- The first seal used in Minnesota came into use sometime after 1849, before the territory became a …
The state of Minnesota is sometimes called the Land of 10,000 Lakes. This number is low, however: the state actually has more than 15,000 lakes. These lakes—along with forests, prairies, and a variety of wildlife—make Minnesota a place of great natural beauty. Minnesota was named after the Minnesota River. The river got its name from a Dakota (Sioux) Indian word meaning “sky-tinted waters.” Minnesota is also called the North Star State, a translation of the French motto on the state seal (L'Étoile du Nord). The state capital is St. Paul. GeographyMinnesota covers an area of 84,402 square miles (218,601 square kilometers). It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario on the north, Lake Superior and Wisconsin on the east, Iowa on the south, and South Dakota and North Dakota on the west. The Red River of the North flows along the North Dakota–Minnesota border, and the Rainy River separates the state from Ontario. The St. Croix and Mississippi rivers separate Minnesota from Wisconsin. (The Mississippi begins at Lake Itasca in Minnesota.) The Northwest Angle, a peninsula in the Lake of the Woods, is the northernmost point of the United States, not including Alaska. Minnesota has two natural regions. The larger region covers the western and central parts of the state. The area contains thousands of lakes and the fertile, flat plains of the Red River valley. East of the valley are forests and rolling hills. The other natural region is in northeast Minnesota. This is a forested area of lakes, peat bogs, and ridges. The region contains Eagle Mountain, which at 2,301 feet (701 meters) is the highest point in the state. Minnesota is known for its cold winters. The northwest averages about 11° F (-12° C) in winter months, and below-zero temperatures are common. Plants and animalsMinnesota has two national forests and many acres of state forests. Forests in the northeastern part of the state contain such trees as pine, spruce, and fir. A belt of hardwood forests extends from southeastern Minnesota to the Canadian border. These forests contain oak, maple, and basswood. Ash, elm, cottonwood, and box elder grow along the stream valleys. South and west of the hardwood forests lies tallgrass prairie. Animals commonly found throughout Minnesota include deer, foxes, porcupines, raccoons, and squirrels. Black bears, moose, elk, wolves, coyotes, lynx, bobcats, otters, and beavers are found almost entirely in the north. Many different birds can be found throughout the state, with the most common being a songbird called the red-winged blackbird. A wide variety of game fish live in the state's many lakes. People and culturePeople have lived in Minnesota since prehistoric times. When the first European explorers arrived in the 17th century, they encountered tribes of Sioux (the popular name for the Dakota) and Ojibwa (or Chippewa) Indians. After Minnesota became a territory in the mid-19th century, settlers rapidly arrived from the eastern United States. These people were followed by many immigrants from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Great Britain, and Canada. African Americans and Spanish-speaking peoples moved to Minnesota in the 20th century. By 2000 these groups together made up more than 6 percent of the population. Asians made up nearly 3 percent of the population at that time. The state's Native American population (mostly Ojibwa) numbered about 55,000. CitiesThe best-known cities in Minnesota are Minneapolis and St. Paul, known as the Twin Cities. Minneapolis is the state's largest city and an industrial and transportation center. St. Paul is the second-largest city and also the state's capital. On Lake Superior is Duluth, one of the great inland ports and grain centers of the United States. The Mayo Clinic, a famous medical center, is located in southeastern Minnesota in Rochester. Recreation - People visit an ice castle at the annual winter carnival in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Minnesota is well known for its resorts, especially in the Arrowhead region above Lake Superior. Most people in Minnesota live near a lake. Vacationers and residents alike enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, skiing, and hiking. Minnesota is home to the Mall of America, the largest shopping complex in the United States. The state also hosts several professional sports teams, including the Twins (baseball), the Vikings (football), the Wild (hockey), the Lynx (women's basketball), and the Timberwolves (men's basketball). EducationOrganized public education started in Minnesota in 1847. The University of Minnesota was established in 1851. Its Twin Cities Campus (with sites in Minneapolis and St. Paul) has one of the largest enrollments in the United States. EconomyAgricultureAbout half of Minnesota's land area is made up of farms. Corn and soybeans are the main crops. Other crops include wheat, barley, oats, hay, vegetables, and melons. More than half of the state's farm income comes from livestock: cattle, pigs, turkeys, and sheep. Dairying centers are located in the southeast and near the Twin Cities, Duluth, and St. Cloud. Forestry and MiningMinnesota's many forests are the source of pulpwood, paper, insulation, plywood, lumber, and other products. The state also has been one of the nation's leading mineral producers, mainly because of its iron-ore deposits. Other profitable minerals in Minnesota are granite, limestone, sand, and gravel. IndustryThe state's leading manufacturing industry is the production of industrial machinery. Food processing and the manufacture of wood and paper products are also important. Other valuable industries are construction, printing and publishing, health care, and business services. HistoryUntil the middle of the 19th century, the Ojibwa lived in the north and east of what is now Minnesota and the Dakota lived in the south and west. The earliest European explorers in Minnesota came from France in the late 17th century. After the French and Indian War (1754–63), France gave all of its land east of the Mississippi River to Britain. This land (some of which became eastern Minnesota) became part of the United States in 1783 following Britain's defeat in the American Revolution. The United States bought the rest of the land that became the state of Minnesota as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Congress created the Minnesota Territory in 1849, and in 1858 the territory joined the Union as its 32nd state. In 1862 the Dakota rose up in the Minnesota River valley and began one of the bloodiest Indian wars in the country's history. In only a few weeks more than 500 civilians, soldiers, and Indians were killed. Settlers poured into Minnesota after the American Civil War (1861–65). After World War II (1939–45), new industries based on minerals were developed. In the late 20th century St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Duluth took steps to make their city centers more attractive to people and businesses. These cities became experiments in successful urban planning and living. Minnesota has a reputation as the most politically independent of states. Although many Minnesota politicians have been Republicans or Democrats, the state also has a history of supporting other parties. In the 1930s, for example, members of the Farmer-Labor party held many state and national offices. In 1998 former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura was elected governor of Minnesota as the candidate from the Reform party. Population (2000 census), 4,919,479. |