Minnesota is a state in the Midwest of the United States. It borders Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Minnesota shares an international border with Ontario and Manitoba in Canada. With 86,939 square miles, Minnesota is the 12th largest state. With approximately 5,420,380 residents, it is the 21st most populous state and the 31st most densely populated. Dakota Native people lived in Minnesota’s region prior to European settlement. In the 1600s, the first Europeans to arrive were French fur traders. Many Natives and settlers were killed in the struggle for control of the area’s land, and the region eventually became Minnesota Territory. Minnesota became the 32nd state to join the Union in 1858.
Interesting facts about Minnesota:
Minnesota gets its name from the Dakota Indian word Minisota, which means “sky-tinted blue” or “sky water” or “cloudy water” and refers to the Minnesota River.
Minnesota is known as the ‘Gopher State,’ the ‘North Star State,’ and the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes.’
Minnesota’s state motto is ‘L’Etoile du Nord,’ which translates to ‘North Star.’
The state song of Minnesota is ‘Hail Minnesota.’
Minnesotans are residents of Minnesota.
Minnesota’s capital city is St. Paul, and its largest city is Minneapolis.
Minnesota is home to 87 counties, 72 state parks, and 58 state forests totaling nearly 4 million acres.
Minnesota’s major rivers include the St. Croix River, the Red River of the North, the Rainy River, the Mississippi River, and the Minnesota River.
Lake Pepin, Winnibigoshish Lake, Leech Lake, Lake Superior, Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake, Vermillion Lake, Mille Lacs Lake, Lower Red Lake, and Upper Red Lake are among Minnesota’s major lakes.
Soybeans, sugar beets, wheat, dairy, and corn are among Minnesota’s most important crops. Milk is the state beverage, and blueberry muffins are the state muffin.
Mining and pulp and paper are two of Minnesota’s major industries.
The common loon is the state bird, the Monarch butterfly is the state insect, and the walleye is the state fish.
The pink and white lady’s slipper is Minnesota’s state flower.
The Norway pine is the state tree, and the Morel mushroom is the state mushroom.
The Mall of America is located in Bloomington, Minnesota. The mall is 9.5 million square feet in size, which is equivalent to 78 football fields.
The Old Log Theater in Minneapolis is the country’s oldest continuously operating theater.
Pig’s Eye was the original name for St. Paul, after a French-Canadian whiskey trader named Pierre ‘Pig’s Eye’ Parrant.
It is possible to live in Minneapolis’ downtown without ever leaving. Its skyway system connects 52 downtown blocks, allowing residents to work, shop, dine, and live without leaving the building.
Minnesota has approximately 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than Hawaii, Florida, and California combined.
Spring Valley, Minnesota is where the stapler was invented.
Tonka Trucks were not only invented in Minnetonka, but they are still produced there.
Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House on the Prairie books, grew up in the town of Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
