The Legislative Branch is made up of the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The Senate has a total of 67 members, and the House of
Representatives, 134. It is divided into 67 legislative districts, as
many as there are members of the Senate. The voters of each district
elect a senator/representative, who will represent said district in the
Senate and the House of Representatives. The term of office of the
senators is four years, and that of the representatives is two. There is
no limit to the number of times a person can serve as a senator or
representative.
The highest court in the Judicial Branch is the
Minnesota Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, one of whom is
elected every two years to serve as chief justice. The second largest
judicial court in the state is the Court of Appeals of Minnesota,
established in 1982 and currently composed of 16 judges. All of these
judges are elected by the state electorate for terms of up to six years
in length.
The current Minnesota Constitution was adopted in 1858. Amendments to the Constitution are proposed by the Legislature. Amendments created by one of the chambers of the Legislative Branch, to be approved, need to receive at least three-quarters of the votes of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State, and then, two-thirds of the votes of the local electorate, to through a referendum. Amendments can also be made through constitutional conventions, which are special political meetings. Amendments made in this way need to be approved by at least 51% of each Chamber of the Legislative Branch, and then by at least 60% of the State's electoral population, in a referendum.
Minnesota is divided into 87 counties, all governed by a board of commissioners, generally made up of five members. The state has about 850 cities. Most of them are governed by a mayor and a municipal council.
In its beginnings as a state, it was dominated politically by the
Republican Party, both at the state and national level. The majority of
the senators and representatives elected to the Legislature were
Republicans, and the same can be said of the senators and
representatives of the State in the United States Congress. However,
gradually, beginning in the 1930s, Democrats began to gain strength in
state politics. Since the 1960s, elections at the regional, state and
national levels have been very close, between Republicans and Democrats,
and both parties have a lot of political strength in the State.
Its politics are active and unstable, with populism being a traditional
force among all parties in the state. The history of his politics
records such curiosities as Jesse Ventura, a professional wrestler who
became governor, and R.T. Rybak, a protester who became mayor. It has a
high percentage of attendance at the polls; 77.2% of the state's
electorate voted in the 2004 presidential election, the highest
percentage in the United States. Political conservatism is less related
to the religiosity of the state's population, compared to other American
states.
During the second half of the 20th century the vote has
leaned more towards the Democrat, although it is now seen as a "swing
state" (literally "swing state", that is, a state in which one party
does not clearly dominate over the other). . Residents have voted
Democrats for president since 1976, longer than any other state. His
electoral votes and those of the District of Columbia were the only ones
not won by Republican President Ronald Reagan. Their voters, instead,
elected former Vice President and Senator Walter Mondale, a Minnesota
native. He or Hubert Humphrey were the Democratic candidates for
president or vice president in the 1964, 1968, 1976, 1980 and 1984
elections.
The Twin Cities area is considered the arts capital of the Upper Midwest. Other important artistic centers are the Twin Ports (Twin Ports: Duluth-Superior) and the cities of Madison and Milwaukee in Wisconsin. There is a very high per capita attendance at theatrical and musical performances, which some suggest may be due to the cold winters, but which more realistically can be attributed to the large number of institutes, universities, and a generally strong economy. which provides strong support and high demand for artistic creations (in 2000, 2.3 million theater tickets were sold in the Twin Cities region alone). They have more theater seats per capita than any other American city, including New York City.
Its stereotypical traits include Lutheranism (26% of the state's
population declares itself Lutheran), "Minnesota Nice" (the state's
population is known for its hospitality and courtesy toward outsiders),
"hot dish" (a term typical Minnesota casserole), "lutefisk" (a spicy
fish preparation native to Norway and Scandinavia), an appreciation of
family ties and a strong sense of community, as well as the culture
shared with many other residents of the state —instead of just with a
certain city.
The state's English has a unique accent, even
different from the accent of other states in the upper Midwest of the
United States. Despite being considered unique, many of its inhabitants
deny the presence of a regional accent. However, because of the increase
in immigrants to the state from other regions of the country, many of
whom come from the West Coast, the Chicago metropolitan area, and New
York, as well as the growth of Hmong immigration, Vietnamese, Somalis,
Liberians, Kenyans, Nigerians, Russians and Hispanics, the various
cultures of the State are gradually merging with each other, and
changing the State culture, as had already happened during the second
half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, during
the period of great European immigration in the region.
Native
Americans have a moderate presence, and some Native American tribes run
casinos on Indian reservations (which do not tax casinos). Initially,
the first European people to explore and settle Minnesota were the
French, who were followed by the British, Irish, Scandinavians, and
Germans. The Métis—descendants of Europeans and Native Americans—had a
prominent presence in the region during the years in which it was a
territory. The majority of the Métis population would gradually migrate
north to Canada after its elevation to statehood in 1858. Minnesota is
not associated with any particular food, although in recent years,
dishes such as wild rice sausage (wild rice sausage) have known a
certain popularity.
The state has been a recipient of immigrants,
from all parts of the world, in the past and currently. In addition to
the groups already mentioned above, other considerable ethnic-racial
groups are the Arabs, ethnicities from other countries of the former
Soviet Union, the Chinese and the Japanese. Mexicans are a growing
force, as they are in the rest of the country. Many modern immigrants
are drawn to Minnesota because of its reputation for its priority on
educational and social services. Many of these immigrants come thanks to
the support of various local congregations, dedicated to providing
social assistance and social justice.
Outdoor activities are
considered an important part of the lives of many residents of the
state. Such activities include hunting and fishing (about 36% of
residents fish regularly, second only to Alaska.). During the winter,
ice fishing is quite popular—a custom brought by the first Scandinavian
immigrants. Families often own or rent cabins or go camping in forest
parks, usually near lakes. Weekend getaways to such properties are
common, especially in the summer.
It has 71 state parks. Like
other northern woodland states, such as Wisconsin and Michigan,
residents jokingly call the mosquito the state bird because of its
abundance in that area. In fact, the state bird is the greater loon
(Gavia immer), whose distinctive growl can often be heard by campers in
the northern part of the state, and sometimes as far south as the lakes
of Minneapolis.
In the state of Minnesota there are franchises from the main American
leagues: in American football the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL since
1961, Minnesota United in the MLS and which will have its own stadium
from 2019 Allianz Field, Minnesota Twins of the Major Leagues in
Baseball since 1961, in ice hockey the Minnesota Wild of the NHL since
2000, and in basketball the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA since 1989
and the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA since 1999.
Previously, among
others, the Minneapolis Marines / Red Jackets played there from 1905 to
1930, the Duluth Kelleys / Eskimos of the NFL from 1923 to 1927, the
Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA from 1947 to 1960, the Minnesota Kicks of
the North American Soccer League from 1976 until 1981, and the Minnesota
North Stars of the NHL from 1967 until 1993.
In terms of college
sports, the Minnesota Golden Gophers of American football have achieved
18 Big Ten Conference championships, as well as one Rose Bowl.
Hazeltine Golf Club has hosted the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S.
Veterans Open and the PGA Championship.
One of the first acts of the Legislature when it opened, in 1858, was
the creation of a teachers' college at Winona. Since then, Minnesota has
remained among the ten strongest states in education in most studies. It
ranks sixth in the Smartest State Award for the 2005-06 school year,
carried out by the Morgan Quitno publishing group, and first in the
percentage of residents in possession of a high school diploma or
higher. Minnesota has resisted movements in education such as school
vouchers and teaching intelligent design.
The first school for
children of European descent in the region of present-day Minnesota was
founded at Fort St. Anthony, present-day Fort Snelling. Subsequently,
various schools were inaugurated by the missionaries, some dedicated to
Native Americans and others for the population of European descent. In
1849, the government of the Minnesota Territory passed a law mandating
the construction of public schools in communities in the territory.
Currently, all educational institutions must follow certain rules
and patterns dictated by the Minnesota Department of Education. This
board directly controls the state's public school system, which is
divided into several school districts. The council is led by a
commissioner, chosen by the governor with the approval of the Senate.
Each major city (city), various secondary cities (towns), and each
county consists of at least one school district. In cities, the
responsibility for managing schools falls to the municipal school
district, while in less densely populated regions, this responsibility
falls to the school districts operating in the county.
Minnesota
allows the existence of "charter schools" — independent public schools,
which are not managed by school districts, but which depend on public
budgets for their support. Not in vain, it was the first state in the
union to allow the creation of schools of this genre within its state
limits. Schooling is compulsory for all children and adolescents over
seven years of age, until the completion of secondary education or until
the age of sixteen.
In 1999, public schools served about 854,000
students, employing approximately 56,000 teachers. For their part,
private schools served approximately 92,800 students, employing
approximately 6,500 teachers. The State's public school system used
about $5.816 million, and public school spending was approximately
$7,200 per student.
It has about 360 public libraries, which move about 8.9 books per
inhabitant annually. The state currently has 113 higher education
institutions, of which 52 are public and 61 are private. The main public
university system in the State is the State Universities State Colleges
and Universities are a public educational organization that controls 37
other higher education institutions with 375,000 students.
There
is also the University System of Minnesota, which has campuses in four
different cities: Crookston, Duluth, Morris and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul—officially called the University of
Minnesota—was the state's first institution of higher education, having
been founded in 1851. It is currently the largest in the state, and one
of the largest in the country.
The University of Minnesota Medical College is a top-ranked teaching
institution that has made great advances in the treatment of diseases,
and its research activities contribute significantly to the state's
growing biotechnology industry. The prestigious Mayo Clinic is
headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo and the University are
partners in the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical
Genomics, a state-funded program that directs research in cancer,
Alzheimer's disease, heart, obesity, and other areas.
The state
ranks first in the percentage of residents who engage in regular
physical exercise, and second in three key indices: low infant
mortality; long life expectancy and a low mortality rate per 100,000
population. These and other measures have led one group to rank
Minnesota as the healthiest state in the nation, and another to rank it
fourth.
After reaching a record 97 homicides in 1995, the city of Minneapolis earned an unpleasant nickname because of the violence: Murderapolis (literally "City of Murderers"). The term gained wide use since the New York Times used it when it reported that Minneapolis had surpassed the per capita homicide rate of New York City. The murder rate declined in subsequent years, although area residents are concerned that use of the nickname will become prevalent again when there is an uptick in violence in the city.
Transportation is overseen by the Minnesota Department of
Transportation. The most important Interstate Highways are I-35, I-90,
and I-94 (all pass completely through or around the Minneapolis-St. Paul
Metropolitan Area). The state has nearly two dozen rail lines, most of
which also pass through the Minneapolis-St. Paul. Shipping is centered
primarily on the Mississippi River and ports along Lake Superior in the
north.
The main airport is Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP), which is
also the headquarters and passenger and fleet hub for Northwest
Airlines. It is also a major hub for Sun Country Airlines.
Public
transportation is limited to several bus lines in major cities as well
as a light rail in the Minneapolis-St. Paul.
In 2002, Minnesota
had 7,342 kilometers of railroad tracks. In 2003, the state had 212,261
kilometers of public roads, of which 1,468 kilometers were interstate
highways, part of the United States federal highway system. The State
also has about 3,200 kilometers of waterways.
The Twin Cities area is the 15th largest media market in the United
States as ranked by Nielsen Media Research. The state's other media
markets in the top 210 are Fargo-Moorhead (118th), Duluth-Superior
(137th), Rochester-Mason City-Austin (152nd), and Mankato (200thº).
The history of television in Minnesota, and in the Upper Midwest,
begins on April 27, 1948, when KSTP-TV began broadcasting. The Hubbard
Broadcasting Corporation, owner of KSTP, is now the only television
company. television. Currently, there are 39 analog radio stations and
23 digital channels broadcasting throughout the state.
The Twin
Cities metropolitan area is home to the state's two largest circulation
newspapers: the Star Tribune in Minneapolis and the Saint Paul Pioneer
Press. Several weekly and monthly publications are also published (most
of which are financed by advertising). The most prominent of these is
the weekly City Pages. Another important publication is The Rake,
published in 2002, which is published monthly.
Two of the largest
public radio networks are based in the state, Minnesota Public Radio
(MPR) and Public Radio International (PRI). MPR has the largest audience
among regional public radio networks, while PRI provides more than 400
hours of programming to its affiliates throughout the country.