Minnesota

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State of Minnesota

Flag of Minnesota Seal of Minnesota Nickname(s): North Star State, The Land of 10,000 Lakes, The Gopher State Motto(s): L'Étoile du Nord (French: The Star of the North)
Capital	Saint Paul
Largest city	Minneapolis
Area	Ranked 12th
- Total	87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)
- Width	250 miles (400 km)
- Length	400 miles (645 km)
- % water	8.4
- Latitude	43°34'N to 49°23'50.26"N
- Longitude	89°34'W to 97°12'W
Population	Ranked 21st
- Total (2000)	4,919,479
- Density	61.80/sq mi  23.86/km² (31st)
- Median income	$55,914 (5th)
Elevation
- Highest point	Eagle Mountain[1] 2,301 ft  (701 m)
- Mean	1,198 ft  (365 m)
- Lowest point	Lake Superior[1] 602 ft  (183 m)
Admission to Union	May 11, 1858 (32nd)
Governor	Tim Pawlenty (R)
U.S. Senators	Norm Coleman (R) Amy Klobuchar (DFL)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Abbreviations	MN US-MN
Web site	www.state.mn.us

Minnesota (help·info) (pronounced: [ˌmɪnəˈsoʊtə]) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12^th largest state in the U.S., and the 21^st most populous, with over five million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the 32^nd state on May 11, 1858. While the state's residents are primarily white and Northern European, substantial influxes of African, Asian, and Hispanic immigrants have joined the descendants of European immigrants and of the original Native American inhabitants.

Nearly 60% of Minnesota's residents live in the Minneapolis-St. 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, 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 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 vigorous outdoor lifestyle.

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 1 Origin of the name 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 References 16 External links

[edit] Origin of the name

The name Minnesota comes from the word for the Minnesota River in the Dakota language, mnisota. The Dakota word Mni (sometimes spelled mini, or minne) can be translated as "water". Mnisota is then translated as sky-tinted water or somewhat clouded water.^[2][3] Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers by dropping milk into water and calling it mnisota.^[2] The names of many locations in the state contain the Dakota word for water, such as Minnehaha Falls ("waterfall", not "laughing waters" as is commonly thought), Minneiska ("white water"), Minnetonka ("big water"), Minnetrista ("crooked water"), and Minneapolis, which is a combination of mni and polis, the Greek word for "city".^[4]

[edit] Geography

Minnesota is the northernmost state except for Alaska. Minnesota reaches farther north than the other states due to the Northwest Angle area. This angular feature on the northern border of the state is the only part of the 48 contiguous states lying north of the 49^th Parallel. Minnesota is in the heart of 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,^[5] Minnesota is the 12^th largest state, and is the second-largest of the Midwestern states.^[6]

[edit] Geology and terrain

Main article: Geology of Minnesota

Minnesota contains some of the oldest rocks found on earth, granitic gneisses some 3.6 billion years old, or 80% as old as the planet.^[7][8] 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.^[7][9] Following a period of volcanism 1.1 billion years ago, Minnesota's geological activity has been relatively quiet, with no volcanism, no mountain formation, and little earthquake activity.^[7] The roots of these volcanic mountains and the action of Precambrian seas formed the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. These seas began the flattening of Minnesota which continued with glaciation beginning 600,000 years ago. Massive glaciers at least one kilometer thick ravaged the landscape of Minnesota and created its current terrain.^[7] The last of four major glaciations, the Wisconsin glaciation, left Minnesota 12,000 years ago.^[7] The extent of these glaciers reached all of Minnesota except the far southeast and southwest. This untouched southeastern area is known as the Driftless Zone,^[10] and is characterized by rolling hills and streams that cut into the bedrock. The glaciers left their remains across the entire state as they retreated, with most areas having 50 feet (15 m) or more of glacial till. As the last glaciers retreated, gigantic Lake Agassiz formed in the northwest; the lake's outflow carved the valley of the Minnesota River, and its bottom created the fertile lands of the Red River valley.^[7] Minnesota is geologically quiet today; it experiences earthquakes infrequently, and most of them are minor. The strongest earthquake in the last century occurred near Morris in 1975, and rated between 4.6 and 4.8 in magnitude on the Richter scale.^[11]

The state's high point is Eagle Mountain at 2,301 ft (701 m), which is only 13 miles away from the low of 602 ft (183 m) at the shore of Lake Superior.^[12][9] Notwithstanding dramatic local differences in elevation, much of the state is a gently rolling peneplain.^[7]

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.^[13]

The state's nickname, The Land of 10,000 Lakes, is not an exaggeration; there are 11,842 lakes over 10 acres in size.^[14] The Minnesota portion of Lake Superior is the largest (at 962,700 acres) and deepest (at 1,290 feet) body of water in the state.^[14] Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for 69,000 miles.^[14] The Mississippi River begins its journey through Minnesota from its headwaters at Lake Itasca, crossing the Iowa border 680 miles downstream.^[14] 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 small streams in the southeast. The Red River, in the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz, drains the northwest part of the state northward toward Canada's Hudson Bay.

See also: List of lakes in Minnesota and List of Minnesota rivers

[edit] Flora and fauna

Three 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 the northern boreal forest.^[15] 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 of unlogged land.^[16] Although logging continues, regrowth keeps about one third of the state forested.^[17] Now loggers must plant three trees for every one cut down, helping the regrowth of Minnesota's more treeless lands.^{[citation needed]} While loss of habitat has affected native animals such as the pine marten, elk, buffalo, cougar, woodland caribou, and bobcat, other natives thrive; the state contains the nation's largest population of timber wolves outside Alaska, and supports healthy populations of black bear, moose and whitetail deer. Located on the Mississippi Flyway, the state hosts migratory waterfowl such as geese and ducks, and game birds such as grouse, pheasants, and turkeys. The state is home to birds of prey including the bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, and snowy owl. Its lakes teem with the sport fish of the region: walleye, bass, muskellunge, and northern pike. The streams in the southeast are populated by brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout.

See also: Category:Flora of Minnesota

[edit] Climate

Main article: Climate of Minnesota

Minnesota endures temperature extremes characteristic of its continental climate; with cold winters and hot summers, the record high and low span 174 degrees.^[18] 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).^[19] Dewpoints range from about 6°F (-14°C) to 70°F (21°C).^[19] Depending on location, average annual precipitation ranges from 19 inches to 35 inches, and droughts occur every 10 to 50 years.^[19]

[edit] Protected lands

Minnesota 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 official source of the Mississippi River.^[20] Today Minnesota has 72 state parks and recreation areas, 58 state forests covering about four million acres, and numerous state wildlife preserves, all managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. There are 5.5 million acres in two national forests, the Chippewa National Forest and the Superior National Forest. Inside the Superior National Forest, on the northeastern border of the state, lies the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which encompasses over a million acres and a thousand lakes. Voyageurs National Park is the state's only national park.

See also: Category:Parks in Minnesota

[edit] History

Main article: History of Minnesota

Before European settlement, Minnesota was populated by the Anishinaabe, the Sioux, and other Native Americans. The first Europeans were French fur traders who arrived in the 1600s. Late in the century, the Ojibwe Indians migrated westward to Minnesota, causing tensions with the Sioux.^[21] Explorers such as Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, Father Louis Hennepin, Jonathan Carver, Henry Schoolcraft, and Joseph Nicollet, among others, mapped out the state.

In 1805, Zebulon Pike acquired land at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. The construction of Fort Snelling followed, between 1819 and 1825.^[22]

The soldiers built a grist mill and a sawmill at Saint Anthony Falls, and as industry later sprung up around the falls, the city of Minneapolis grew up around it. Meanwhile, squatters, government officials, and tourists had settled in the vicinity of the fort. In 1839, the Army forced them to move downriver, and they settled in the area that became St. Paul.^[23] Minnesota Territory was formed on March 3, 1849. By 1858, 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 Sioux and Ojibwe gradually forced the natives off their lands and onto smaller reservations. As conditions deteriorated for the Sioux, tensions rose, leading to the Sioux Uprising of 1862. The result of the six-week war was the execution of 38 Indians—the largest mass execution in United States history—and the exile of most of the rest of the Sioux to the Crow Creek Reservation in Nebraska.^[24]

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.^[24] Later, Saint Anthony Falls was tapped to provide power for flour mills. Innovations by Minneapolis millers led to the production of Minnesota "patent" flour, widely regarded as the finest bread flour of its time. 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.^[25]

The state's iron-mining industry was established with the discovery of iron in the Vermilion Range and the Mesabi Range in the 1880s, then in the Cuyuna Range in the early 1900s. The iron was shipped by rail to Two Harbors and Duluth, then loaded onto ships and transported eastward over the Great Lakes.^[24]

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 throughout the state. During the Great Depression, Minnesota's economy was hard-hit, 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 jobs for Indians on their reservations. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 provided a mechanism of self-government for the Indian tribes. 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.^[22]

After World War II, industrial development quickened. New technology increased productivity on farms, 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.^[22] During this time, suburban development accelerated due to increased postwar housing demand and convenient transportation. Increased mobility, in turn, enabled more specialized jobs.^[22]

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).^[26] 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

The capital city of Minnesota is Saint Paul, located in the east-central part of the state along the banks of the Mississippi River. 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 16^th largest metropolitan area in the United States and home to about 60% of the state's population (as of April 2005).^[27][28] The remainder of the state is known as Greater Minnesota or Outstate Minnesota.

Minnesota has 16 cities with populations above fifty thousand (based on 2005 estimates). In descending order by population, they are Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Eagan, St. Cloud, Coon Rapids, Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Blaine, Lakeville, and Minnetonka.^[28] Of these, 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.^[29]

See also: List of cities in Minnesota, List of townships in Minnesota, and Category:Minnesota counties

[edit] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Minnesota

[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.^[29] As of July 1, 2006, the state's population was estimated at 5,167,101 by the U.S. Census Bureau.^[30] 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.^[31] The center of population of Minnesota is located in Hennepin County, in the city of Rogers.^[32]

[edit] Race and ancestry

Over 75% of Minnesota's residents are of Western European descent, with the largest reported ancestries being German (37.3%), Norwegian (17.0%), Irish (12.2%), and Swedish (10.0%).^[33] As of 2004, 6.1% of residents were foreign-born, compared to 12% for the nation.^[33][34] The state has had the reputation of being relatively homogeneous, but that is changing. The Hispanic population of Minnesota is increasing rapidly,^[35] and recent immigrants have come from all over the world, including Hmongs,^[36] Somalis, Vietnamese, Indians and emigrants from the former Soviet bloc.

The state's racial composition in 2005 was:^[37]

• 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, totalled 13%, bringing the total Christian population to 77%. Non-Christian religions, such as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, together represented 3% of the population. Fourteen percent of respondents answered "no religion" on the survey, and 6% refused to answer.^[38]

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of Minnesota

Once 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.^[39] The economy of Minnesota had a gross domestic product of $234 billion in 2005.^[40] Thirty-six of the United States' top 1,000 publicly traded companies (by revenue in 2006) are headquartered in Minnesota,^[41] including Target, UnitedHealth Group, 3M, Medtronic, General Mills, U.S. Bancorp, and Best Buy. The largest privately owned U.S. company, Cargill, is headquartered in Minnetonka.^[42] The per capita income in 2004 was $36,184, the eighth-highest in the nation.^[43] The median household income in 2005 was $52,024, ranking eleventh in the U.S.^[44]

[edit] Industry and commerce

Minnesota's earliest industries were fur trading and agriculture; the city of Minneapolis grew around the flour mills clumped around St. Anthony Falls. Although fewer than 1% of the population are employed in the agricultural sector,^[45] it remains a major part of the state's economy, ranking 6^th in the nation in the value of products sold.^[46] The state is the U.S.'s largest producer of sugar beets, sweet corn, and green peas for processing, and farm-raised turkeys.^[47] Forestry, another early industry, remains strong, including logging, pulpwood processing, forest products manufacturing, and paper production. Minnesota was famous for its soft-ore iron 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 remains viable, using processes developed locally to save the industry. In 2004, the state produced 75% of the country's usable iron ore.^[47] The mining boom created the port of Duluth, and it continues to be an important shipping port for 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, the Mall of America, is located in Bloomington.

[edit] Energy use and production

The state produces ethanol fuel, and a 10% mix of ethanol (E10) has been mandated since 1997, making Minnesota the first state with such a mandate.^[48] A 20% ethanol mix (E20) will be mandated in 2013.^[49] Minnesota has more than 310 service stations supplying E85 fuel.^[50] A 2% biodiesel blend has also been required in diesel fuel since 2005. Electricity-producing wind turbines have become popular, particularly in the windy southwest region on the Buffalo Ridge. As of November 2006, the state is the country's fourth-largest producer of wind power, with 812 megawatts installed and another 82 megawatts planned.^[51]

See also: Common ethanol fuel mixtures and Wind power

[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%.^[52] 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.^[53] 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.^[54] 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.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Fine and performing arts

The Twin Cities area is considered the artistic capital of the Upper Midwest. Its 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. 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; in 2000, 2.3 million theater tickets were sold.^[55] 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.^[56]

[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).

[edit] Entertainment

Main article: Music of Minnesota

Minnesotan musicians of many genres have been popular over the years, including harmony singers The Andrews Sisters, folk musician Bob Dylan, pop songwriters Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, rock star Prince, and Semisonic, an alternative rock group. Minnesota has also produced the cult favorites American Head Charge, Motion City Soundtrack, Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, and Atmosphere.^[9]

Minnesota and Wisconsin have contributed significantly to comedy in its different forms. Ole and Lena jokes can't be fully appreciated unless delivered in the accent of Scandinavian Americans. Garrison Keillor is known around the country for resurrecting the old-style radio comedy with A Prairie Home Companion, which has aired since the 1970s.^[9] 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. Joel and Ethan Coen have produced many films featuring dark comedy, 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

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 Norwegian and Scandinavian heritage makes lutefisk a traditional holiday dish. Movies like Drop Dead Gorgeous, 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.^[57] 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 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.^[58] Minnesotans have the nation's lowest premature death rate, third-lowest infant mortality rate,^[59][60] and the second-longest life expectancies.^[61] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 91% of Minnesotans have health insurance, more than in any other state.^[62] These and other measures have led one group to rank Minnesota as the healthiest state in the nation, and another to rank it fourth.^[63][64][65]

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.^[66] 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.^[67]

[edit] Education

One of the first acts of the Minnesota Legislature when it opened in 1858 was the creation of a normal school at Winona. Since then, most surveys have placed Minnesota among the ten strongest states in education. It ranked 13^th on the 2006–2007 Morgan Quitno Smartest State Award, and is first in the percentage of residents with at least a high school diploma.^[68][69] With an 84% graduation rate, Minnesota ranks 5^th in the nation in high school graduation.^[70] While Minnesota has chosen not to implement school vouchers or to teach intelligent design, it is home to one of the first charter schools.

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, six of which rank among the top 100 liberal arts colleges, according to U.S. News and World Report.^[71]

See also: List of colleges and universities in Minnesota, List of high schools in Minnesota, and List of school districts in Minnesota

[edit] Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Minnesota

Transportation 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.^[72] 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.

Minnesota'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. The airport is served by most other domestic carriers. Large commercial jet service is provided at Duluth and Rochester, with scheduled commuter service to six smaller cities via Eagan-based Mesaba Airlines.

Amtrak's Empire Builder runs through Minnesota, making stops at Midway Station in St. Paul and five other stations.^[73] 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.^[74]

[edit] Executive

The executive branch is headed by the governor. The current Governor is Tim Pawlenty, a Republican whose first term began 6 January 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 constitutional offices are secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor.

See also: List of Governors of Minnesota and Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2006

[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, who in 2006 gained 6 seats to expand their majority to 44–23.

[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.^[75]

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.^[76]

[edit] Federal

Minnesota's two United States senators are Norm Coleman and 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.

See also: Minnesota United States Senate election, 2006 and United States House elections, 2006#Minnesota

[edit] Politics

Main article: Politics of Minnesota

Hubert H. Humphrey

Minnesota 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%.^[77] Previously unregistered voters can register on election day at their polls with evidence of residency.

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 prior to the 1968 Democratic National Convention likely convinced Lyndon Johnson to drop out of the presidential race. Minnesotans have voted for Democratic presidential candidates consistently since 1976, longer than any other state. In the 108^th and 109^th Congresses, however, Minnesota's congressional delegation was split, with four Democratic and four Republican members of Congress. The state's senate seats have generally also been split since the early 1990s. See United States Congressional Delegations from Minnesota.

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 DFL member Amy Klobuchar to the U.S. Senate, and increased the Democratic U.S. House caucus by one. Keith Ellison was elected as the first African-American U.S. Representative from Minnesota, as well as the first Muslim elected to Congress nationwide, while Michele Bachmann became the first Republican woman to represent the state on Capitol Hill.^[78]

The state has had active third party movements. The Reform Party, now the Independence Party, was able to elect the 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 has elected city council members and other local office-holders in Duluth, Minneapolis and Winona, and has made strong runs for state legislature in the past two elections.^{[citation needed]} 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.

See also: List of political parties in Minnesota, United States Congressional Delegations from Minnesota, Minnesota Congressional Districts, and Category:Minnesota elections

[edit] Media

The Twin Cities area is the 15^th largest media market in the United States as ranked by Nielsen Media Research. The state's other top markets are Fargo-Moorhead (118^th nationally), Duluth-Superior (137^th), Rochester-Mason City-Austin (152^nd), and Mankato (200^th).^[79]

Broadcast television in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest started on April 27, 1948, when KSTP-TV began broadcasting.^[80] 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, while PRI provides more than 400 hours of programming each week to affiliates across the nation.^[81][82]

[edit] Sports and recreation

[edit] Organized sports

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.^[83]

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. There are four additional Division I Western Collegiate Hockey Association schools in the state: 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.^[84]

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, and the Twin Cities Marathon winds around lakes and the Mississippi River during the peak of the fall color season.

[edit] Outdoor recreation

Minnesotans participate in high levels of physical activity,^[85] and many of these activities are outdoors. The strong interest of Minnesotans in environmentalism has been attributed to the popularity of these pursuits.^[86]

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,^[87] boating, canoeing, and fishing. More than 36% of Minnesotans fish, second only to Alaska.^[88]

Fishing does not cease when the lakes freeze; ice fishing has been around since the arrival of early Scandinavian immigrants. Minnesotans have learned to embrace their long, harsh winters in activities such as ice skating, curling, broomball, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

State and national forests and the 71 state parks are used year-round for hunting, camping, and hiking. There are almost 20,000 miles of snowmobile trails statewide.^[89] Minnesota has more miles of bike trails than any other state,^[90] and a growing network of hiking trails, including the 235-mile Superior Hiking Trail in the northeast.^[91] 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

Minnesota'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.^[92]

State symbols:^[93]

• 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 ("Star of the North")
• State muffin: Blueberry,
• State mushroom: Morel
• State photograph: Grace
• State song: "Hail! Minnesota"
• State tree: Norway Pine
• Nicknames:
  • "Land of 10,000 Lakes"
  • "North Star State"
  • "Gopher State"
  • "Land of Sky-Blue Waters"
  • "Bread and Butter State"

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 46° N 94° W