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Minnesota is the 32nd state of the United States, having joined the Union on May 11, 1858. Its name is from the Dakota people's name for the Minnesota River, mini sota, variously translated "smoky-white water" or "sky-tinted water." The state's name is abbreviated MN or Minn.
Minnesota is the second largest state by land area in the Midwestern United States and is in the sub-region known as the Upper Midwest. The most significant metropolitan area is known as the Twin Cities, which contains more than half the state's population. The Twin Cities refer to the state's most populous cities: Minneapolis and Saint Paul, along with multiple "rings" of suburbs. The remainder of the state is generically referred to as "Greater Minnesota", or "outstate Minnesota" by analogy to upstate New York.
The state is a major food producer for the country, and has a number of natural resources that have been greatly exploited in the last two centuries.
The USS Minnesota was named in honor of this state, as was the SS Gopher State. Other nicknames for the state include The Land of 10,000 Lakes, North Star State, The State of Hockey.
History
Before European colonization, the area now known as Minnesota was inhabited by Native Americans, in particular the Ojibwe (Chippewa, Anishinaabe) and Dakota, although the Winnebago also had a presence in the southeastern part of the state. In this time, the economy originally consisted of hunter-gatherer activities, which changed over time as Europeans settled in the area and further exploited the state's natural resources. Before the arrival of Dakota and Ojibwe, Cheyenne and Gros Ventre also made their home in Minnesota.
According to local tradition, the first European visitors were Swedish and Norwegian Vikings in the 14th century. The evidence for this is largely based on the controversial Kensington Runestone, which many historians consider to be an elaborate hoax. Some say that the earliest European settlement was in the area of the current city of Stillwater, on the St. Croix River, though many histories focus on the military settlement that took place farther west. Fort Snelling, located at the confluence of the Minnesota River and the Mississippi River, was one of the earliest U.S. military presences in the state. It is now a historic site.
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Joining the United States
Part of what would become Minnesota was granted to the United States by the Second Treaty of Paris at the end of the American Revolution in 1783, the fledgling states having been granted all of the land east of the Mississippi River. This included what would become modern-day Saint Paul (but only part of Minneapolis), including the northeast, north-central and east-central portions of the state. Most of the state, however, was purchased from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The northern border between Minnesota and British North America was for a long time disputed. At the time it was erroneously believed that the Mississippi River ran well into modern Canada, making some earlier agreements flawed. Parts of northern Minnesota were considered to be in Ruperts Land. The exact definition of the boundary was not addressed until the Anglo-American Convention of 1818 which set the border at the 49th parallel west of the Lake of the Woods (except for a small chunk of land now dubbed the northwest angle). Border disputes east of the Lake of the Woods continued until the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842.
Throughout the first half of the 19th century, the north eastern portion of the state was a part of the Northwest Territory, then the Illinois Territory, then the Michigan Territory, and finally the Wisconsin Territory. The west and south areas of the state were not formally organized until 1838 when they became part of the Iowa Territory.
Upon statehood of Wisconsin and Iowa the Minnesota Territory was carved out of the remaining land and established on March 3, 1849, but unlike the boundaries of modern day Minnesota, the areas western border extended far into present day North Dakota and South Dakota; all the way to the Missouri River. The eastern half of the Minnesota Territory became the country's 32nd state—after California—on May 11, 1858. The remaining western part fell unorganized until its incorporation into the Dakota Territory on March 2, 1861.
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Culture
Stereotypical Minnesotan traits include Lutheranism (26 percent of the state's population is Lutheran) "Minnesota nice," "hot dish (a Minnesotan term for casserole)," lutefisk (a pungent preparation of fish from Scandinavian recipes that include soaking in lye), very close family ties (and a strong sense of duty to their families, healthy and dysfunctional alike), a strong sense of community and shared culture with many other Minnesotans instead of just with one's town or city, Minnesota's rather unique form of Upper Midwest American English (including Scandinavian-sounding words like "uff-da"), and a distinctive type of upper Midwestern accent. However, due to the increase of migrants from throughout the United States (many originating from the West Coast and the Chicago metropolitan area ) and the rise of immigration of Hmong, Vietnamese, Somalis and other East Africans, Liberians, Kenyans, Nigerians, Russians, Eastern Europeans and Latin Americans (mostly Mexicans), many cultures in the state are slowly blending together and slowing changing the culture of the state similar to what European immigrants to Minnesota had done in the mid-nineteenth to early-twentieth centuries. Native Americans have a moderate presence in Minnesota, and some tribes operate casinos which have been said to be among the most profitable in the country. The earliest European exploration and settlement was by the French, and settlement from Scandinavian countries along with Germany followed. The Métis people, a mixed French and Native American culture, were a presence in the early state and territorial days, but largely moved north into Canada. Minnesota is not strongly associated with any particular food, though in recent years dishes like wild rice sausage have come from the state and more will undoubtedly follow as Minnesotan chefs seek to define their home in the culinary world.
Modern immigrants have come from all over the world in recent decades, with Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Indians, Middle Easterners, and the former Soviet bloc all being well-represented. Some Chinese and Japanese have had long presences in the state as well. Mexicans are a growing force, as they are across the U.S. Many modern immigrants are attracted by the state's historically strong commitments toward education and social services and many come sponsored and assisted by congregations committed to service and social justice.
Outdoor activities are major parts of the lives of many Minnesotans, including hunting and fishing. Unique activities include ice fishing, which was popular with the early Scandinavian immigrants. Families frequently own or share cabins on central and northern tracts of land in forests and adjoining lakes, and weekend trips out to these properties are common. The 71 state parks which protect diverse landscapes in a state of nature are quite popular. A concern for environmentalism is shared by most state residents in one form or another, vegans and hunters alike. As with other northwoods states (such as Wisconsin and Michigan), residents like to joke that the mosquito is the state bird. The state bird is actually the common loon (Gavia immer, also called the Great northern diver), whose distinctive cry can often be heard by campers in the northern part of the state and can even on occasion be found as far south as Minneapolis.
Minnesota is known for active yet quirky politics, with populism being a longstanding force among all of the political parties that call the state home. Minnesota politics include such oddities as a professional wrestler turned governor and a protester turned crowd-surfing mayor. 77.3% of eligible Minnesotans voted in the 2004 U.S. presidential election, the highest of any U.S. state. Political conservatism is less strongly linked to church attendance in most of Minnesota than in other parts of the country, perhaps a reflection of the strong mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic following, though in the elections of 2000, 2002, and 2004 it was shown that this trend was in the process of changing in some Twin Cities voting precincts.
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Law and government
As in the national government of the United States, power in Minnesota is divided into three main branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
The executive branch is headed by the governor, currently Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, whose term began 6 January 2003. The current lieutenant governor of Minnesota is Carol Molnau. Molnau also currently serves as the head of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Both the governor and lieutenant governor have four-year terms. The governor has a cabinet consisting of the leaders of various government agencies in the state, called commissioners. The full list of governors, and the dates they took office, is available at List of Governors of Minnesota.
The other constitutional offices besides governor and lt. governor are secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor.
The Minnesota Legislature is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The state has 67 districts, each covering about 60,000 people. Each district has one senator and two representatives (each district being divided into A and B subsections). Senators serve for four years, and representatives serve for two years. In the November 2004 election, the Republican Party retained control of the Minnesota House of Representatives by a single seat (68-66), having lost a total of 13 seats. The Minnesota Senate is controlled by the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). After picking up two seats in local special elections on 16 November 2005, and 27 December, 2005, the DFL controls the senate (38-29). There was one Independence Party state senator, former Republican Sheila Kiscaden (IP-Rochester) who caucused with the DFL. She officially joined the party in January 2006, bringing their lead to eight seats.
As a result of its liberal and populist political culture throughout much of the latter half of the 20th century, Minnesota has voted for Democrats for president longer than any other state (the District of Columbia has voted for a Democrat in every election since 1964), since 1976. Minnesota and the District of Columbia were the only electoral votes not won by incumbent Republican president Ronald Reagan, voting instead for former Vice President of the United States and former U.S. Senator Walter Mondale, a Minnesota native. It should be noted that a Minnesotan ran on the Democratic ticket as either President or Vice President in the 1964, 1968, 1976, 1980 and 1984. In 2004, John Kerry narrowly won the state's 10 electoral votes by a margin of three percentage points with 51.1% of the vote. Republican strength is greatest in southern Minnesota and the suburbs of Minneapolis, especially in the area west of the city, and in developing outer suburban communities. Democrats hold tremendous strength in Minneapolis/St. Paul proper and in the Iron Range of northeastern Minnesota, including Duluth.
The state also enjoys a strong and active third party movement. The Reform Party was able to elect former mayor of Brooklyn Park, and former wrestling superstar Jesse Ventura to the governorship in 1998, however Ventura left the Reform Party in 2000 when Pat Buchanan took control. Ventura maintained close ties to the Independence Party, but chose not to seek reelection. In 2002 the Independence Party ran former democratic congressman Tim Penny in an unsuccessful bid for the governorship. Penny earned about 16% of the vote.
The state's Green Party has elected several city council members and other local office-holders in Duluth, Minneapolis and Winona, and has made strong runs for state legislature during the past two election cycles. In 2000, Green Party candidate Ralph Nader received just over 5% of the presidential votes cast, gaining Major Party Status for the Green Party of Minnesota.
Minnesota's court system has three levels:
* Trial courts. The state is split into 10 judicial districts, with 257 judges. Most state cases start in the trial courts.
* Minnesota Court of Appeals. This body hears appeals on cases tried in the trial courts. There are 16 judges, who divide into three-judge panels to hear appeals in courts across the state.
* Minnesota Supreme Court. The seven justices on the Supreme Court hear appeals from the Court of Appeals, the Tax Court, and the Worker's Compensation Court. The court automatically reviews first-degree murder convictions, and settles disputes over legislative elections.
The state has two special courts created by state law as executive-branch agencies:
* The Tax Court deals with non-criminal tax cases across the state. It has three judges appointed by the governor to six-year terms, following approval from the state Senate
* The Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals deals with cases involving worker injuries referred to it on appeal, or transferred from district court. It has five judges appointed by the governor to six-year terms, following approval from the state Senate
Federal cases are heard in the federal district courts in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or Duluth. Minnesota is part of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Appeals beyond this level go to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C..
In addition to the standard city and county levels of government found in the United States, Minnesota also has other entities that provide governmental oversight and planning. Some actions in the Twin Cities metropolitan area are coordinated by the Metropolitan Council, and many lakes and rivers are overseen by watershed districts and soil and water conservation districts.
See also: List of political parties in Minnesota
External links: Hyperlinked state constitution, full text of state constitution
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Geography
Minnesota, showing roads and major bodies of water
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Minnesota, showing roads and major bodies of water
Minnesota Population Density Map
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Minnesota Population Density Map
See: List of Minnesota counties
Minnesota covers 79,610 square miles (2.25% of the United States). It is famous for its lakes, having in excess of 15,000, depending on the source of the count. Much of the state is flat, having been eroded during repeated glacial periods (most recently the Wisconsin Glacier). However, the extreme southeastern portion of the state is part of the Driftless Zone, which was not glaciated, and it is here that Lake Pepin and the rugged high bluffs of the Mississippi River are found. In addition, the Iron Range and other low mountains are found in the northeastern part of the state. The Minnesota portion of Lake Superior is the largest body of water in the state.
Minnesota is home to many areas of park land, to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), as well as a number of state and county parks, most notably Itasca State Park, the official source of the Mississippi River.
After its rivers and lakes, Minnesota's most prominent physical feature is the Iron Range. This is a range of low mountains that run across the northern part of the state. It is called the Iron Range because when discovered, it had some of the largest deposits of iron ore in the country. Although the high-grade iron ore was mostly mined out during World War II, taconite is still mined across the Iron Range.
The state is bordered on the north by Canada (Manitoba and Ontario), on the east by Wisconsin and Lake Superior, on the south by Iowa, and on the west by North Dakota and South Dakota. In addition, Minnesota shares a water boundary with Michigan. Minnesota is the northernmost of the 48 contiguous states (Alaska reaches significantly farther north), reaching to 49° 23' 04" north latitude, due to a small piece of the state known as the Northwest Angle.
Minnesota sits at a convergence point between three of the great biomes of North America: the Great Plains of the west, the Eastern Deciduous Forest, and the Northern Boreal Forest of Canada. Traversing the state from southwest to northeast, one goes through the three different ecological regions.
The capital is Saint Paul, which sits on the Mississippi River next to Minnesota's largest city, Minneapolis. Together (and with surrounding suburbs), they are known as the Twin Cities. Other prominent cities include Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, Rochester (home of the world-famous Mayo Clinic), and Bloomington (home to the Mall of America).
The state's average elevation is 1,200 feet (366 m), with a high point at Eagle Mountain (Minnesota) (2,301 ft or 701 m) and a low at the surface of Lake Superior (602 ft or 183 m). Aside from a few very minor earthquakes, Minnesota is one of the most geologically stable regions in the country. The biggest earthquake in the last century occurred near Morris in 1975 and rated between 4.6 and 4.8 in magnitude.
Temperatures can reach extremes in Minnesota. The northern part of the state is famously cold in winter, with a record low of -60 °F (-51 °C) measured at Tower, MN on February 2, 1996. Surprisingly, due to the flows of the jet stream, parts of Alaska often see relatively warm temperatures when Minnesota is experiencing extreme cold. Additionally, as part of the Great Plains region, the state also experiences warm summers. A record high of 114 °F (45.5 °C) was reached in both 1917 and 1936. The average temperature in January (the coldest month) is 11.2 °F (-11.5 °C), and the average in the warmest month, July, is 73.1 °F (22.8 °C); averages are cooler in the north and warmer in the south. The average annual precipitation is 28.32 inches (719 mm), with a snowfall figure of 49.6 inches (126 cm).
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Economy
Minnesota state quarter.
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Minnesota state quarter.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Minnesota's total state product in 2003 was $211 billion. Per capita personal income in 2004 was $34,861, 8th in the nation. The average household income in 1999 was approximately $48,000, ranking eighth in the nation (U.S. Census Bureau). The county averages range from $17,369 (Todd County) to $42,313 (Hennepin County, a portion of the Metro area). In general, salaries are lowest in more rural areas, particularly in the northwest portion of the state.
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Major industries and products
The Twin Cities are home to a diverse range of major businesses, including Cargill, 3M Co. (formerly Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.), Northwest Airlines, Target Corporation, U.S. Bancorp, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (the merged entity of the former Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood), Medtronic, Ecolab, Best Buy, Cray Computers, Imation, International Dairy Queen, Regis Corporation, General Mills and a regional headquarters of Wells Fargo & Co., Caterpillar Inc. and Honeywell. The city of Rochester is the headquarters of the Mayo Clinic, and has a significant manufacturing presence in International Business Machines. The largest shopping mall in the United States, the Mall of America, is located in Bloomington. The Schwan Food Company, headquartered in Marshall, Minnesota, is one of the largest, branded frozen-food companies in the United States and the second-largest privately held corporation in Minnesota.
The state has been a major influence in the area of transportation, moving products along the Mississippi River, in and out of the inland seaport of Duluth, along railroads that crisscross the state, via highways with trucking and busing companies, and through the air with a major airline hub. However, water- and rail-borne traffic has been declining steadily over the years.
A large proportion of the state's economy is still agricultural, even though only a small percentage of the population (around 2%) consider themselves to be farmers. Minnesota is a leading US producer of sugar beets, soybeans, and corn. Additionally, northern Minnesota is a source for iron ore (in the form of taconite) and wood products, though these are both declining industries. Hibbing is the site of one of the world's largest open pit mines. The agricultural community is also strongly tied to the renewable energy market in the state.
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Energy use and production
A fair amount of ethanol alcohol fuel is produced in the state, and a 20% mix of ethanol into consumer gasoline has been mandated since 2005 (as of January 2006, Minnesota is the only U.S. state with such a mandate). A 2% biodiesel blend has also been required in diesel fuel since 2005. Many farmers also now operate wind turbines to produce electricity, particularly in the windy southwest region. As of January 2005, the state is the country's fourth-largest wind energy producer after California, Texas, and Iowa, with 615 megawatts installed and 213 MW planned [1].
Like many Midwestern states, Minnesota is heavily dependent on natural gas for home heating. Just over two-thirds of homes use the fuel. The state doesn't produce any petroleum of its own, but boasts the largest oil refinery of any non-oil-producing state, the Pine Bend Refinery. One of the longest pipelines in the world, the Lakehead Pipeline, also traverses northern Minnesota. Most of the petroleum used in the state comes from Canada and the northwestern United States.
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State taxes
Minnesota has income, property, and sales taxes. The state does not charge sales tax on clothing, services (massages, haircuts, auto work, etc.), or food items for home consumption, excluding some specific items such as candy or soft drinks. According to state law, "Candy does not include any preparation containing flour and must require no refrigeration." (Minn Stat 297A.61 Subd 33)
Minnesota businesses and individuals paid an average of 11.8% of their income in state and local taxes in 1998, down from 12.7% in 1996 (Minnesota Department of Revenue). The Gross State Product was just under $173 billion in 1999 (Northeast Midwest Institute), with approximately $17.5 billion in exports in 2000.
Retail sales per capita were $10,260 in 1997, higher than the U.S. average of $9,190 (U.S. Census Bureau). The "retail capital" of the state is probably the Twin Cities suburb of Roseville, which recorded $14,870 per capita (though it is easily outstripped in total revenue by Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and Edina).
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Demographics
Historical populations
Census
year Population
1850 6,077
1860 172,023
1870 439,706
1880 780,773
1890 1,310,283
1900 1,751,394
1910 2,075,708
1920 2,387,125
1930 2,563,953
1940 2,792,300
1950 2,982,483
1960 3,413,864
1970 3,804,971
1980 4,075,970
1990 4,375,099
2000 4,919,479
2004 est.[2] 5,100,958
As of 2005, Minnesota has an estimated population of 5,132,799, which is an increase of 36,253, or 0.7%, from the prior year and an increase of 213,307, or 4.3%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 161,252 people (that is 358,012 births minus 196,760 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 54,032 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 70,800 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 16,768 people.
As of 2004, 6.1% of Minnesota residents are foreign-born (compared to 11.1% for the nation)
Most of the state's population is centered in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
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Race and ancestry
The racial makeup of the state:
* 88.2% White
* 3.5% Black
* 2.9% Hispanic
* 2.9% Asian
* 1.1% Native American
* 1.4% Mixed race
According to the 2002 U.S. Census, the largest reported ancestries are German (36.7%), Norwegian (17.2%), Irish (11.2%), and Swedish (9.9%).
More recent immigrant communities include the third-largest Hmong population in the United States (from the Laos/Thailand/Vietnam region) and the second largest urban center of Hmong population in the world (concentrated in St. Paul), and a large community of Somali refugees.
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Population distribution
The population distribution by age is (Northeast Midwest Institute):
* 0-18 - 1,361,616 (27.7%)
* 19-34 - 1,068,850 (21.7%)
* 35-64 - 1,894,747 (38.6%)
* 65+ - 594,266 (12.1%)
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Religion
Most Minnesotans (Nearly 6 in 10) are Protestants (mostly mainline Protestant), although there is also a moderate-sized Roman Catholic community (about one-fourth of the state population). The largest Protestant denomination in the state is Lutheranism.
In recent years, new immigrants have added new religions to Minnesota, and there are now Islamic mosques, Buddhist temples, and Hindu mandirs in the state (mainly in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area), however the number of Minnesotans who adhere to non-Christian religions is still low.
Religious Affiliations in Minnesota:
* Christian – 84%
o Protestant – 58%
+ Lutheran – 26%
+ Baptist – 5%
+ Methodist – 4%
+ Presbyterian – 3%
+ Other Protestant – 20%
o Roman Catholic – 25%
o Other Christian – 1%
* Other religions – 1%
* Not religious/Agnostic – 15%
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Education
One of the first acts of the Minnesota Legislature when it opened in 1858 was the creation of a Normal School at Winona. Ever since then, Minnesota has consistently remained one of the ten strongest states in the United States in education, showing up as number one in national educational surveys in most years. Minnesota has proven over the years resistant to such movements in education as school vouchers and the teaching of intelligent design.
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Colleges and universities
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into List of colleges and universities in Minnesota. (Discuss)
University of Minnesota system (U of M)
* University of Minnesota Crookston
* University of Minnesota Duluth
* University of Minnesota Morris
* University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC)
* Augsburg College
* College of St. Catherine
* Hamline University
* Macalester College
* University of Saint Thomas
o St. Paul Campus
o Minneapolis Campus
o Owatonna Campus
More colleges and universities in Minnesota
* Adler Graduate School
* Association Free Lutheran Bible School and Seminary
* Bethany Lutheran College
* Bethel University
* Carleton College
* College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University(CSB/SJU)
o College of Saint Bendidict
o Saint John's University
* College of St. Scholastica
* College of Visual Arts
* Concordia College, Moorhead
* Concordia University, Saint Paul
* Gustavus Adolphus College
* Luther Seminary
* Martin Luther College
* Minneapolis College of Art and Design
* Minnesota Bible College
* North Central University
* Northwestern College
* Oak Hills Christian College
* Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
* Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
* St. Olaf College
* University Center Rochester
* William Mitchell College of Law
For-profit colleges and universities in MN
* Brown College
* Capella University
* Crossroads College
* Crown College
* Dunwoody College of Technology
* National American University
o Brooklyn Center Campus
o Mall of America Campus
o Roseville Campus
* Rasmussen College
* Walden University
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU)
* MnSCU 4-Year Schools:
o Bemidji State University
o Metropolitan State University
+ St. Paul Campus
+ Minneapolis Campus
o Minnesota State University, Mankato
o Minnesota State University Moorhead
o St. Cloud State University
o Southwest Minnesota State University
o Winona State University
* MnSCU 2-Year Schools
o Alexandria Technical College
o Anoka Technical College
o Anoka-Ramsey Community College
o Central Lakes College
+ Staples Campus
+ Brainerd Campus
o Century College
o Dakota County Technical College
o Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College
o Hennepin Technical College
o Hibbing Community College
o Inver Hills Community College
o Itasca Community College
o Lake Superior College
o Mesabi Range Community & Technical College
+ Virginia Campus
+ Eveleth Campus
o Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC)
+ Detroit Lakes Campus
+ Fergus Falls Campus
+ Moorhead Campus
+ Wadena Campus
o Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical
+ Red Wing Campus
+ Winona Campuses
o Minnesota State Community & Technical College
o Minnesota West Community & Technical College
+ Canby Campus
+ Granite Falls Campus
+ Jackson Campus
+ Pipestone Campus
+ Worthington Campus
o Normandale Community College
o North Hennepin Community College
o Northland Community & Technical College
+ East Grand Forks Campus
+ Thief River Falls Campus
o Pine Technical College
o Rainy River Community College
o Ridgewater College
+ Hutchinson Campus
+ Willmar Campus
o Riverland Community College Campus
+ Albert Lea Campus
+ Austin Campus
+ Owatonna Campus
o Rochester Community & Technical College
o St. Cloud Technical College
o St. Paul College
o South Central Technical College
+ Faribault Campus
+ North Mankato Campus
o Vermilion Community College
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Professional sports teams
* Minnesota Vikings, National Football League
* Minnesota Twins, Major League Baseball
* Minnesota Timberwolves, National Basketball Association
* Minnesota Lynx, Women's National Basketball Association
* Minnesota Wild, National Hockey League
* Minnesota Whitecaps, Western Women's Hockey League
* Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League
* Minnesota Thunder, United Soccer Leagues
* Minnesota Lightning, Women's W-League
* Minnesota Vixen, Women's Professional Football League
* St. Paul Saints, American Association (Minor league baseball)
* Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Northern League (Minor league baseball)
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Miscellaneous information
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Symbols and emblems
* State bird – Common Loon
* State butterfly – Monarch
* State drink – Milk
* State fish – Walleye
* State flower – Pink and White Showy Lady Slipper
* State gemstone – Lake Superior Agate
* State grain – Wild rice
* Territory Motto (intended) – Quae sursum volo videre ("I wish to see what is beyond")
* Territory Motto (actual) – Quo sursum velo videre ("I cover to see what is above" is the closest translation)
* State motto – L'Étoile du Nord ("Star of the North")
* State muffin – Blueberry (adopted as part of a school project on how a bill becomes law)
* State mushroom – Morel (sponge mushroom; honeycomb morel)
* State picture – Grace
* State reptile – Blanding's Turtle
* State song – "Hail! Minnesota"
* State tree – Norway Pine
* Nicknames – "Land of 10,000 Lakes," "North Star State," "Gopher State"
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Naval ships named for Minnesota
* USS Minnesota, a steam frigate named for the Minnesota River, commissioned in 1855.
* USS Minnesota (Battleship No. 22), one of the last pre-dreadnought battleships
* USS Saint Paul, a converted merchant cruiser which served during the Spanish-American War and World War I
* USS Minneapolis (Cruiser No. 13, later CA-17), a Columbia-class protected cruiser which also served during World War I
* USS Minneapolis (CA-36), a New Orleans-class heavy cruiser which served during World War II.
* USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30), a dock landing ship which served during World War II
* USS Saint Paul (CA-73), a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser which served from late in World War II until the Vietnam War
* USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN-708), a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine presently serving as the flagship of SubRon 6
* SS Gopher State (ACS-4), a Gopher State-class crane ship serving with the Military Sealift Command, Prepositioning Force.
* USS Duluth (CL-87) was a Cleveland-class light cruiser commissioned late in World War II.
* USS Duluth (LPD-6) is an amphibious transport dock commissioned in 1966.
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Early explorers
* Michel Aco
* Father Louis Hennepin
* Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut
* Zebulon Pike
* Henry Schoolcraft
* Joseph Nicollet
* Father Jacques Marquette
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Famous people from Minnesota
Eddie Albert, Loni Anderson, Louie Anderson, Richard Dean Anderson, James Arness, Tom Arnold, Soul Asylum, Ann Bancroft, Patty Berg, Bill Berry, Jessica Biel, Herb Brooks, Warren Burger, Robert Cabana (NASA astronaut), Bob Casey (Stadium P.A. Announcer), Joel and Ethan Coen, Rachael Leigh Cook, Morris Day, Mark Dayton, Bob Dylan, Richard Eberhart, Tammy Faye, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Al Franken, Orville Freeman, Judy Garland, Terry Gilliam, Mary GrandPré, Peter Graves (actor), Sid Hartman, Josh Hartnett, Pete Hautman, Mitch Hedberg, Hubert H. Humphrey, Hüsker Dü, Sharon Isbin, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Garrison Keillor, Frank B. Kellogg, Tom Kelly, Craig Kilborn, Peter Krause, Don LaFontaine, Jessica Lange, Tom Lehman, The Trashmen, Don Laughlin, Brock Lesnar, Sinclair Lewis, Charles Lindbergh, John Madden, E. G. Marshall, Roger Maris, Charles Mayo, William Mayo, William Worrall Mayo, Eugene J. McCarthy, Kevin McHale, Breckin Meyer, George Mikan, Mint Condition, Paul Molitor, Walter F. Mondale, Lorenzo Music, George Nelson (astronaut), Gena Lee Nolin, David Oreck, Justin Pierre, Carl Pohlad, Prince, The Replacements, Marion Ross, Winona Ryder, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Flip Saunders, Charles Schulz, Seann William Scott, The Spin Doctors, The Suburbs, Phil Solem, Kevin Sorbo, Harold Stassen, Will Steger, Glen A. Taylor, Lea Thompson, Cheryl Tiegs, Vince Vaughn, Thorstein Veblen, Jesse Ventura, DeWitt Wallace, Roy Wilkins, Bud Wilkinson, Dave Winfield, Steve Zahn
See also thefamousminnesotans.com.
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Mythical figures from Minnesota
Jolly Green Giant, Minnehaha, Paul Bunyan, Poppin' Fresh, Betty Crocker, Rocky and Bullwinkle
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External links
Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Minnesota
* State of Minnesota
* Minnesota history timeline
* Minnesota Historical Society's online timeline
* Forests, Fields, and the Falls: Connecting Minnesota
* Minnesota Historical Society
* Minnesota Place Names
* Photos of Minnesota - Terra Galleria
* Minnesota's Foremost Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Community
Flag of Minnesota
State of Minnesota
Cities | Governors | Colleges and Universities | State Parks
State Capital:
St. Paul
Regions:
Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area | Northwest Angle | Iron Range | Arrowhead | Pipestone | Central | Southeast
Major Cities:
Bloomington | Duluth | Minneapolis | Rochester | St. Cloud | St. Paul
Smaller Cities:
Albert Lea | Alexandria | Anoka | Apple Valley | Austin | Bemidji | Blaine | Brainerd | Brooklyn Park | Burnsville | Coon Rapids | Cottage Grove | Eagan | Eden Prairie | Edina | Faribault | Fridley | Hibbing | International Falls | Inver Grove Heights | Lakeville | Mankato | Maple Grove | Maplewood | Minnetonka | Montevideo | Moorhead | Owatonna | Pipestone | Plymouth | Red Wing | Richfield | Roseville | St. Louis Park | Shakopee | Stillwater | Wabasha | Waseca | White Bear Lake | Willmar | Winona | Woodbury
Counties:
Aitkin | Anoka | Becker | Beltrami | Benton | Big Stone | Blue Earth | Brown | Carlton | Carver | Cass | Chippewa | Chisago | Clay | Clearwater | Cook | Cottonwood | Crow Wing | Dakota | Dodge | Douglas | Faribault | Fillmore | Freeborn | Goodhue | Grant | Hennepin | Houston | Hubbard | Isanti | Itasca | Jackson | Kanabec | Kandiyohi | Kittson | Koochiching | Lac qui Parle | Lake | Lake of the Woods | Le Sueur | Lincoln | Lyon | McLeod | Mahnomen | Marshall | Martin | Meeker | Mille Lacs | Morrison | Mower | Murray | Nicollet | Nobles | Norman | Olmsted | Otter Tail | Pennington | Pine | Pipestone | Polk | Pope | Ramsey | Red Lake | Redwood | Renville | Rice | Rock | Roseau | St. Louis | Scott | Sherburne | Sibley | Stearns | Steele | Stevens | Swift | Todd | Traverse | Wabasha | Wadena | Waseca | Washington | Watonwan | Wilkin | Winona | Wright | Yellow Medicine
Political divisions of the United States
States Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
Federal district District of Columbia
Insular areas American Samoa | Guam | Northern Mariana Islands | Puerto Rico | Virgin Islands
COFA Republic of the Marshall Islands | Republic of Palau | Federated States of Micronesia
Minor outlying islands Baker Island | Howland Island | Jarvis Island | Johnston Atoll | Kingman Reef | Midway Atoll | Navassa Island | Palmyra Atoll | Wake Island
Categories: Articles to be merged | Minnesota | States of the United States | 1858 establishments
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