Minnesota (help·info) (pronounced
/?m?n?'so?t?/)[2] is a state located in the Midwestern region of
the United States. The 12th-largest state by area in the U.S., it
is the 21st most populous, with just over five million residents.
Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory
and admitted to the Union as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858. The
state is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", and those
lakes and the other waters for which the state is named, together
with state and national forests and parks, offer residents and tourists
a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.
Nearly 60% of Minnesota's residents live in the Minneapolis-Saint
Paul metropolitan area known as the Twin Cities, the center of transportation,
business, and industry, and home to an internationally known arts
community. The remainder of the state, often referred to as "Greater
Minnesota" or "Outstate Minnesota", consists of western
prairies now given over to intensive agriculture; eastern deciduous
forests, also heavily farmed and settled; and the less populated
northern boreal forest. The state's image of being populated by
whites of Nordic and German descent has some truth, but diversity
is increasing; substantial influxes of African, Asian, and Latin
American immigrants have joined the descendants of European immigrants
and of the original Native American inhabitants, thanks to the generous
welfare policies of Minnesota which allow them to get on the welfare
rolls immediately.
The extremes of the climate contrast with the moderation of Minnesota’s
people. The state is known for its moderate-to- progressive politics
and social policies, its civic involvement, and high voter turnout.
It ranks among the healthiest states by a number of measures, and
has one of the most highly educated and literate populations.
Contents [hide]
1 Etymology
2 Geography
2.1 Geology and terrain
2.2 Flora and fauna
2.3 Climate
2.4 Protected lands
3 History
4 Cities and towns
5 Demographics
5.1 Population
5.2 Race and ancestry
5.3 Religion
6 Economy
6.1 Industry and commerce
6.2 Energy use and production
6.3 State taxes
7 Culture
7.1 Fine and performing arts
7.2 Literature
7.3 Entertainment
7.4 Popular culture
8 Health and education
8.1 Health
8.2 Education
9 Transportation
10 Law and government
10.1 Executive
10.2 Legislative
10.3 Judicial
10.4 Regional
10.5 Federal
11 Politics
12 Media
13 Sports and recreation
13.1 Organized sports
13.2 Outdoor recreation
14 State symbols
15 See also
16 References
17 External links
[edit] Etymology
The word Minnesota comes from the Dakota language name for the Minnesota
River: Mnisota. The root Mni (also spelled mini or minne) means,
"water". Mnisota can be translated as sky-tinted water
or somewhat clouded water.[3][4] Native Americans demonstrated the
name to early settlers by dropping milk into water and calling it
mnisota.[3] Many locations in the state have similar names, such
as Minnehaha Falls ("waterfall"), Minneiska ("white
water"), Minnetonka ("big water"), Minnetrista ("crooked
water"), and Minneapolis, which is a combination of mni and
polis, the Greek word for "city."[5]
[edit] Geography
Minnesota, showing roads and major bodies of waterMinnesota is the
northernmost state outside of Alaska; its isolated Northwest Angle
in Lake of the Woods is the only part of the 48 contiguous states
lying north of the 49th Parallel. Minnesota is in the U.S. region
known as the Upper Midwest. The state shares a Lake Superior water
border with Michigan and Wisconsin on the northeast; the remainder
of the eastern border is with Wisconsin. Iowa is to the south, North
Dakota and South Dakota are west, and the Canadian provinces of
Ontario and Manitoba are north. With 87,014 square miles (225,365
km²), or approximately 2.25% of the United States,[6] Minnesota
is the 12th largest state.[7]
[edit] Geology and terrain
Main article: Geology of Minnesota
See also: List of lakes in Minnesota and List of Minnesota rivers
Tilted beds of the Middle Precambrian Thompson Formation in Jay
Cooke State Park.[8]Minnesota contains some of the oldest rocks
found on earth, gneisses some 3.6 billion years old, or 80% as old
as the planet.[8][9] About 2.7 billion years ago, basaltic lava
poured out of cracks in the floor of the primordial ocean; the remains
of this volcanic rock formed the Canadian Shield in northeast Minnesota.[8][10]
The roots of these volcanic mountains and the action of Precambrian
seas formed the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. Following a period
of volcanism 1.1 billion years ago, Minnesota's geological activity
has been more subdued, with no volcanism or mountain formation,
but with repeated incursions of the sea which left behind multiple
strata of sedimentary rock.[8]
In more recent times, massive ice sheets at least one kilometer
thick ravaged the landscape of the state and sculpted its current
terrain.[8] The Wisconsin glaciation left 12,000 years ago.[8] These
glaciers covered all of Minnesota except the far southeast, an area
characterized by steep hills and streams that cut into the bedrock.
This area is known as the Driftless Zone for its absence of glacial
drift.[11] Much of the remainder of the state outside of the northeast
has 50 feet (15 m) or more of glacial till left behind as the last
glaciers retreated. 13,000 years ago gigantic Lake Agassiz formed
in the northwest; the lake's outflow, the glacial River Warren,
carved the valley of the Minnesota River, and its bottom created
the fertile lands of the Red River valley.[8] Minnesota is geologically
quiet today; it experiences earthquakes infrequently, and most of
them are minor.[12]
Palisade Head on Lake Superior formed from a Precambrian rhyolitic
lava flow.[8]The state's high point is Eagle Mountain at 2,301 feet
(701 m), which is only 13 miles (20.9 km) away from the low of 602
feet (183 m) at the shore of Lake Superior.[13][10] Notwithstanding
dramatic local differences in elevation, much of the state is a
gently rolling peneplain.[8]
Two continental divides meet in the northeastern part of Minnesota
in rural Hibbing, forming a triple watershed. Precipitation can
follow the Mississippi River south to the Gulf of Mexico, the St.
Lawrence Seaway east to the Atlantic Ocean, or the Hudson Bay watershed
to the Arctic Ocean.[14]
The state's nickname, The Land of 10,000 Lakes, is no exaggeration;
there are 11,842 lakes over 10 acres (.04 km²) in size.[15]
The Minnesota portion of Lake Superior is the largest at 962,700
acres (3,896 km²) and deepest (at 1,290 ft, 393 m) body of
water in the state.[15] Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams
that cumulatively flow for 69,000 miles (111,000 km).[15] The Mississippi
River begins its journey from its headwaters at Lake Itasca and
crosses the Iowa border 680 miles (1,094 km) downstream.[15] It
is joined by the Minnesota River at Fort Snelling, by the St. Croix
River near Hastings, by the Chippewa River at Wabasha, and by many
smaller streams. The Red River, in the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz,
drains the northwest part of the state northward toward Canada's
Hudson Bay. Approximately 10.6 million acres (42,900 km²) of
wetlands are contained within Minnesota's borders, the most of any
state except Alaska.[16]
[edit] Flora and fauna
Main article: Ecology of Minnesota
A groundhog seen in Minneapolis, along the banks of the Mississippi
RiverThree of North America's biomes converge in Minnesota: prairie
grasslands in the southwestern and western parts of the state, the
Big Woods deciduous forest of the southeast and east-central, and
the northern boreal forest.[17] The northern coniferous forests
are a vast wilderness of pine and spruce trees mixed with patchy
stands of birch and poplar. Much of Minnesota's northern forest
has been logged, leaving only a few patches of old growth forest
today in areas such as in the Chippewa National Forest and the Superior
National Forest where the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
has some 400,000 acres (1,600 km²) of unlogged land.[18] Although
logging continues, regrowth keeps about one third of the state forested.[19]
Nearly all of Minnesota's prairies and oak savannas have been destroyed
or fragmented because of farming, grazing, logging, and suburban
development.[20]
While loss of habitat has affected native animals such as the pine
marten, elk, and bison,[21] whitetail deer and bobcat thrive. The
state has the nation's largest population of timber wolves outside
Alaska,[22] and supports healthy populations of black bear and moose.
Located on the Mississippi Flyway, Minnesota hosts migratory waterfowl
such as geese and ducks, and game birds such as grouse, pheasants,
and turkeys. It is home to birds of prey including the bald eagle,
red-tailed hawk, and snowy owl. The lakes teem with the sport fish
such as walleye, bass, muskellunge, and northern pike, and streams
in the southeast are populated by brook, brown, and rainbow trout.
[edit] Climate
Main article: Climate of Minnesota
A summertime view of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campusMinnesota
endures temperature extremes characteristic of its continental climate;
with cold winters and hot summers, the record high and low span
174 degrees Fahrenheit (96.6 °C).[23] Meteorological events
include rain, snow, hail, blizzards, polar fronts, tornadoes, thunderstorms,
and high-velocity straight-line winds. The growing season varies
from 90 days per year in the Iron Range to 160 days in southeast
Minnesota near the Mississippi River, and mean average temperatures
range from 36 °F (2 °C) to 49 °F (9 °C).[24] Average
summer dewpoints range from about 58 °F (14.4 °C) in the
south to about 48 °F (8.9 °C) in the north.[24][25] Depending
on location, average annual precipitation ranges from 19 in (48.3
cm) to 35 in (88.9 cm), and droughts occur every 10 to 50 years.[24]
[edit] Protected lands
Pose Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area WildernessMinnesota
is home to a variety of wilderness, park, and other open spaces.
Minnesota's first state park, Itasca State Park, was established
in 1891, and is the source of the Mississippi River.[26] Today Minnesota
has 72 state parks and recreation areas, 58 state forests covering
about four million acres (16,000 km²), and numerous state wildlife
preserves, all managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
There are 5.5 million acres (22,000 km²) in the Chippewa and
Superior National Forests. The Superior National Forest in the northeast
contains the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which encompasses
over a million acres (4,000 km²) and a thousand lakes. To its
west is Voyageurs National Park, the state's only national park.
[edit] History
Main article: History of Minnesota
Map of Minnesota Territory 1849–1858Before European settlement,
Minnesota was populated by the Anishinaabe, the Dakota, and other
Native Americans. The first Europeans were French fur traders that
arrived in the 1600s. Late that century, the Ojibwe Indians migrated
westward to Minnesota, causing tensions with the Sioux.[27] Explorers
such as Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, Father Louis Hennepin,
Jonathan Carver, Henry Schoolcraft, and Joseph Nicollet, among others,
mapped out the state.
The portion of the state east of the Mississippi River became a
part of the United States at the end of the American Revolutionary
War, when the Second Treaty of Paris was signed. Land west of the
Mississippi River was acquired with the Louisiana Purchase, although
a portion of the Red River Valley was disputed until the Treaty
of 1818.[28] In 1805, Zebulon Pike bargained with Native Americans
to acquire land at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi
rivers. The construction of Fort Snelling followed between 1819
and 1825.[29] Its soldiers built a grist mill and a sawmill at Saint
Anthony Falls, the first of the water-powered industries around
which the city of Minneapolis later grew. Meanwhile, squatters,
government officials, and tourists had settled near the fort. In
1839, the Army forced them to move downriver, and they settled in
the area that became St. Paul.[30] Minnesota Territory was formed
on March 3, 1849. Thousands of people had come to build farms and
cut timber, and Minnesota became the 32nd U.S. state on May 11,
1858.
Treaties between whites and the Dakota and Ojibwe gradually forced
the natives off their lands and onto smaller reservations. As conditions
deteriorated for the Dakota, tensions rose, leading to the Dakota
War of 1862. The result of the six-week war was the execution of
38 Dakota—the largest mass execution in United States history—and
the exile of most of the rest of the Dakota to the Crow Creek Reservation
in Nebraska.[28]
Fort Snelling played a pivotal role in Minnesota's history and in
the development of the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.Logging
and farming were mainstays of Minnesota's early economy. The sawmills
at Saint Anthony Falls, and logging centers like Marine on St. Croix,
Stillwater, and Winona, processed high volumes of lumber. These
cities were situated on rivers that were ideal for transportation.[28]
Later, Saint Anthony Falls was tapped to provide power for flour
mills. Innovations by Minneapolis millers led to the production
of Minnesota "patent" flour, which commanded almost double
the price of "bakers" or "clear" flour, which
it replaced.[31] By 1900, Minnesota mills, led by Pillsbury and
the Washburn-Crosby Company (a forerunner of General Mills), were
grinding 14.1% of the nation's grain.[32]
The state's iron-mining industry was established with the discovery
of iron in the Vermilion Range and the Mesabi Range in the 1880s,
and in the Cuyuna Range in the early 1900s. The ore was shipped
by rail to Two Harbors and Duluth, then loaded onto ships and transported
eastward over the Great Lakes.[28]
Industrial development and the rise of manufacturing caused the
population to shift gradually from rural areas to cities during
the early 1900s. Nevertheless, farming remained prevalent. Minnesota's
economy was hard-hit by the Great Depression, resulting in lower
prices for farmers, layoffs among iron miners, and labor unrest.
Compounding the adversity, western Minnesota and the Dakotas were
hit by drought from 1931 to 1935. New Deal programs provided some
economic turnaround. The Civilian Conservation Corps and other programs
around the state established some jobs for Indians on their reservations,
and the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 provided the tribes with
a mechanism of self-government. This provided natives a greater
voice within the state, and promoted more respect for tribal customs
because religious ceremonies and native languages were no longer
suppressed.[29]
After World War II, industrial development quickened. New technology
increased farm productivity through automation of feedlots for hogs
and cattle, machine milking at dairy farms, and raising chickens
in large buildings. Planting became more specialized with hybridization
of corn and wheat, and the use of farm machinery such as tractors
and combines became the norm. University of Minnesota professor
Norman Borlaug contributed to these developments as part of the
Green Revolution.[29] Suburban development accelerated due to increased
postwar housing demand and convenient transportation. Increased
mobility, in turn, enabled more specialized jobs.[29]
Minnesota became a center of technology after the war. Engineering
Research Associates was formed in 1946 to develop computers for
the United States Navy. It later merged with Remington Rand, and
then became Sperry Rand. William Norris left Sperry in 1957 to form
Control Data Corporation (CDC).[33] Cray Research was formed when
Seymour Cray left CDC to form his own company. Medical device maker
Medtronic also started business in the Twin Cities in 1949.
[edit] Cities and towns
See also: List of cities in Minnesota and List of townships in Minnesota
National Farmers Bank in Owatonna by Louis SullivanSaint Paul, located
in east-central Minnesota along the banks of the Mississippi River,
has been Minnesota's capital city since 1849, first as capital of
the Territory of Minnesota, and then as state capital since 1858.
Saint Paul is adjacent to Minnesota's most populous city, Minneapolis;
they and their suburbs are known collectively as the Twin Cities
metropolitan area, the 16th largest metropolitan area in the United
States and home to about 60% of the state's population (as of April
2005).[34][35] The remainder of the state is known as "Greater
Minnesota" or "Outstate Minnesota".
Minnesota has 17 cities with populations above fifty thousand (based
on 2005 estimates). In descending order they are Minneapolis, Saint
Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, Plymouth, Brooklyn Park, Eagan,
Coon Rapids, St. Cloud, Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Woodbury,
Blaine, Lakeville, and Minnetonka.[35] Of these listed, only Rochester,
Duluth, and St. Cloud are outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Minnesota's population continues to grow, primarily in the urban
centers. The populations of metropolitan Sherburne and Scott Counties
doubled between 1980 and 2000, while 40 of the state's 87 counties
lost residents over the same decades.[36]
[edit] Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Minnesota
A map of Minnesota's population density.
[edit] Population
From fewer than 6,100 people in 1850, Minnesota's population grew
to over 1.75 million by 1900. Each of the next six decades saw a
15% rise in population, reaching 3.41 million in 1960. Growth then
slowed, rising 11% to 3.8 million in 1970, and an average of 9%
over the next three decades to 4.91 million in the 2000 census.[36]
As of July 1, 2007, the state's population was estimated at 5,197,621
by the U.S. Census Bureau.[37] The rate of population change, and
age and gender distributions, approximate the national average.
Minnesota's growing minority groups, however, still form a significantly
smaller proportion of the population than in the nation as a whole.[38]
The center of population of Minnesota is located in Hennepin County,
in the city of Rogers.[39]
[edit] Race and ancestry
Over 75% of Minnesota's residents are of Western European descent,
with the largest reported ancestries being German (39%), Norwegian
(17.2%), Irish (11.9%), and Swedish (9.6%).[40] As of 2005, 6.3%
of residents were foreign-born, compared to 12.4% for the nation.[40][41]
The state has had the reputation of being relatively homogeneous,
but that is changing. The Hispanic population of Minnesota is increasing
rapidly,[42] and recent immigrants have come from all over the world,
including Hmong,[43] Somalis, Vietnamese, Indians and emigrants
from the former Soviet bloc.
The French Renaissance style Cathedral of St. Paul in the city of
St. Paul.The state's racial composition in 2005 was:[44]
86.3% White (non-Hispanic);
4.1% Black (non-Hispanic);
3.6% Hispanic, a category that includes people of many races;
3.4% Asian/Pacific Islander;
1.1% Native American/Alaskan Native;
1.5% mixed race;
1.8% other races.
[edit] Religion
A 2001 survey indicated that 25% of Minnesota's population was Roman
Catholic, and 24% was Lutheran. Other religious groups represented
were Baptists (5%), Methodists (4%), Presbyterians (2%), the Assembly
of God (2%), and the Church of God (2%). Christians with unstated
or other denominational affiliations, including other Protestants,
totaled 13%, bringing the total Christian population to 77%. Non-Christian
religions, such as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, together
represented 3% of the population. 14% of respondents answered "no
religion" on the survey, and 6% refused to answer.[45]
[edit] Economy
Main article: Economy of Minnesota
Phelps Mill in Otter Tail CountyOnce primarily a producer of raw
materials, Minnesota's economy has transformed in the last 200 years
to emphasize finished products and services. Perhaps the most significant
characteristic of the economy is its diversity; the relative outputs
of its business sectors closely match the United States as a whole.[46]
The economy of Minnesota had a gross domestic product of $234 billion
in 2005.[47] Thirty-six of the United States' top 1,000 publicly
traded companies (by revenue in 2006) are headquartered in Minnesota,[48]
including Target, UnitedHealth Group, 3M, Medtronic, General Mills,
U.S. Bancorp, and Best Buy. The second-largest privately owned U.S.
company, Cargill, is headquartered in Wayzata.[49] The per capita
income in 2005 was $37,290, the tenth-highest in the nation.[50]
The three-year median household income from 2002-2004 was $55,914,
ranking fifth in the U.S. and first among the 36 states not on the
Atlantic coast.[51]
[edit] Industry and commerce
The IDS Tower, designed by Philip Johnson and the state's second
tallest building, reflecting César Pelli's Art Deco-style
Wells Fargo Center.Minnesota's earliest industries were fur trading
and agriculture; the city of Minneapolis grew around the flour mills
powered by St. Anthony Falls. Although less than 1% of the population
is employed in the agricultural sector,[52] it remains a major part
of the state's economy, ranking 6th in the nation in the value of
products sold.[53] The state is the U.S.'s largest producer of sugar
beets, sweet corn, and green peas for processing, and farm-raised
turkeys.[54] Forestry remains strong, including logging, pulpwood
processing and paper production, and forest products manufacturing.
Minnesota was famous for its soft-ore mines, which produced a significant
portion of the world's iron ore for over a century. Although the
high-grade ore is now depleted, taconite mining continues, using
processes developed locally to save the industry. In 2004, the state
produced 75% of the country's usable iron ore.[54] The mining boom
created the port of Duluth which continues to be important for shipping
ore, coal, and agricultural products. The manufacturing sector now
includes technology and biomedical firms in addition to the older
food processors and heavy industry. The nation's first indoor shopping
mall was Edina's Southdale Center and its largest is Bloomington's
Mall of America.
[edit] Energy use and production
The state produces ethanol fuel and is the first to mandate its
use, a 10% mix (E10) since 1997,[55] and a 20% mix (E20) in 2013.[56]
There are more than 310 service stations supplying E85 fuel.[57]
A 2% biodiesel blend has been required in diesel fuel since 2005.
As of December 2006 the state was the country's fourth-largest producer
of wind power, with 895 megawatts installed and another 200 megawatts
planned, much of it on the windy Buffalo Ridge in the southwest
part of the state.[58]
[edit] State taxes
Minnesota has a slightly progressive income tax structure; the three
brackets of state income tax rates are 5.35%, 7.05% and 7.85%.[59]
Minnesota is ranked as the 6th highest in the nation for per capita
total state taxes.[60] The sales tax in Minnesota is 6.5%, but there
is no sales tax on clothing, prescription medications, some services,
or food items for home consumption.[61] The state legislature may
allow municipalities to institute local sales taxes and special
local taxes, such as the 0.5% supplemental sales tax in Minneapolis.[62]
Excise taxes are levied on alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel. The
state imposes a use tax on items purchased elsewhere but used within
Minnesota. Owners of real property in Minnesota pay property tax
to their county, municipality, school district, and special taxing
districts.
State Quarter
[edit] Culture
[edit] Fine and performing arts
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts' Beaux-Arts north facade, designed
by McKim, Mead, and White.Minnesota's major fine art museums include
the Weisman Art Museum, the Walker Art Center, and the Minneapolis
Institute of Arts. The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota
Orchestra are full-time professional musical ensembles that perform
concerts and offer educational programs to the community. Attendance
at theatrical, musical, and comedy events in the area is strong,
which may be attributed to the cold winters, the large population
of post-secondary students, and a generally vibrant economy.[citation
needed] The Guthrie Theater moved into a new building in 2006, boasting
three stages and overlooking the Mississippi River. In the U.S.,
the Twin Cities' number of theater seats per capita ranks behind
only New York City;[63] with some 2.3 million theater tickets sold
annually.[64] The Minneapolis Fringe Festival is an annual celebration
of theatre, dance, improvisation, puppetry, kids' shows, visual
art, and musicals. The summer festival consists of over 800 performances
in 11 days, and is the largest non-juried performing arts festival
in the United States.[65]
[edit] Literature
The rigors and rewards of pioneer life on the prairie were the subject
of Giants in the Earth by Ole Rolvaag and of the Little House series
of children's books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Small-town life was
savaged by Sinclair Lewis in the novel Main Street, and more gently
and affectionately satirized by Garrison Keillor in his tales of
Lake Wobegon. St. Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote of the social
insecurities and aspirations of the young city in stories such as
Winter Dreams and The Ice Palace (published in Flappers and Philosophers).
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous epic poem The Song of Hiawatha
was inspired by Minnesota and many places and bodies of water in
the state are named in the poem.
[edit] Entertainment
First Avenue nightclub, the heart of Minnesota's music community.[10]Main
article: Music of Minnesota
Minnesotan musicians of many genres include soul star Prince, harmony
singers The Andrews Sisters, rockabilly star Eddie Cochran, folk
musician Bob Dylan, garage rock band The Castaways, pop songwriters
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jonny Lang, and Soul Asylum. Minnesota
has also produced cult favorites such as Hüsker Dü and
The Replacements.[10]
Minnesotans have made significant contributions to comedy, theater,
and film. Ole and Lena jokes are best appreciated when delivered
in the accent of Scandinavian Americans. Garrison Keillor is known
around the country for resurrecting old-style radio comedy with
A Prairie Home Companion, which has aired since the 1970s.[10] Local
television had the satirical show The Bedtime Nooz in the 1960s,
while area natives Lizz Winstead and Craig Kilborn helped create
the increasingly influential Daily Show decades later. Actors from
the state include Richard Dean Anderson, Eddie Albert, Judy Garland,
Jessica Lange, Winona Ryder, Vince Vaughn, Josh Hartnett, Jessica
Biel, Melissa Peterman, and Jonny Lang. Joel and Ethan Coen, Terry
Gilliam and Mike Todd contributed to the art of film, and others
brought the offbeat cult shows Mystery Science Theater 3000 and
Let's Bowl to national cable from the Twin Cities.
[edit] Popular culture
Main article: Culture of Minnesota
A youth fiddle performance at the Minnesota State Fair.Stereotypical
Minnesotan traits include manners known as "Minnesota nice,"
Lutheranism, a strong sense of community and shared culture, and
a distinctive Upper Midwestern accent sprinkled with Scandinavian-sounding
words such as uff da. Potlucks, usually with a variety of hotdish
casseroles, are popular at community functions, especially church
activities. Minnesota's Scandinavian heritage makes lutefisk a traditional
holiday dish. Movies like Fargo, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Grumpy Old
Men and Grumpier Old Men, the radio show A Prairie Home Companion
and the book How to Talk Minnesotan lampoon (and celebrate) Minnesotan
culture, speech and mannerisms.
The Minnesota State Fair, advertised as The Great Minnesota Get-Together,
is an icon of state culture. In a state of 5.1 million people, there
were nearly 1.7 million visitors to the fair in 2006.[66] The fair
covers the variety of life in Minnesota, including fine art, science,
agriculture, food preparation, 4H displays, music, the midway, and
corporate merchandising. It is known for its displays of seed art,
butter sculptures of dairy princesses, the birthing barn, and dozens
of varieties of food on a stick, such as Pronto Pups, cheese curds,
and deep fried candy bars. On a smaller scale, these attractions
are also offered at the state's many county fairs.
Other large annual festivals include the Saint Paul Winter Carnival,
Minneapolis' Aquatennial and Mill City Music Festival, Moondance
Jam in Walker, and Detroit Lakes' 10,000 Lakes Festival and WE Fest.
[edit] Health and education
[edit] Health
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester.The people of Minnesota have a high
rate of participation in outdoor activities; the state is ranked
first in the percentage of residents who engage in regular exercise.[67]
Minnesotans have the nation's lowest premature death rate, third-lowest
infant mortality rate,[68][69] and the second-longest life expectancies.[70]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 91% of Minnesotans have health
insurance, more than in any other state.[71] These and other measures
have led one group to rank Minnesota as the second-healthiest state
in the nation, and another to rank it fourth.[72][73]
On 1 October 2007, Minnesota became the 17th state to enact a statewide
smoking ban in restaurants and bars with the enactment of Freedom
to Breathe Act of 2007.[74]
Medical care is provided by a comprehensive network of hospitals
and clinics, headed by two institutions with international reputations.
The University of Minnesota Medical School is a highly rated teaching
institution that has made a number of breakthroughs in treatment,
and its research activities contribute significantly to the state's
growing biotechnology industry.[75] The Mayo Clinic, a world-renowned
medical practice, is based in Rochester. Mayo and the University
are partners in the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and
Medical Genomics, a state-funded program that conducts research
into cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart health, obesity, and
other areas.[76]
[edit] Education
See also: List of colleges and universities in Minnesota, List of
high schools in Minnesota, and List of school districts in Minnesota
The Richardsonian Romanesque Pillsbury Hall (1889) is one of the
oldest buildings on the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus.One
of the first acts of the Minnesota Legislature when it opened in
1858 was the creation of a normal school at Winona. More recently,
the state ranked 13th on the 2006–2007 Morgan Quitno Smartest
State Award, and is first in the percentage of residents with at
least a high school diploma.[77][78] With an 84% graduation rate,
Minnesota ranks 5th in the nation in high school graduation[79]
and Minnesota students earn the highest average score in the nation
on the ACT exam.[80] While Minnesota has chosen not to implement
school vouchers,[81] it is home to the first charter school.[82]
The state supports a network of public universities and colleges,
currently comprised of 32 institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities System, and five major campuses of the University
of Minnesota. It is also home to more than 20 private colleges and
universities, four of which rank among the top 100 liberal arts
colleges, according to U.S. News and World Report.[83]
[edit] Transportation
Main article: Transportation in Minnesota
The Aerial Lift Bridge at DuluthTransportation in Minnesota is overseen
by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Principal transportation
corridors radiate from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area
and Duluth. The major Interstate highways are I-35, I-90, and I-94,
with I-35 and I-94 passing through the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan
area, and I-90 going east-west along the southern edge of the state.
In 2006, a constitutional amendment was passed that required sales
and use taxes on motor vehicles to fund transportation, with at
least 40% dedicated to public transit.[84] There are nearly two
dozen rail corridors in Minnesota, most of which go through Minneapolis-St.
Paul or Duluth. There is water transportation along the Mississippi
River system and from the ports of Lake Superior.
A Hiawatha Line vehicle in MinneapolisMinnesota's principal airport
is Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), the headquarters
and major passenger and freight hub for Northwest Airlines and Sun
Country Airlines. Most other domestic carriers serve the airport.
Large commercial jet service is provided at Duluth and Rochester,
with scheduled commuter service to six smaller cities via Northwest
Airlines subsidiary Mesaba Airlines.[85][86]
Amtrak's Empire Builder runs through Minnesota, making stops at
Midway Station in St. Paul and five other stations.[87] It is the
descendant of the famous line of the same name run by the Great
Northern Railway, which was built by the tycoon James J. Hill and
ran from St. Paul to Seattle. Intercity bus service is provided
by Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, and Coach USA. Public transit in
Minnesota is currently limited to bus systems in the larger cities
and the Hiawatha Line light rail corridor in the Minneapolis-St.
Paul area.
[edit] Law and government
As with the federal government of the United States, power in Minnesota
is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.[88]
[edit] Executive
See also: List of Governors of Minnesota and Minnesota gubernatorial
election, 2006
The executive branch is headed by the governor. The current governor
is Tim Pawlenty, a Republican whose first term began January 6,
2003, and who was narrowly re-elected in 2006. The current Lieutenant
Governor of Minnesota is Carol Molnau, who is also the head of the
Minnesota Department of Transportation. The offices of governor
and lieutenant governor have four-year terms. The governor has a
cabinet consisting of the leaders of various state government agencies,
called commissioners. The other elected constitutional offices are
secretary of state, attorney general, and state auditor.
The Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul, designed by Cass Gilbert.
[edit] Legislative
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 sections). Senators serve for four years and representatives for
two years. In the November 2006 election, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Party (DFL) gained 19 house seats, giving them control of the House
of Representatives by 85–49. The Senate is also controlled
by the DFL. In early 2008, the DFL picked up an additional seat
in a special election to expand their majority to 45–22. The
DFL now controls a veto-proof majority in the Senate.
[edit] Judicial
Minnesota's court system has three levels. Most cases start in the
district courts, which are courts of general jurisdiction. There
are 272 district court judges in ten judicial districts. Appeals
from the trial courts and challenges to certain governmental decisions
are heard by the Minnesota Court of Appeals, consisting of sixteen
judges who typically sit in three-judge panels. The seven-justice
Minnesota Supreme Court hears all appeals from the Tax Court, the
Worker's Compensation Court, first-degree murder convictions, and
discretionary appeals from the Court of Appeals; it also has original
jurisdiction over election disputes.[89]
Two specialized courts within administrative agencies have been
established: the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, and the
Tax Court, which deals with non-criminal tax cases.
[edit] Regional
Below the city and county levels of government found in the United
States, Minnesota 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.
There are seven Anishinaabe reservations and four Dakota communities
in Minnesota. These communities are self-governing.[90]
[edit] Federal
See also: Minnesota United States Senate election, 2006 and United
States House elections, 2006#Minnesota
Minnesota's two United States senators are Republican Norm Coleman
and Democrat Amy Klobuchar. The state has eight congressional districts;
they are represented by Tim Walz (1st district), John Kline (2nd),
Jim Ramstad (3rd), Betty McCollum (4th), Keith Ellison (5th), Michele
Bachmann (6th), Collin Peterson (7th), and James Oberstar (8th).
Federal court cases are heard in the United States District Court
for the District of Minnesota, which holds court in Minneapolis,
St. Paul, Duluth, and Fergus Falls. Appeals are heard by the Eighth
Circuit Court of Appeals based in St. Louis, Missouri and St. Paul.
[edit] Politics
Main article: Politics of Minnesota
See also: List of political parties in Minnesota, United States
Congressional Delegations from Minnesota, and Minnesota Congressional
Districts
Hubert H. HumphreyMinnesota is known for a politically active citizenry,
and populism has been a longstanding force among the state's political
parties. Minnesota has a consistently high voter turnout, due in
part to its liberal voter registration laws. In the 2004 U.S. presidential
election, 77.2% of eligible Minnesotans voted—the most of
any U.S. state—versus the national average of 60.93%.[91]
Previously unregistered voters can register on election day at their
polls with evidence of residency.
In 1922, three and a half years after women earned the vote in
Minnesota, four women were elected to the Minnesota State House.
Only two of those women, Hannah Kempfer and Mabeth Hurd Paige remained
in office for more than one term. Rep. Kempfer served from Ottertail
County until 1940, and Rep. Paige served from Hennepin County until
1942. In 1975 Nancy Brataas, a pro-choice Republican from Rochester,
Minnesota was the first woman elected to the Minnesota State Senate.
In 1994, Republican candidate Judi Dutcher was the first woman elected
State Auditor.
In the 2004 United States presidential election, Minnesota was
an important Battleground Swing State. The last time Minnesota had
been a key swing state was in the 1972 United States presidential
election. As a result President George W. Bush made eight unprecedented
campaign visits to Minnesota, visiting St. Louis Park, Eden Prairie
and Edina, Minnesota.
Hubert Humphrey brought national attention to the state with his
address at the 1948 Democratic National Convention. Eugene McCarthy's
anti-war stance and popularity before the 1968 Democratic National
Convention likely convinced Lyndon B. Johnson to drop out of the
presidential election. Minnesotans have consistently cast their
Electoral College votes for Democratic presidential candidates since
1976, longer than any other state. Minnesota is the only state in
the nation to have never voted for Ronald Reagan.
Both the Democratic and Republican parties have major party status
in Minnesota, however, its state-level "Democratic" party
is actually a separate party, officially known as the Minnesota
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). Formed out of a 1944 alliance
of the Minnesota Democratic and Farmer-Labor parties, the DFL now
serves as a de-facto proxy to the federal Democratic Party, and
its distinction from the Democratic Party, while still official,
is now a functional technicality.
The state has had active third party movements. The Reform Party,
now the Independence Party, was able to elect former mayor of Brooklyn
Park and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura to the governorship
in 1998. The Independence Party has received enough support to keep
major party status. The Green Party, while no longer having major
party status, has a large presence in municipal government,[92]
notably in Minneapolis and Duluth, where it competes directly with
the DFL party for local offices. Official "Major party"
status in Minnesota (which grants state funding for elections) is
reserved to parties, which receive 5% or more of the state's general
vote in the U.S. Presidential election. Status is revised every
four years.
Senator Norm Coleman (R-M) was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002,
defeating former Vice President and former U.S. Senator Walter Mondale
(D-MN), who entered the race as the Democratic candidate after Senator
Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash on October 25, 2002. Before
his election to the U.S. Senate, Senator Coleman was the mayor of
Saint Paul, Minnesota from 1994 to 2002 and served 17 years with
the Minnesota Attorney General Office, holding the positions of
Chief Prosecutor and Solicitor General of the State of Minnesota.
In 1996, after becoming increasingly frustrated with the Democratic
Party, Coleman joined the Republican Party, which more closely matched
his values. In his 1997 mayoral campaign for re-election as a Republican,
Coleman received 59 percent of the vote.
The state's U.S. Senate seats have generally been split since the
early 1990s, and in the 108th and 109th Congresses, Minnesota's
congressional delegation was split, with four representatives and
one senator from each party. In the 2006 mid-term election, Democrats
were elected to all state offices except for governor and lieutenant
governor, where Republicans Tim Pawlenty and Carol Molnau narrowly
won re-election. The DFL also posted double-digit gains in both
houses of the legislature, elected Amy Klobuchar to the U.S. Senate,
and increased the party's U.S. House caucus by one. Keith Ellison
(DFL) was elected as the first African American U.S. Representative
from Minnesota as well as the first Muslim elected to Congress nationwide.
At the same time Michele Bachmann became the third woman elected
to the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota and the first
Republican woman to represent the state on Capitol Hill.[93]
[edit] Media
KSTP StudiosThe Twin Cities area is the 15th largest media market
in the United States as ranked by Nielsen Media Research. The state's
other top markets are Fargo-Moorhead (118th nationally), Duluth-Superior
(137th), Rochester-Mason City-Austin (152nd), and Mankato (200th).[94]
Broadcast television in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest started
on April 27, 1948, when KSTP-TV began broadcasting.[95] Hubbard
Broadcasting Corporation, which owns KSTP, is now the only locally
owned television company in Minnesota. There are currently 39 analog
broadcast stations and 23 digital channels broadcast over Minnesota.
The Twin Cities metro area has the state's two largest newspapers:
the Star Tribune in Minneapolis and the Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
Other weekly and monthly publications (most of which are fully supported
by advertising) are also available. The most prominent of these
is the alternative weekly City Pages, with competitor The Rake offering
a free monthly.
Two of the largest public radio networks, Minnesota Public Radio
(MPR) and Public Radio International (PRI), are based in the state.
MPR has the largest audience of any regional public radio network
in the nation, broadcasting on 37 radio stations.[96] PRI weekly
provides more than 400 hours of programming to almost 800 affiliates.[97]
The state's oldest radio station, KUOM-AM, was launched in 1922
and is among the 10 oldest radio stations in the United States.
The University of Minnesota owned station is still on the air, and
since 1993 broadcasts a college rock format.
[edit] Sports and recreation
[edit] Organized sports
A faceoff between the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
and the Saint Cloud State University Huskies during the WCHA Final
Five at the Xcel Energy Center.Main article: Sports in Minnesota
Minnesota has professional men's teams in all major sports. The
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome is home to the Minnesota Vikings of
the National Football League, and to the Minnesota Twins of Major
League Baseball, winners of the 1987 and 1991 World Series. The
Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association play
in the Target Center. The National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild
team has sold out more than 230 consecutive games in St. Paul's
Xcel Energy Center.[98]
Minor league baseball is represented both by major league-sponsored
teams and independent teams such as the popular St. Paul Saints.
Professional women's sports include the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's
National Basketball Association, the Minnesota Vixen of the Women's
Professional Football League, and the Minnesota Whitecaps of the
National Women's Hockey League.
The Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota is a National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I school, with sports
teams competing in either the Big Ten Conference or the Western
Collegiate Hockey Association. Four additional schools in the state
compete in NCAA Division I ice hockey: the University of Minnesota
Duluth, St. Cloud State University, Bemidji State University, and
Minnesota State University Mankato. There are ten NCAA Division
II colleges represented by the North Central Conference and the
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in Minnesota, and sixteen
NCAA Division III colleges represented by the Minnesota Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference and Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.[99]
Winter Olympic Games medalists from the state include eleven of
the twenty members of the gold medal 1980 ice hockey team (coached
by Minnesota native Herb Brooks) and the bronze medalist U.S. men's
curling team in the 2006 Winter Olympics. Swimmer Tom Malchow won
an Olympic gold medal in the 2000 Summer games and a silver medal
in 1996.
Grandma's Marathon is run every summer along the scenic North Shore
of Lake Superior near Duluth, and the Twin Cities Marathon winds
around lakes and the Mississippi River during the peak of the fall
color season.
[edit] Outdoor recreation
Fishing in Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis.Minnesotans participate in
high levels of physical activity,[100] and many of these activities
are outdoors. The strong interest of Minnesotans in environmentalism
has been attributed to the popularity of these pursuits.[101]
In the warmer months, these activities often involve water. Weekend
and longer trips to family cabins on Minnesota's numerous lakes
are a way of life for many residents. Activities include water sports
such as water skiing, which originated in the state,[102] boating,
canoeing, and fishing. More than 36% of Minnesotans fish, second
only to Alaska.[103]
Fishing does not cease when the lakes freeze; ice fishing has been
around since the arrival of early Scandinavian immigrants.[104]
Minnesotans have learned to embrace their long, harsh winters in
ice sports such as skating, hockey, curling, and broomball, and
snow sports such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.[105]
State and national forests and the 71 state parks are used year-round
for hunting, camping, and hiking. There are almost 20,000 miles
(32,000 km) of snowmobile trails statewide.[106] Minnesota has more
miles of bike trails than any other state,[107] and a growing network
of hiking trails, including the 235-mile (378 km) Superior Hiking
Trail in the northeast.[108] Many hiking and bike trails are used
for cross-country skiing during the winter.
[edit] State symbols
Main article: Lists of U.S. state insignia
The Common LoonMinnesota's state symbols represent its history,
diverse landscapes, and its people's love of the outdoors. The Common
Loon, as state bird, is Minnesota's best-known symbol. Its distinctive
cry is heard during the summer months in the northern part of the
state, and on occasion the loon can be found as far south as the
lakes of Minneapolis.[109]
State symbols:[110]
State bird: Common Loon
State butterfly: Monarch
State drink: Milk
State fish: Walleye
State flower: Pink and white lady slipper
State fruit: Honeycrisp apple, which was developed at the University
of Minnesota; and was adopted as part of a school project on how
a bill becomes law.
State gemstone: Lake Superior agate
State grain: Wild rice
Territory Motto (actual): Quo sursum velo videre ("I cover
to see what is above" is the closest translation)
Territory Motto (intended): Quae sursum volo videre ("I wish
to see what is above")
State motto: L'Étoile du Nord ("The Star of the North")
State muffin: Blueberry
State mushroom: Morel
State photograph: Grace
State song: "Hail! Minnesota"
State tree: Norway Pine, also known as Red Pine
Nicknames:
"Land of 10,000 Lakes"
"North Star State"
"Gopher State"
"Land of Sky-Blue Waters"
"Bread and Butter State"
"State of Hockey"
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