The rich heritage of Minnesota begins as the home and hunting ground to Ojibwe and Dakota. Fr. Louis Hennepin explored the region in 1680 and French trappers, traders, and voyagers soon followed. The Western part of Minnesota was included in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and in 1805 American exploration began. In the 1820s soldiers built the first permanent settlement at Fort Snelling in what is present-day Saint Paul.

 

 

 

 

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul consistently rank as one of the most livable areas in the United States. They are home to scores of nationally and internationally known organizations, schools, and businesses. They are considered one of the major cultural centers of the nation which includes the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Walker Art Center, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Guthrie Theater. Minnesota is second only to New York in the number of annual symphony concerts. Duluth on Lake Superior is the world's largest fresh water port. Rochester is home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. Alexandria hosts the controversial Kensington Rune Stone, which was supposedly left in the area by Vikings hundreds of years before Columbus sailed to America. Minnesota is also home to the world's largest open pit mine and is the nation's leading producer of iron ore. The Mall of America, the largest mall in the world, is nestled in Bloomington by the Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport.

When Garrison Keillor speaks each week from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul he speaks about his life in the fictional small town of Lake Wobegon, Minnesota. For many Minnesotans he is not just telling amusing anecdotes, but talking about a tranquil quality of life that can only be found in the small towns of Minnesota. The Scandinavian and German heritage of the state can be found preserved in the rich traditions carried on throughout the state, and it is not uncommon to hear Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, or German spoken in some areas.

The Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, and the Wild make their home in Minnesota, as well as several other national sports teams. Zoos, festivals, events for children, parks, museums, concerts, and sporting events keep Minnesotans relaxed and entertained.

 

Minnesota in a nutshell...

• Population: 4,919,479 (as of 2000)
• Area: 86,943 square miles
• Highest point: Eagle Mountain, 2,301 feet (701 m) above sea level
• Lowest Point: 602 feet above sea level at Lake Superior
• Number of rivers and streams: 6,564 (92,000 miles)
• Major rivers: Mississippi River, Minnesota River, Rainy River, Red River, St. Croix River
• Number of Lakes (over 10 acres): 11,842 (4,967,510 acres)
• Largest Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake of the Woods, Red Lake, Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, Lake Vermillion
• Number of recreational boats per capita: 1 boat/6 people, more than any other state

 

 

There are more than 4.9 million Minnesotans which makes Minnesota the 21st largest state. More than 75 percent of Minnesotans live in cities, more than half in the Twin Cities. Nearly 70 percent of Minnesotans are 44 years or younger and the average Minnesotan lives to be 76.2 years. The only state with a longer average life expectancy is Hawaii.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, more immigrants arrived in Minnesota in the year ending September 30, 2005 than in any of the previous 25 years. The number of immigrants from African countries continues to increase – in 2005, two in every five immigrants came from Africa. Asia was second with 28 percent of all immigrants. According to the Minnesota State Demographic Center, from 2000 to 2005, 68,929 immigrants have moved to Minnesota. By comparison, from 1990 to 1999, 73,733 immigrants came to Minnesota, and from 1982 (earliest data for all of Minnesota) to 1989, 46,712 arrived. Between 2005 and 2015, the nonwhite population is projected to grow 35 percent, compared to 7 percent for the white population. The Hispanic Origin population is expected to increase 47 percent. The report says that by 2030, about 16 percent of Minnesotans will be nonwhite and 5 percent will be Latino. Black or African American alone population in Minnesota is projected to rise 64 percent between 2000 and 2015 and to reach 386,600 by 2030. Blacks will remain Minnesota’s largest nonwhite racial group.

 

 

Per capita personal income is $18,731, slightly higher than the U.S. average. Minnesota is home to 33 Fortune 500 companies and is fifth in the number of corporate headquarters per one million residents. Minnesota's farm income has a three percent share of personal income which is approximately twice the national average. Farm cash receipts rank sixth highest in the nation. Small business is an important part of the Minnesota economy with nearly 90 percent of Minnesota businesses employing fewer than 20 people.

 

 

 

 

 

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System

• Serves 374,000 students each year in credit and noncredit courses.
• Produces 33,500 graduates each year.
• Serves more students of color than any other higher education provider in Minnesota - more than 29,800 in 2006.
• Provides career education to 6,000 employers and 146,000 employees each year.
• Offers more than 180 programs and 6,400 course sections completely or predominantly online.
• Educates 64% of the state's undergraduates.

 

Minnesota is the first state in the nation to offer open enrollment in all public schools. Any student in kindergarten through twelfth grade may apply to any public school district in the state. Minnesota schools also offer a post-secondary enrollment option program which allows high school juniors and seniors to attend a college, university, or technical college either full or part-time at no cost to the student, while he or she completes high school requirements. Of all high school seniors, 90.9 percent graduate compared with the 71.1 percent national average. The school drop-out rate is just 3.2 percent. The average ACT score is six percent higher than the national average.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minnesotans experience four distinct seasons. Winter brings unique challenges which only cause Minnesota inventiveness to prosper. Spring is a time of celebration as warmer temperatures return. As soon as the temperature reaches 50 degrees, Minnesotans are outside walking, playing tennis and softball, and enjoying the sunshine. Summer is a pleasant season. The normal low temperature in July is 60 degrees with afternoon humidity at 55 percent. The temperature rises above 90 degrees an average of 15 times per year. Autumn is especially beautiful in Minnesota as the changing leaves make scenery breathtaking. The state receives sunshine 57 percent of the year and has an average of 250 sunny days, or more than two-thirds of the year, without measurable precipitation. Minnesota's normal maximum temperature ranges from 20 degrees in January to 80 degrees in July.