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State of Minnesota

Image:Flag of Minnesota.svg Flag of Minnesota Seal of Minnesota Nickname(s): North Star State, The Land of 10,000 Lakes, The Gopher State Motto(s): L'Etoile du nord
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<ref name=usgs>Elevations and Distances in the United States. U.S Geological Survey (2005). Retrieved on 2006-11-06.</ref> 2,301 ft  (701 m)
- Mean	1,198 ft  (365 m)
- Lowest point	Lake Superior<ref name=usgs/> 602 ft  (183 m)
Admission to Union	May 11, 1858 (32nd)
Governor	Tim Pawlenty (R)
U.S. Senators	Mark Dayton (D) outgoing Norm Coleman (R) Amy Klobuchar (D) Senator elect
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Abbreviations	MN US-MN
Web site	www.state.mn.us

Minnesota (IPA: [ˌmɪnəˈsoʊtə]) (Audio (US) (help·info)) 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 in 1858. While the state's residents have been primarily white, Northern European, and Lutheran, substantial influxes of African, Asian, and Hispanic immigrants have joined the descendants of European immigrants and Native American descendants of its original inhabitants.

Nearly three out of five Minnesota residents live in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which is 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 word Minnesota comes from the Dakota name for the Minnesota River, mnisota. Mni (sometimes mini, or minne) can be translated as "water". Mnisota is then translated as sky-tinted water or somewhat clouded water.<ref name = mnhs-name>Minnesota State. Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref><ref>Minnesota definition. Dictionary.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.</ref> Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers by dropping milk into water and calling it mnisota.<ref name = mnhs-name /> 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".<ref> Minnehaha Creek. Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.</ref>

[edit] Geography

Minnesota is the northernmost state except for Alaska; its Northwest Angle is the only part of the 48 contiguous states lying north of the 49^th Parallel. Minnesota is in the U.S. region known as the Upper Midwest. The state shares a Lake Superior water border with Michigan 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,<ref> Facts and figures. infoplease.com. Retrieved on 2006-06-22.</ref> Minnesota is the 12^th largest state, and is the second-largest of the Midwestern states.<ref>Land and Water Area of States, 2000. Information Please (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-22.</ref>

[edit] Geology and terrain

Main article: Geology of Minnesota

Minnesota contains some of the oldest rocks on earth, granitic gneisses some 3.6 billion years old, or 80% as old as the planet.<ref name = MNGeog>Ojakangas, Richard W., Charles L. Matsch (1982). Minnesota's Geology, Illus. Dan Breedy, Minneapolis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 0-8166-0953-5.</ref> 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.<ref name = MNGeog /><ref name="Compass">Breining, Greg (December 2005). Compass American Guides: Minnesota, 3rd Edition, 3rd, Compass American Guides. ISBN 1-4000-1484-0.</ref> 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.<ref name = MNGeog /> 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.<ref name = MNGeog /> The last of four major glaciations, the Wisconsin glaciation, left Minnesota 12,000 years ago.<ref name = MNGeog /> 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,<ref>Natural history - Minnesota's geology. Minnesota DNR. Retrieved on 2006-10-17.</ref> 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.<ref name = MNGeog /> 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.<ref>Table Showing Minnesota Earthquakes. University of Minnesota, Morris. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref>

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.<ref>Minnesota Map Collection - State, City, Road, County, River, Lake. geology.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref><ref name="Compass"/> These elevation differences, however, do not suggest the gently rolling hills and peneplain seen across the state.

Two continental divides meet in the northeastern part of Minnesota, forming three watersheds. 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.<ref>Continental Divides in North Dakota and North America. National Atlas. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref>

The state's nickname, The Land of 10,000 Lakes, is not an exaggeration; there are 11,842 lakes over 10 acres in size.<ref name=dnr>Lakes Lakes, rivers & wetlands. MN Facts. Minnesota DNR (2003). Retrieved on 2006-09-16.</ref> 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.<ref name=dnr /> Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for 69,000 miles.<ref name=dnr /> The Mississippi River begins a 680-mile journey through Minnesota from its headwaters at Lake Itasca.<ref name=dnr /> 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.<ref>Biomes of Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.</ref> 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.<ref name="Heinselman">Heinselman, Miron (1996). The Boundary Waters Wilderness Ecosystem. Minneapolis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 0-8166-2805-X.</ref> Although logging continues, regrowth keeps about one third of the state forested.<ref>Bewer, Tim (2004). Moon Handbooks Minnesota, First edition, Avalon Travel Publishing. ISBN 1-5669-1482-5.</ref> 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:Fauna of Minnesota and 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.<ref name = extremes>Minnesota climate extremes. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.</ref> 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 to 49°F.<ref name=noaa>Climate of Minnesota. National Weather Service Forecast Office. Retrieved on 2006-11-05.</ref> Dewpoints range from about 6°F to 70°F.<ref name=noaa/> Depending on location, average annual precipitation ranges from 19 inches to 35 inches, and droughts occur every 10 to 50 years.<ref name=noaa/>

[edit] Protected lands

Minnesota is home to a wide variety of open, public spaces and park lands. Minnesota's first state park, Itasca State Park, was established in 1891, and is the official source of the Mississippi River.<ref>Itasca State Park. Minnesota Depertment of Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.</ref> Today Minnesota has 71 state parks. The state has 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 1000 lakes. There are 53 state forests and numerous other wildlife preserves and regional parks. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages these lands.

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.<ref name="timepieces">TimePieces. Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.</ref> 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.<ref name="Gilman">Gilman, Rhoda R. (1991-7-01). The Story of Minnesota's Past. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-8735-1267-7.</ref>

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.<ref name="hfs">Historic Fort Snelling. Minnesota Historical Society Press. Retrieved on 2006-07-06.</ref> 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.<ref name="Lass">Lass, William E. [1977] (1998). Minnesota: A History, 2nd, New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-3930-4628-1.</ref>

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.<ref name="Lass"/> 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.<ref>Danbom, David B. (Spring 2003). "Flour Power: The Significance of Flour Milling at the Falls". Minnesota History 58 (5): 271-285.</ref>

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.<ref name="Lass"/>

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.<ref name="Gilman"/>

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.<ref name="Gilman"/> During this time, suburban development accelerated due to increased postwar housing demand and convenient transportation. Increased mobility, in turn, enabled more specialized jobs.<ref name="Gilman"/>

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).<ref>Engineering Research Associates Records 1946-1959. Hagley Museum and Library. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> 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).<ref>Population in Metropolitan Statistical Areas Ranked by 2000 Census (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.</ref><ref name = popest>Population Estimates. Minnesota Demographic Center. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.</ref> 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.<ref name = popest/> 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 doubled between 1980 and 2000, while 40 of the state's 87 counties lost residents over the same decades.<ref name = EIA>Environmental Information Report, App. D Socioeconomic Information (PDF). Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (2003-05-30). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.</ref>

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.<ref name = EIA /> As of 2005, the state's residents were estimated at 5,132,799 by the U.S Census Bureau,<ref name="quickfacts">Minnesota QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> and 5,205,091 by the State Demographer.<ref name = popest /> 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.<ref name="quickfacts" /> The center of population of Minnesota is located in Hennepin County, in the city of Rogers.<ref>statecenters. U.S. Census Bureau (2000). Retrieved on 2006-11-21.</ref>

[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%).<ref name = SSC>Minnesota - Selected Social Characteristics. U.S. Census Bureau (2004). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.</ref> As of 2004, 6.1% of residents were foreign-born, compared to 12% for the nation.<ref name = SSC /><ref>National Selected Social Characteristics. U.S. Census Bureau (2004). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.</ref> The state has had the reputation of being relatively homogeneous, but that is changing. The Hispanic population of Minnesota is increasing rapidly,<ref>Minnesota Population Projections by Race and Hispanic Origin (PDF). Minnesota Department of Administration (2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-14.</ref> and recent immigrants have come from all over the world, including Hmongs,<ref> Modern Language Ass'n List of Hmong Language speakers by State using 2000 census data; Minnesota is third in the nation. Modern Language Association (2004). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.</ref> Somalis, Vietnamese, Indians, Middle Easterners, and emigrants from the former Soviet bloc.

The state's racial composition in 2005 was:<ref>State Population Estimates by Selected Race Categories: July 1, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref>

• 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.<ref>American Religious Identification Survey. Exhibit 15. The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Retrieved on 2006-11-24.</ref>

[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.<ref>Environmental Information Report, App. D Socioeconomic Information (PDF) (2003-05-30). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.</ref> The economy of Minnesota had a gross domestic product of $234 billion in 2005.<ref>Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2006-10-26). Retrieved on 2006-11-13.</ref> Thirty-six of the United States' top 1,000 publicly traded companies (by revenue in 2006) are headquartered in Minnesota.<ref>FORTUNE 500 2006: States. CNN Money. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.</ref>, 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.<ref>The Largest Private Companies. Forbes (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> The per capita income in 2004 was $36,184, the eighth-highest in the nation.<ref>Regional Economic Accounts. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Retrieved on 2006-06-22.</ref> The median household income in 2005 was $52,024, ranking eleventh in the U.S.<ref>United States and States - R2001. Median Household Income. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.</ref>

[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 agriculture,<ref>Minnesota - DP-3. Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics:  2000. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> it remains a major part of the state's economy, ranking 6^th in the nation in the value of products sold.<ref>Census of Agriculture, Minnesota State Profile. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on 2006-12-03.</ref> The state is the U.S.'s largest producer of sugar beets, sweet corn, and green peas for processing, and farm-raised turkeys.<ref name=resources>Wealth of Resources. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> 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.<ref name=resources /> 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.<ref>Ethanol Producer Magazine. Ethanol Producer Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> A 20% ethanol mix (E20) will be mandated in 2013.<ref>2005 Senate Bill 4 (Ethanol Mandate Increase). Minnesota Votes. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> Minnesota has nearly 300 gas stations supplying E85 fuel.<ref>The complete list of Minnesota E85 fuel Sites. Minnesota Department of Commerce. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> 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.<ref>Wind Energy Projects Throughout the United States of America. The American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref>

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%.<ref>Minnesota income tax rates for 2005/2006. Minnesota Department of Revenue. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> 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.<ref>Sales tax fact sheets. Minnesota Department of Revenue. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> 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.<ref>Local Sales Tax and Use (PDF). Retrieved on 2006-11-26.</ref> The cities of St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth and St. Cloud have similar taxes. 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.<ref>Gopher Express. Coffman Info Desk. Regents of the University of Minnesota (2006-10-12). Retrieved on 2006-10-24.</ref> 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.<ref>How to fringe. Fresh Art Delivered Daily. Minnesota Fringe Festival (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-22.</ref>

[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 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 Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, and Atmosphere.<ref name=Compass>Page 190</ref>

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.<ref name=Compass>Page 21</ref> 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

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. The radio show A Prairie Home Companion and the book How to Talk Minnesotan lampoon 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.<ref>Minnesota State Fair. Minnesota State Fair. Retrieved on 2006-11-22.</ref> Although the fair covers a wide swath of culture, 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 Hot Dog on a Stick). On a smaller scale, these same attractions are offered at Minnesota's numerous county fairs.

Other large annual festivals include the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Minneapolis' Aquatennial and Mill City Music Festival, and Detroit Lakes' 10,000 Lakes Music 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.<ref>Statemaster Health Statistics Physical Exercise by State. Statemaster (2002). Retrieved on 2006-08-16.</ref> The state has a low infant mortality rate and death rate, and a long average life expectancy, ranking second nationally in these measures.<ref>America's Health Rankings 2005. United Health Foundation (2002). Retrieved on 2006-08-16.</ref><ref>Explore Minnesota Living. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.</ref><ref>Statemaster Health Statistics > Death Rate per 100,000. Statemaster. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.</ref> According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 91% of Minnesotans have health insurance, more than in any other state.<ref>The Percentage of People Without Health Insurance Coverage by State Using 2- and 3-year Averages: 2003 to 2005 (pdf). Health Insurance Coverage: 2005. U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division (2006-08-29). Retrieved on 2006-11-24.</ref> These and other measures have led one group to rank Minnesota as the healthiest state in the nation, and another to rank it fourth.<ref>Statemaster Minnesota Health Statistics. Statemaster. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.</ref><ref>Minnesota Ranked Healthiest State. WebMD. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.</ref><ref>Health Statistics Health Index by state. Statemaster. Retrieved on 2006-08-16.</ref>

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.<ref>University of Minnesota Medical Milestones. University of Minnesota Medical School (2002). Retrieved on 2006-08-14.</ref> 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.<ref>Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics. University of Minnesota Medical School (2002). Retrieved on 2006-08-14.</ref>

[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.<ref>Smartest State Award. Morgan Quitno Press. Retrieved on 2006-07-24.</ref><ref>High school diploma or higher, by percentage by state. Statemaster.com (2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-16.</ref> With an 84% graduation rate, Minnesota ranks 5^th in the nation in high school graduation.<ref>Education Working Paper 8 - Table 2. Manhattan-institute. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.</ref> 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.<ref>America's Best Colleges 2007: Liberal Arts Colleges: Top Schools. USNews.com (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-06.</ref>

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.<ref>Transportation amendment update. Minnesota Department of Transportation (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-24.</ref> 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.<ref>Amtrak - Routes - Northwest. Amtrak. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.</ref> 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.<ref>Minnesota Government. Retrieved on 2006-10-20. </ref>

[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

Image:Minnesota State Capitol.jpg

[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.<ref>Explanation of Minnesota court system. Retrieved on 2006-10-19. </ref>

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.<ref>Tribal Government. Minnesota North Star. Retrieved on 2006-10-20. </ref>

[edit] Federal

Minnesota's two United States senators are Norm Coleman and Mark Dayton. The state has eight congressional districts; they are represented by Gil Gutknecht (1st district), John Kline (2nd), Jim Ramstad (3rd), Betty McCollum (4th), Martin Sabo (5th), Mark Kennedy (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

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