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| U.S. state of Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| Name | Minnesota |
| Abbrev | MN |
| Capital | Saint Paul |
| Largest city | Minneapolis |
| Area rank | 12th |
| Pop rank | 22nd |
| Adm date | May 11, 1858 |
U.S. state of Minnesota is located in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, bordered by Canada and the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Minnesota is known for its extensive freshwater resources, including Lake Superior, the Mississippi River, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and for urban centers such as Minneapolis and Saint Paul, collectively the Twin Cities. The state has strong historical ties to Native nations including the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and to industries linked with fur trade, timber, and iron ore extraction.
Minnesota occupies part of the Midwestern United States and the Great Lakes region, featuring landscapes shaped by the Wisconsin glaciation, with prominent features like the Iron Range, the Red River Valley, and the Mississippi Headwaters at Itasca State Park. Major waterways include the Mississippi River, Minnesota River, and Lake Superior, and lakes such as Lake of the Woods and Mille Lacs Lake punctuate the state. Ecological regions range from Boreal forest in the north to Tallgrass prairie remnants near Big Stone Lake and the Prairie Pothole Region, and protected areas include Voyageurs National Park, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and numerous state parks.
Pre-contact Indigenous peoples included the Dakota and Ojibwe, who engaged in trade networks extending to the Missouri River and the Great Lakes. European exploration began with expeditions by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye and fur-trading posts of the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, later joined by American interests like the American Fur Company. The region experienced conflict in episodes such as the Dakota War of 1862 and treaties including the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and the Treaty of 1851 (Traverse des Sioux and Mendota). Minnesota achieved statehood on May 11, 1858, amid national debates over slavery and expansion, and later developed industrial centers like Duluth and Saint Paul tied to shipping on Lake Superior and railroads such as the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway.
Minnesota's population centers include the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, Rochester, Minnesota with institutions like the Mayo Clinic, and smaller cities such as Duluth, St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Mankato, Minnesota. Waves of immigration brought Scandinavian Americans (notably Swedish Americans and Norwegian Americans), German Americans, and later communities from Hmong people, Somali Americans, and Ethiopian Americans, contributing to cultural institutions like Minnesota Opera and Guthrie Theater. The state hosts Native populations associated with reservations like the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and has political figures such as Hubert H. Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and Jesse Ventura among its notable residents.
Minnesota's economy features major corporations such as 3M, Target Corporation, General Mills, Ecolab, and Best Buy, alongside health-sector anchors like the Mayo Clinic and research institutions linked to the University of Minnesota. Natural-resource sectors historically included iron ore extraction on the Mesabi Range and timber from the Northwoods, while agriculture remains important with commodities like corn, soybeans, and dairy supporting cooperatives including Land O'Lakes and CHS Inc.. Transportation corridors such as the Saint Lawrence Seaway connections via Duluth and rail links by BNSF Railway and Canadian National Railway facilitate trade, and financial services and technology firms contribute to urban economies in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Minnesota's state government operates under a constitution adopted at the state constitutional convention in Saint Paul, and political history includes strong influence from the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota, with figures such as Hubert H. Humphrey, Walter Mondale, Rudy Perpich, and Jesse Ventura shaping state and national policy. Electoral politics in the state have featured competitive presidential contests and important primary events, and judicial decisions from the Minnesota Supreme Court have addressed issues including civil rights and taxation. Federal representation includes members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives from districts such as Minnesota's 5th congressional district.
Higher education is anchored by the University of Minnesota, with campuses in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and other institutions like Carleton College, Macalester College, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Olaf College, and Hamline University. Technical and community education is provided by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and institutions such as Minnesota State University, Mankato and Dunwoody College of Technology. Primary and secondary education includes large districts like Minneapolis Public Schools and Saint Paul Public Schools, and statewide initiatives have interacted with federal programs like Head Start and laws including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Minnesota's cultural scene features performing arts organizations like the Minnesota Orchestra, Guthrie Theater, and Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, and music scenes that produced artists such as Prince, Bob Dylan, The Replacements, and Cadillac Productions. Sports franchises include the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Wild, and Minnesota United FC, while collegiate athletics involve programs such as the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Annual events and attractions include the Minnesota State Fair, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness paddling, ice fishing on lakes like Lake Mille Lacs, and winter festivals inspired by Saint Paul Winter Carnival and other community traditions.