Minnesota

Minnesota(/ˌmɪnəˈsoʊtə/MIN-ə-SOH-tə) is astatein theUpper Midwesternregion of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces ofManitobaandOntarioto the north and east and by the U.S. states ofWisconsinto the east,Iowato the south, andNorth DakotaandSouth Dakotato the west. It is the12th-largest U.S. state in areaand the22nd-most populous, with about 5.8 million residents. Minnesota is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes"; it has 14,420 bodies of fresh water covering at least ten acres each.Roughly a third of the state isforested. Much of the remainder isprairieand farmland. More than 60% of Minnesotans (about 3.71 million) live in theMinneapolis–Saint Paulmetropolitan area, known as the "Twin Cities", which is Minnesota's mainpolitical,economic, andculturalhuband the16th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S.Other minormetropolitanandmicropolitanstatistical areas includeDuluth,Mankato,Moorhead,Rochester, andSt. Cloud.
Minnesota, which gets its name from theDakota language, has been inhabited by variousNative Americanssince theWoodland periodof the 11th century BCE. Between roughly 200 and 500 CE, two areas of the indigenousHopewell traditionemerged: theLaurel complexin the north, and Trempealeau Hopewell in theMississippi River Valleyin the south. TheUpper Mississippian culture, consisting of theOneotapeople and otherSiouanspeakers, emerged around 1000 CE and lasted through the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century. French explorers andmissionarieswere the earliest Europeans to enter the region, encountering theDakota,Ojibwe, and variousAnishinaabetribes. Much of what is now Minnesota formed part of thevast French holding of Louisiana, whichthe United States purchasedin 1803. After several territorial reorganizations, theMinnesota Territorywasadmitted to the Unionas the 32nd state in 1858. Minnesota's official motto,L'Étoile du Nord("The Star of the North"), is the onlystate mottoinFrench.This phrase was adopted shortly after statehood and reflects both the state's early French explorers and its position as the northernmost state in the contiguous U.S.
As part of theAmerican frontier, Minnesota attracted settlers andhomesteadersfrom across the country. Its growth was initially based on timber, agriculture, and railroad construction. Into the early 20th century, European immigrants arrived in significant numbers, particularly fromScandinavia, Germany, andCentral Europe. Many were linked to the failedrevolutions of 1848, which partly influenced the state's development as a center oflabor and social activism.Minnesota's rapid industrialization and urbanization precipitatedmajor social, economic, and political changesin the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the state was at the forefront oflabor rights,women's suffrage, and political reform.Consequently, Minnesota is relatively unique among Midwestern states in being a reliable base for theDemocratic Party, having voted for every Democratic presidential nominee since 1976, longer than any other U.S. state.
Since the late 20th century, Minnesota's economy has diversified away from traditional industries such as agriculture and resource extraction to services, finance, and health care. Minnesota ranks highly in terms oflife expectancyand above the national average in income per capita. Minnesota is home to 11 federally recognizedNative American reservations(seven Ojibwe, four Dakota), and its culture, demographics, and religious landscape reflectScandinavianandGermaninfluence. This heritage continues to affect the state's racial demographics, making it one of the country's least diverse states,but in recent decades, Minnesota has become more multicultural, due to both larger domestic migration and immigration from Latin America, Asia, theHorn of Africa, and the Middle East. The state has the nation's largest population ofSomali Americansand second-largestHmong community.
The wordMinnesotacomes from theDakotaname for theMinnesota River, which got its name from one of two words in Dakota: "mní sóta", which means "clear blue water",or "Mníssota", which means "cloudy water".Early explorers interpreted the Dakota name for the Minnesota River in different ways, and four spellings of the state's name were considered before settling on "Minnesota" in 1849, when the Territory of Minnesota was formed.Dakota peopledemonstrated the name to early settlers by dropping milk into water and calling itmní sóta.
Many places in the state have similar Dakota names, such asMinnehaha Falls("curling water" or waterfall),Minneiska("white water"),Minneota("much water"),Minnetonka("big water"),Minnetrista("crooked water"), and Minneapolis, ahybrid wordcombining Dakotamní("water") and-polis(Greekfor "city").Thestate sealfeatures the phraseMni Sóta Makoce("the land where the water reflects the skies"), the Dakota name for the larger region.
When Europeans arrived in North America, theDakota peoplelived in what is now Minnesota. The first Europeans to enter the region were Frenchvoyageurs,fur traderswho arrived in the 17th century. They used theGrand Portageto access trapping and trading areas further into Minnesota. TheAnishinaabe(also known asOjibweor Chippewa) were migrating into Minnesota, causing tensions with the Dakota people,and dislocated theMdewakantonfrom their homelands alongMille Lacs Lake. Explorers such asDaniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, FatherLouis Hennepin,Jonathan Carver,Henry Schoolcraft, andJoseph Nicolletmapped the state.
The region was part ofSpanish Louisianafrom 1762 to 1802.The portion of the state east of the Mississippi River became part of the United States at the end of theAmerican Revolutionary War, when theSecond Treaty of Pariswas signed. Land west of the Mississippi was acquired with theLouisiana Purchase, though theHudson's Bay Companydisputed theRed River Valleyuntil theTreaty of 1818, when the border on the49th parallelwas agreed upon.
In 1805,Zebulon Pikebargained with Native Americans to acquire land at theconfluenceof the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers to create a military reservation. The construction of Fort Snelling followed between 1819 and 1825.Its soldiers built agrist milland asawmillatSaint Anthony Falls, which were harbingers of the water-powered industries around which Minneapolis later grew. Meanwhile, squatters, government officials, and others had settled near the fort; in 1839 the army forced them off military lands, and most moved downriver, just outside the military reservation, to the area that became St. Paul.
Minnesota was part of several territorial organizations between acquisition and statehood. From 1812 to 1821 it was part of theTerritory of Missourithat corresponded with much of the Louisiana Purchase. It was briefly an unorganized territory (1821–1834) and was later consolidated with Wisconsin, Iowa and half the Dakotas to form the short-livedTerritory of Michigan(1834–1836). From 1836 to 1848, Minnesota and Iowa were part of theTerritory of Wisconsin. From 1838 to 1846, Minnesota west of the Mississippi River was part of theTerritory of Iowa. Minnesota east of the Mississippi was part of Wisconsin until 1848.
When Iowa gained statehood, western Minnesota was in an Unorganized Territory again.Minnesota Territorywas formed on March 3, 1849. The first territorial legislature, held on September 2, 1849,was dominated by men ofNew Englandancestry.Thousands of pioneers had come to create farms and cut timber. Minnesota became the32nd U.S. stateon May 11, 1858. The founding population was so overwhelmingly of New England origins that the state was dubbed "the New England of the West".
Treaties between the U.S. government and the eastern Dakota and Ojibwe gradually forced the natives off their lands and ontoreservations. As conditions deteriorated for the eastern Dakota, tensions rose, leading to theDakota War of 1862.The conflict was ignited when four young Dakota men, searching for food, killed a family of white settlers on August 17. That night, a faction ofLittle Crow's eastern Dakota decided to try to drive all settlers out of the Minnesota River valley. In the weeks that followed, Dakota warriors killed hundreds of settlers, causing thousands to flee the area.The six-week war ended with the defeat of the eastern Dakota and 2,000 in custody, who were eventually exiled to theCrow Creek Reservationby theGreat Sioux ReservationinDakota Territory. The remaining 4,500 to 5,000 Dakota mostly fled the state intoRupert's Land.As many as 800 settlers were killed during the war.
Minnesota GovernorAlexander Ramseysubsequently declared that "the Sioux Indians of Minnesota must be exterminated or driven forever beyond the borders of the state"and placed a bounty of $25/scalp on the heads of the eastern Dakota men. Over 1,600 eastern Dakota women, children, and elderly walked from the Lower Sioux Agency toFort Snellingto be held until the spring thaw allowed riverboats to take them out of Minnesota to Crow Creek Indian Reservation.William Crooks, commander of6th Minnesota, had apalisadeerected around the encampment on Pike Island, just below the fort, to protect native people from the soldiers and settlers.Conditions there were poor and between 125 and 300 died of disease.Around 400 Dakota men were tried after the war. 303 were sentenced to death, butAbraham Lincolnreviewed the convictions and approved 39 of the death sentences. In December 1862, 38 of them were hanged.
In early 1863, Ramsey resigned as governor to become the FederalIndian Commissioner. His successor, GovernorHenry Swift, raised the bounty to $200/scalp. A total of $325 was paid out to four people collecting bounties, including for Little Crow who was killed in July 1863.Upon becoming Indian Commissioner, Ramsey set out to get Ojibwe lands too. In 1863 he negotiated theTreaty of Old Crossing, whereby the Ojibwe ceded all their land in northern Minnesota and moved to reservations.
Logging, farming, and railroads were mainstays of Minnesota's early economy. The sawmills at Saint Anthony Falls and logging centers ofPine City,Marine on St. Croix,Stillwater, andWinonaprocessed vast quantities of timber. These cities were on rivers that were ideal for transportation.St. Anthony Falls was later tapped to provide power for flour mills. Innovations by Minneapolis millers led to the production of Minnesota "patent" flour, which commanded almost double the price of "bakers'" or "clear" flour which it replaced.By 1900, Minnesota mills, led byPillsbury,Northwestern, and the Washburn-Crosby Company, an ancestor ofGeneral Mills, were grinding 14.1% of the nation's grain.
The state's iron-mining industry was established with the discovery of iron in theVermilionandMesabiranges in the 1880s, followed by theCuyuna Rangein the early 1900s. The ore went by rail toDuluthandTwo Harborsfor ship transport east via theGreat Lakes.
Industrial development and the rise of manufacturing caused the population to shift gradually from rural areas to cities during the early 20th century. Nevertheless, farming remained prevalent. Minnesota's economy was hit hard by theGreat Depression, 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 Dealprograms provided some economic turnaround. TheCivilian Conservation Corpsand other programs around the state established some jobs for Indians on their reservations, and theIndian Reorganization Actof 1934 provided the tribes with a mechanism of self-government. This gave Natives a greater voice within the state and promoted more respect for tribal customs because religious ceremonies andnative languageswere no longer suppressed.
After World War II, industrial development quickened. New technology increased farm productivity through automation offeedlotsfor hogs and cattle, machine milking at dairy farms, and raising chickens in large buildings. Planting became more specialized, withhybridizationof corn and wheat, and farm machinery such astractorsandcombinesbecame the norm.University of MinnesotaprofessorNorman Borlaugcontributed to these developments as part of theGreen Revolution.Increased mobility enabled more specialized jobs.
Minnesota became a center of technology after World War II.Engineering Research Associateswas formed in 1946 to develop computers for theUnited States Navy. It later merged withRemington Rand, and then becameSperry Rand.William Norrisleft Sperry in 1957 to formControl Data Corporation(CDC).CrayResearch was formed whenSeymour Crayleft CDC to form his own company. Medical device makerMedtronicalso started business in the Twin Cities in 1949. The nonprofitMayo Clinic, which was founded in 1864 inRochester, grew to become one of the country's leading medical systems, and, by the 21st century, Minnesota's largest private employer.
In 1957, the legislature created a planning commission for the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which became theMetropolitan Councilin 1967.In 1971, under GovernorWendell Anderson, a series of legislation called the "Minnesota Miracle" led to a broad reform in financing of Minnesota public schools and local governments that created a fairer distribution in taxation and education.Two postwar Minnesota governors, former dentistRudy Perpichand former professional wrestlerJesse Ventura, attracted national attention for their unconventional manner, but both enjoyed some popularity within the state.After a period of mostly divided government during the 21st century, the DFL (Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party) gained control of all three branches of Minnesota's government and passed significant reforms in the2023 legislative session, moving the state in a progressive direction.
Minnesota is the second northernmost U.S. state (afterAlaska) and northernmost contiguous state, as the isolatedNorthwest AngleinLake of the Woods Countyis the only part of the 48contiguous statesnorth of the49th parallel. The state is part of the U.S. region known as theUpper Midwestand part of North America'sGreat Lakes region. It shares aLake Superiorwater border withMichiganand a land and water border withWisconsinto the east.Iowais to the south,North DakotaandSouth Dakotaare to the west, and theCanadian provincesofOntarioandManitobaare to the north. With 86,943 square miles (225,180 km),or approximately 2.25% of the United States,Minnesota is the 12th-largest state.
Minnesota has some of the earth's oldest rocks,gneissesthat are about 3.6billion years old (80% as old as the planet).About 2.7billion years agobasalticlavapoured out of cracks in the floor of the primordialocean; the remains of thisvolcanicrock formed theCanadian Shieldin northeast Minnesota.The roots of these volcanic mountains and the action ofPrecambrianseas formed theIron Rangeof northern Minnesota. Since a period ofvolcanism1.1billion years ago, Minnesota's geological activity has been more subdued, with no volcanism or mountain formation, but with repeated incursions of the sea, which left behind multiple strata ofsedimentary rock.
Inmore recent times, massive ice sheets at least one kilometer thick ravaged the state's landscape and sculpted its terrain.TheWisconsin glaciationleft 12,000 years ago.These glaciers covered all of Minnesota except the far southeast, an area characterized by steep hills and streams that cut into thebedrock. This area is known as theDriftless Zonefor its absence ofglacial drift.Much of the remainder of the state has 50 feet (15m) or more ofglacial tillleft behind as the last glaciers retreated. GiganticLake Agassizformed in the northwest 13,000 years ago. Its flatbed now is the fertileRed Rivervalley, and its outflow,glacial River Warren, carved the valley of theMinnesota Riverand the Upper Mississippi downstream fromFort Snelling.Minnesota is geologically quiet today; it experiencesearthquakesinfrequently, most of them minor.
The state's high point isEagle Mountainat 2,301 feet (701m), which is only 13 miles (21 km) away from the low point of 601 feet (183m) at the shore of Lake Superior.Notwithstanding dramatic local differences in elevation, much of the state is a gently rollingpeneplain.
Two majordrainage dividesmeet in Minnesota's northeast in ruralHibbing, forming a triplewatershed.Precipitationcan follow theMississippi Riversouth to theGulf of Mexico, theSaint Lawrence Seawayeast to the Atlantic Ocean, or theHudson Bay watershedto the Arctic Ocean.
The state's nickname "Land of 10,000 Lakes" is apt, as there are 11,842Minnesota lakesover 10 acres (4 ha) in size.Minnesota's portion of Lake Superior is the largest at 962,700 acres (389,600 ha; 3,896 km) and deepest (at 1,290 ft (390 m)) body of water in the state.Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for 69,000 miles (111,000 km).The Mississippi River begins its journey from itsheadwatersatLake Itascaand crosses the Iowa border 680 miles (1,090 km) downstream.It is joined by theMinnesota Riverat Fort Snelling, by theSt. Croix RivernearHastings, by theChippewa RiveratWabasha, and by many smaller streams. The Red River drains the northwest part of the state northward toward Canada's Hudson Bay. Approximately 10.6 million acres (4,300,000 ha; 43,000 km) of wetlands are within Minnesota's borders, the most of any state outside Alaska.
Minnesota has four ecological provinces:prairieparkland, in the southwestern and western parts of the state; theeastern broadleaf forest(Big Woods) in the southeast, extending in a narrowing strip to the state's northwestern part, where it transitions intotallgrass aspen parkland; and the northernLaurentian mixed forest, a transitional forest between the northernboreal forestand the broadleaf forests to the south.These northern forests are a vast wilderness ofpineandsprucetrees mixed with patchy stands ofbirchandpoplar.
Much of Minnesota's northern forest has undergone logging, leaving only a few patches ofold growth foresttoday in areas such as theChippewa National Forestand theSuperior National Forest, where theBoundary Waters Canoe Area Wildernesshas some 400,000 acres (162,000 ha) of unlogged land.Although logging continues, regrowth and replanting keep abouta third of the state forested.Nearly all Minnesota's prairies andoak savannashave been fragmented by farming, grazing, logging, and suburban development.
While loss of habitat has affected native animals such as thepine marten,elk,woodland caribou, andbison,others likewhitetail deerandbobcatthrive. Minnesota has the nation's largestpopulation of timber wolvesoutside Alaska,and supports healthy populations ofblack bears,moose, andgophers. Located on theMississippi Flyway, Minnesota hosts migratory waterfowl such asgeeseandducks, and game birds such asgrouse,pheasants, andturkeys. It is home tobirds of prey, including the largest number of breeding pairs ofbald eaglesin the lower 48 states as of 2007,red-tailed hawks, andsnowy owls.Hawk Ridgeis one of the premier birdwatching sites in North America. The lakes teem with sport fish such aswalleye,bass,muskellunge, andnorthern pike, whilebrook,brown, andrainbow troutpopulate streams in the southeast and northeast.
Minnesota experiencestemperature extremescharacteristic of itscontinental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The lowest temperature recorded was −60 °F (−51 °C) atToweron February 2, 1996. The highest was 114 °F (46 °C) atMoorheadon July 6, 1936.Meteorological events include rain, snow, blizzards, thunderstorms, hail,derechos, tornadoes, and high-velocitystraight-line winds. The growing season varies from 90 days in the far northeast to 160 days in southeast Minnesota near the Mississippi River. Average temperatures range from 37 to 49 °F (3 to 9 °C).Average summerdewpointsrange from about 58 °F (14 °C) in the south to about 48 °F (9 °C) in the north.Average annual precipitation ranges from 19 to 35 inches (48 to 89 cm). Droughts occur every 10 to 50 years.
Minnesota has been affected by climate change and warmed over the past few years. Rising temperatures have affected natural habitats and many species that live in them. For example, the lakes' water is warming, which affects fish populations: trout, a cold-water fish, is losing its habitat, while the habitat of bass, a warm-water fish, is growing.
Minnesota's first state park,Itasca State Park, was established in 1891, and is thesourceof the Mississippi River.Today Minnesota has72 state parksand recreation areas,58 state forestscovering about four million acres (16,000km), and numerous state wildlife preserves, all managed by theMinnesota Department of Natural Resources. TheChippewaandSuperior national forestscomprise 5.5 million acres (22,000 km). The Superior National Forest in the northeast contains theBoundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which encompasses over a million acres (4,000km) and a thousand lakes. To its west isVoyageurs National Park. TheMississippi National River and Recreation Area(MNRRA) is a 72-mile-long (116 km) corridor along the Mississippi River through the Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Area connecting a variety of sites of historic, cultural, and geologic interest.
Saint Paul, in east-central Minnesota along the banks of the Mississippi River, has been Minnesota'scapital citysince 1849, first as capital of theTerritory of Minnesota, and then as the state capital since 1858.
Saint Paul is adjacent to Minnesota's most populous city, Minneapolis; they and their suburbs are collectively known as theTwin Cities metropolitan area, the country's 16th-largest metropolitan area and home to about 55% of the state's population.The remainder of the state is known as "Greater Minnesota" or "Outstate Minnesota".
The state has 17 cities with populations above 50,000 as of the 2010 census. In descending order of population, they areMinneapolis,Saint Paul,Rochester,Duluth,Bloomington,Brooklyn Park,Plymouth,Saint Cloud,Woodbury,Eagan,Maple Grove,Coon Rapids,Eden Prairie,Minnetonka,Burnsville,Apple Valley,Blaine, andLakeville.Of these, only Rochester, Duluth, and Saint Cloud are outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Minnesota's population continues to grow, primarily in the urban centers. The populations of metropolitanSherburneandScottcounties doubled between 1980 and 2000, while 40 of the state's 87 counties lost residents over the same period.
The United States Navy has recognizedmultiple Minnesota communities.
According to theUnited States Census Bureauand the Minnesota State Demographic Center, Minnesota had a population of about 5.7 million in 2020, making it the 22nd-most populous U.S. state.Its fertility rate in 2021 was slightly below the replacement rate at 1.75, but the state has seen growth over the past century through more births than deaths, and significant immigration.A destination for European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily fromScandinavia,Germany, andIreland, it now attracts people fromLatin America, primarilyMexico;East Africa, particularlySomalisandEthiopians; andSouthandSoutheast Asia, especiallyHmong,Vietnamese, andIndians.The state has a diverse population in terms of age, birthplace, ancestry, and socioeconomic status, with a well-educated populace and a median household income around $77,000.
Minnesota's racial demographics have significantly diversified since its early settlement period. As of 2020, according to U.S. census data, the white population had fallen to 77.5% from over 98% in the early to mid-20th century.Concurrently, other racial populations have markedly increased. The Black population has risen to 7%, the Asian population to 5.3%, and those identifying as two or more races to 6.1%.
In the 2017American Community Survey, 5.1% of Minnesota's population were ofHispanic or Latinoorigin (of any race):Mexican(3.5%),Puerto Rican(0.2%),Cuban(0.1%), and other Hispanic or Latino origin (1.2%).The ancestry groups claimed by more than 5% of the population wereGerman(33.8%),Norwegian(15.3%),Irish(10.5%),Swedish(8.1%), andEnglish(5.4%).Minnesota has the country's largestSomalipopulation, and the largest Hmong population per capita.Minnesota also has the largestNorwegian AmericanandSwedish Americanpopulations.
Since the 1960s, Minnesota's immigrant population has been shaped by its status as a major area for refugee resettlement. As of 2018, Minnesota had the largest refugee population per capita of any state, with 2% of the country's population but 13% of its refugees.The largest groups of refugees over the past decades have been Hmongs, Somalis, Ethiopians, and Vietnamese; other major refugee groups that have recently been settling in Minnesota include Burmese, Liberians, Ecuadorians, Congolese, Russians, and Ukrainians.Minnesota also receives large numbers of non-refugee immigrants, primarily from Mexico, India, China, Korea, and Canada.
Minnesota's religious landscape is also diverse, having evolved significantly over its history. The area's first Christian influence came from Catholic missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries. 19th-century European settlers, especially Scandinavians, established Protestant denominations, particularlyLutheranism.Catholicismalso continued to be significant due to Irish immigrants, and theArchdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolisserves a substantial Catholic community. The 20th and 21st centuries witnessed growth in other Christian denominations and non-Christian religions due to further immigration, leading to the establishment ofBuddhist,Hmong folk religion,Muslim, andHinducommunities, as well as a sizableJewishcommunity.A growing number of people identify asnon-religious, in line with national trends. As of 2014, 74% of Minnesotans identified as Christian, 5% belonged to non-Christian faiths, and 20% identified as religiously unaffiliated, according to the Pew Research Center.
The Spanish, Cushite, Beja, Somali, Miao, Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Amharic, Karen, and Niger-Congo languages are spoken in Minnesota.
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Once primarily a producer of raw materials, Minnesota's economy has transformed 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.Minnesota's economy had agross domestic productof $383billion in 2019,with 33 of the United States' top 1,000 publicly traded companies by revenue headquartered in Minnesota,includingTarget,UnitedHealth Group,3M,General Mills,U.S. Bancorp,Ameriprise,Hormel,Land O' Lakes,SuperValu,Best Buy, andValspar. Private companies based in Minnesota includeCargill, the largest privately owned company in the United States,andCarlson Companies, the parent company ofRadisson Hotels.
Minnesota'sper capita personal incomein 2019 was $58,834, the thirteenth-highest in the nation.Its 2019median household incomewas $74,593, ranking thirteenth in the U.S. and fifth among the 36 states not on the Atlantic coast.
Minnesota's earliest industries were fur trading and agriculture. Minneapolis grew around the flour mills powered bySt. Anthony Falls. Although less than 1% of the population is now employed in the agricultural sector,it remains a major part of the state's economy, ranking sixth in the nation in the value of products sold.The state is the nation's largest producer ofsugar beets,sweet corn, andpeasfor processing, and farm-raisedturkeys. Minnesota is also a large producer of corn and soybeans,and has the most foodcooperativesper capita in the United States.Forestryremains strong, includinglogging,pulpwoodprocessing and paper production, and forest products manufacturing. Minnesota was famous for its soft-ore mines, which produced a significant portion of the world'siron orefor more than a century. Although the high-grade ore is now depleted,taconitemining continues, using processes developed locally to save the industry. In 2016 the state produced 60% of the country's usable iron ore.The mining boom created the port of Duluth, which continues to be important for shipping ore, coal, and agricultural products. The manufacturing sector now includes technology andbiomedicalfirms, in addition to the older food processors and heavy industry. The nation's first indoorshopping mallwasEdina'sSouthdale Center, and its largest is Bloomington'sMall of America.
Minnesota is one of 45 U.S. states with itsown lottery; its games includemulti-jurisdiction draws, in-house draws, and other games.
Minnesota producesethanol fueland is the first to mandate its use, a 10% mix (E10).In 2019 there were more than 411 service stations supplyingE85fuel, comprising 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.A 2%biodieselblend has been required indiesel fuelsince 2005. Minnesota is ranked in the top ten for wind energy production. The state gets nearly one-fifth of all its electrical energy from wind.
Xcel Energyis the state's largest utility and is headquartered in the state;it is one of five investor-owned utilities.There are also a number of municipal utilities.There are also 44 electric distribution cooperatives serving retail electric consumers throughout the state.
Minnesota has aprogressive income taxstructure; the four brackets of stateincome taxrates are 5.35%, 7.05%, 7.85%, and 9.85%.As of 2008 Minnesota was ranked 12th in the nation in per capita total state and local taxes.In 2008 Minnesotans paid 10.2% of their income in state and local taxes; the U.S. average was 9.7%.The statesales taxin Minnesota is 6.875%, but clothing, prescription drug medications and food items for home consumption are exempt.Thestate legislaturemay allow municipalities to institute local sales taxes and special local taxes, such as the 0.5% supplemental sales tax in Minneapolis.Excisetaxes are levied on alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel. The state imposes ause taxon items purchased elsewhere but used within Minnesota.Owners ofreal propertyin Minnesota payproperty taxto their county, municipality, school district, and special taxing districts.
Minnesota's leadingfine artmuseums include theMinneapolis Institute of Art, theWalker Art Center, theFrederick R. Weisman Art Museum, andThe Museum of Russian Art(TMORA). All are in Minneapolis. TheMinnesota Orchestraand theSaint Paul Chamber Orchestraare prominent full-time professionalmusical ensembleswho perform concerts and offer educational programs to the Twin Cities' community. The world-renownedGuthrie Theatermoved into a new Minneapolis facility in 2006, boasting three stages and overlooking the Mississippi River. Attendance attheatrical,musical, andcomedyevents in the area is strong. In the United States, Minneapolis's number of theater companies ranks behind onlyNew York City's,and about 2.3million theater tickets were sold in the Twin Cities annually as of 2006.TheMinnesota Fringe Festivalin Minneapolis is an annual celebration oftheatre,dance,improvisation,puppetry, kids' shows,visual art, and musicals with more than 800 performances over 11 days. It is the country's largest non-juried performing arts festival.
The rigors and rewards of pioneer life on theprairieare the subject ofGiants in the EarthbyOle Rolvaagand theLittle Houseseries of children's books byLaura Ingalls Wilder. Small-town life is portrayed grimly bySinclair Lewisin the novelMain Street, and more gently and affectionately byGarrison Keillorin his tales ofLake Wobegon. St. Paul nativeF. Scott Fitzgeraldwrites of the social insecurities and aspirations of the young city in stories such asWinter DreamsandThe Ice Palace(published inFlappers and Philosophers).Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poemThe Song of Hiawathawas inspired by Minnesota and names of many of the state's places and bodies of water. Minnesota nativeBob Dylanwon the 2016Nobel Prize in Literature. Science fiction writerMarissa Lingenlives here.
Minnesota musicians includePrince,Bob Dylan,Eddie Cochran,The Andrews Sisters,The Castaways,The Trashmen,Soul Asylum,David Ellefson,Chad Smith,John Wozniak,Hüsker Dü,Semisonic,The Replacements,Owl City,Holly Henry,Motion City Soundtrack,Atmosphere, andDessa. Minnesotans helped shape the history of music through popular American culture: the Andrews Sisters' "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was an iconic tune of World War II, while the Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird" and Bob Dylan epitomize two sides of the 1960s. In the 1980s, influential hit radio groups and musicians includedPrince,The Original 7ven,Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis,The Jets,Lipps Inc., andInformation Society.
Minnesotans have also made significant contributions to comedy, theater, media, and film. The comic stripPeanutswas created by St. Paul nativeCharles M. Schulz.A Prairie Home Companionwhich first aired in 1974, became a long-running comedy radio show onNational Public Radio. A cultsci-ficable TV show,Mystery Science Theater 3000, was created byJoel Hodgsonin Hopkins, and Minneapolis, MN. Another popular comedy staple developed in the 1990s,The Daily Show, was originated throughLizz WinsteadandMadeleine Smithberg.
Joel and Ethan Coen,Terry Gilliam,Bill Pohlad, andMike Toddcontributed to the art offilmmakingas writers, directors, and producers. Notable actors from Minnesota includeLoni Anderson,Richard Dean Anderson,James Arness,Jessica Biel,Rachael Leigh Cook,Julia Duffy,Mike Farrell,Judy Garland,Peter Graves,Josh Hartnett,Garrett Hedlund,Tippi Hedren,Jessica Lange,Kelly Lynch,E.G. Marshall,Laura Osnes,Melissa Peterman,Chris Pratt,Marion Ross,Jane Russell,Winona Ryder,Seann William Scott,Kevin Sorbo,Lea Thompson,Vince Vaughn,Jesse Ventura,James Hong, andSteve Zahn.
Stereotypicaltraits of Minnesotans include "Minnesota nice",Lutheranism, a strong sense of community and shared culture, and a distinctive brand ofNorth Central American Englishsprinkled withScandinavianexpressions.Potlucks, usually with a variety ofhotdishes, are popular small-town church activities. A small segment of the Scandinavian population attend a traditionallutefiskdinner to celebrate Christmas. Life in Minnesota has also been depicted or used as a backdrop, in movies such asFargo,Grumpy Old Men,Grumpier Old Men,Juno,Drop Dead Gorgeous,Young Adult,A Serious Man,New in Town,Rio,The Mighty Ducks films,and in famous television series likeLittle House on the Prairie,The Mary Tyler Moore Show,The Golden Girls,Coach,The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show,How I Met Your MotherandFargo. Major movies shot on location in Minnesota includeThat Was Then... This Is Now,Purple Rain,Airport,Beautiful Girls,North Country,Untamed Heart,Feeling Minnesota,Jingle All The Way,A Simple Plan, andThe Mighty Ducks films.
TheMinnesota State Fair, advertised asThe Great Minnesota Get-Together, is an icon of state culture. In a state of 5.5million people, there were more than 1.8million visitors to the fair in 2014, setting a new attendance record.The fair covers the variety of Minnesota life, includingfine art,science,agriculture, food preparation,4-Hdisplays, music,the midway, and corporate merchandising. It is known for its displays ofseed art,buttersculptures ofdairy princesses, the birthing barn, and the "fattest pig" competition. In September 1927,John Philip Sousaand his band gave the premiere performance of "The Minnesota March" at the fair before a grandstand crowd of 12,000.One can also find dozens of varieties of food on a stick, such asPronto Pups,cheese curds, and deep-fried candy bars. On a smaller scale, many of these attractions are offered at numerous county fairs.
Other large annual festivals include theSaint Paul Winter Carnival, theMinnesota Renaissance Festival, Minneapolis'Aquatennialand Mill City Music Festival,Moondance JaminWalker, theJudy GarlandFestival inGrand Rapids, theEelpout Festivalon Leech Lake, and theWE FestinDetroit Lakes.
Minnesotans have low rates of premature death, infant mortality, cardiovascular disease, and occupational fatalities.They have long life expectancies,and high rates of health insurance and regular exercise.These and other measures have led two groups to rank Minnesota as the healthiest state in the nation; however, in one of these rankings, Minnesota descended from first to sixth in the nation between 2005 and 2009 because of low levels of public health funding and the prevalence ofbinge drinking.While overall health indicators are strong, Minnesota does have significant health disparities in minority populations.
On October 1, 2007, theFreedom to Breathe Acttook effect, outlawing smoking in restaurants and bars in Minnesota.
TheMinnesota Department of Healthis the primary state health agency responsible for public policy and regulation. Medical care in the state is provided by a comprehensive network of hospitals and clinics operated by a number of large providers includingAllinaHospitals & Clinics,CentraCare Health System,Essentia Health,HealthPartners,M Health Fairviewand theMayo Clinic Health System. There are two teaching hospitals and medical schools in Minnesota. TheUniversity of Minnesota Medical Schoolis a high-rated teaching institution that has made a number of breakthroughs in treatment, and its research activities contribute significantly to the state's growingbiotechnologyindustry.TheMayo Clinic, a world-renowned hospital based in Rochester, was founded byWilliam Worrall Mayo, an immigrant from England.
U.S. News & World Report's2020–21 survey ranked 4,554 hospitals in the country in 12 specialized fields of care, and placed the Mayo Clinic in the top four in most fields. The hospital ranked first on the best hospitals honor roll. The only specialty where it fell outside the top ten was ophthalmology.The Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota are partners in the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics, a state-funded program that conducts research intocancer,Alzheimer's disease,heart health,obesity, and other areas.
One of the first acts of the Minnesota Legislature when it opened in 1858 was the creation of anormal schoolin Winona. Minnesota's commitment to education has contributed to a literate and well-educated populace. In 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Minnesota had the second-highest proportion of high school graduates, with 91.5% of people 25 and older holding ahigh school diploma, and the tenth-highest proportion of people with bachelor's degrees.In 2015, Minneapolis was named the nation's "Most Literate City", while St. Paul placed fourth, according to a major annual survey.In a 2013 study conducted by the National Center for Educational Statistics comparing the performance of eighth-grade students internationally in math and science, Minnesota ranked eighth in the world and third in the United States, behind Massachusetts and Vermont.In 2014, Minnesota students earned the tenth-highest average composite score in the nation on theACT exam.In 2013, nationwide in per-student public education spending, Minnesota ranked 21st.While Minnesota has chosen not to implementschool vouchers,it is home to the firstcharter school.
The state supports a network of public universities and colleges, including 37 institutions in theMinnesota State Colleges and Universities System, and five major campuses of theUniversity of Minnesota system. It is also home to more than 20 private colleges and universities, six of which rank among the nation's top 100liberal artscolleges, according toU.S. News & World Report.
Transportation in Minnesota is overseen by theMinnesota Department of Transportation(MnDOT) at the state level and by regional and local governments at the local level. Principal transportation corridors radiate from theTwin Citiesmetropolitan area and along interstate corridors in Greater Minnesota. The majorInterstate highwaysareInterstate35(I-35),I-90, andI-94, with I-35 and I-94 connecting the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, and I-90 traveling east–west along the southern edge of the state.In 2006, aconstitutional amendmentwas passed that required sales and use taxes on motor vehicles to fund transportation, with at least 40% dedicated topublic transit.There are nearly two dozenrailcorridors in Minnesota, most of which go through Minneapolis–St. Paul or Duluth.There is water transportation along theMississippi Riversystem and from the ports ofLake Superior.
Minnesota's principal airport isMinneapolis–St. Paul International Airport(MSP), a major passenger and freight hub forDelta Air LinesandSun Country Airlines. Most other domestic carriers serve the airport. Large commercial jet service is provided at Duluth and Rochester, with scheduled commuter service to four smaller cities viaDelta ConnectioncarriersSkyWest Airlines,Compass Airlines, andEndeavor Air.
Public transit services are available in the regional urban centers in Minnesota includingMetro Transitin the Twin Cities, opt-out suburban operatorsMinnesota Valley Transit Authority,SouthWest Transit, Plymouth Metrolink, Maple Grove Transit and others. In Greater Minnesota transit services are provided by city systems such asDuluth Transit Authority,Mankato Transit System,MATBUS (Fargo-Moorhead),Rochester Public Transit,Saint Cloud Metro Bus, Winona Public Transit and others. Dial-a-Ride service is available for persons with disabilities in a majority of Minnesota counties.
In addition to bus services,Amtrak's dailyEmpire Builder(Chicago–Seattle/Portland) train runs through Minnesota, calling at theSaint Paul Union Depotand five other stations.Intercity bus providers includeJefferson Lines,Greyhound, andMegabus. Local public transit is provided bybusnetworks in the larger cities and by two rail services. TheNorthstar Linecommuter railservice runs fromBig Laketo theTarget Field stationin downtown Minneapolis. From there,light railruns to Saint Paul Union Depot on theGreen Line, and to the MSP airport and theMall of Americavia theBlue Line.
Minnesota is governed pursuant to theMinnesota Constitution, which was adopted on October 13, 1857, roughly one year before statehood.Like all U.S. states and the federal government, Minnesota has arepublican systemof political representation with power divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.The state constitution includes a bill of rights that reaffirms many of the same rights and freedoms as itsfederal counterpart, with some protected more strongly and explicitly.
The executive branch is led by Minnesota'sgovernor, currentlyTim Walz, aDFLerwho took office on January 7, 2019. Walz was alsoKamala Harris's running mate in the2024 United States presidential election. As chief executive, thegovernorappoints the heads of state agencies and is responsible for faithful execution of the law. As commander-in-chief of the state's armed forces, the governor also has command and control over theMinnesota National Guard.Acabinetconsisting of thelieutenant governorand the heads of Minnesota's 22 state agencies consults and assists the governor in the business of state government.
Aside from the governor and lieutenant governor, who are elected on ajoint ticket, Minnesotans separately elect three other constitutional officers: asecretary of state, anattorney general, and astate auditor.These five "executive officers" together constitute theExecutive Council, which has certain statutory responsibilities in matters of state finance, emergency management, and public lands administration.
Constitutional officeholders:
TheMinnesota Legislatureis abicameralbody consisting of theSenateand theHouse of Representatives. The state has 67 districts, each with about 60,000 people. Each district has one senator and two representatives, each senatorial district being divided intoAandBsections for members of the House. Senators serve for four years and representatives for two years.
Since 2023, both the House and Senate have had a slim DFL majority.
Minnesota's court system has three levels. Most cases start in thedistrict courts, which are courts of general jurisdiction. There are 279 district court judgeships in ten judicial districts. Appeals from the trial courts and challenges to certain governmental decisions are heard by theMinnesota Court of Appeals, consisting of 19 judges who typically sit in three-judge panels. The seven-justiceMinnesota Supreme Courthears all appeals from the tax court, theworkers' compensation court of appeals, first-degree murder convictions, anddiscretionary appealsfrom the court of appeals; it also hasoriginal jurisdictionover election disputes.
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.
Supreme Court Justices
Associate Justices
In addition to the city and county levels of government found in the United States, Minnesota has other entities that provide governmental oversight and planning.Regional development commissions(RDCs) provide technical assistance to local governments in the broad multi-county areas of the state. Along with thisMetropolitan Planning Organizations(MPOs), such as theMetropolitan Council, provide planning and oversight of land use actions in metropolitan areas. Many lakes and rivers are overseen bywatershed districtsandsoil and water conservation districts.
Minnesota'sUnited States senatorsare DemocratsAmy KlobucharandTina Smith. The state has eightcongressional districts; they are represented byBrad Finstad(1st district; R),Angie Craig(2nd; DFL),Kelly Morrison(3rd; DFL),Betty McCollum(4th; DFL),Ilhan Omar(5th; DFL),Tom Emmer(6th; R),Michelle Fischbach(7th; R), andPete Stauber(8th; R).
Federal court cases are heard in theUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, andFergus Falls. Appeals are heard by theEighth Circuit Court of AppealsinSt. Louis, Missouriand St. Paul.
The State of Minnesota was created by the United States federal government in the traditional and cultural range of lands occupied by theDakotaandAnishinaabepeoples as well as other Native American groups. After many years of unequal treaties and forced resettlement by the state and federal government, the tribes re-organized into sovereign tribal governments. Today, the tribal governments are divided into 11 semi-autonomousreservationsthat negotiate with the U.S. and the state on a bilateral basis:
Four DakotaMdewakantoncommunities:
Seven Anishinaabe reservations:
The first six of the Anishinaabe bands compose theMinnesota Chippewa Tribe, the collective federally recognized tribal government of the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and White Earth reservations.
Minnesota is known for a politically active citizenry, andpopulismhas been a long-standing force among the state'spolitical parties.Minnesota has a consistently highvoter turnout. In the2008 U.S. presidential election, 78.2% of eligible Minnesotans voted – the highest percentage of any U.S. state – versus the national average of 61.2%.That figure was surpassed in 2020, when 79.96% of registered voters participated in the general election.Voters can register onelection dayat theirpolling placeswith evidence of residency.
Hubert Humphreybrought national attention to the state with his address at the1948 Democratic National Convention. Minnesotans have consistently cast their Electoral College votes for Democratic presidential candidates since 1976, longer than any other state. Minnesota is the only state in the nation that did not vote forRonald Reaganin either of his presidential campaigns. Minnesota has voted for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election since 1960, with the exception of 1972, when the state was won by RepublicanRichard Nixon.
Both the Democratic and Republican parties have major-party status in Minnesota, but its state-level Democratic party has a different name, officially known as theMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party(DFL). It was formed out of a 1944 alliance of the Minnesota Democratic andFarmer–Laborparties.
The state has had active third-party movements. TheReform Party, now theIndependence Party, was able to elect former mayor ofBrooklyn Parkandprofessional wrestlerJesse Venturato thegovernorship in 1998. TheIndependence Partyhas received enough support to keep major-party status. TheGreen Party, while no longer having major-party status, has a large presence in municipal government,notably in Minneapolis and Duluth, where it competes directly with the DFL party for local offices. Major-party status in Minnesota (which grants state funding for elections) is reserved for parties whose candidates receive five percent or more of the vote in any statewide election (e.g., governor, secretary of state, U.S. president).
The state'sU.S. Senateseats was split in the early 1990s and in the108thand109thCongresses, Minnesota's congressional delegation was split, with four representatives and one senator from each party. In the 2006 mid-term election, Democrats were elected to all state offices, except governor and lieutenant governor, where RepublicansTim PawlentyandCarol Molnaunarrowly won reelection. The DFL posted double-digit gains in both houses of the legislature, elected Amy Klobuchar to the U.S. Senate, and increased the party's U.S. House caucus by one. Keith Ellison (DFL) was elected as the firstAfrican AmericanU.S. Representative from Minnesota, as well as the firstMuslimelected to Congress nationwide.In 2008, DFLer and former comedian and radio talk show hostAl Frankendefeated incumbent RepublicanNorm Colemanin the U.S. Senate race by 312 votes out of three million cast.
In the 2010 election, Republicans took control of both chambers of the Minnesota legislature for the first time in 38 years and, with Mark Dayton's election, the DFL party took the governor's office for the first time in 20 years. Two years later, the DFL regained control of both houses, and with Dayton in office, the party had same-party control of both the legislative and executive branches for the first time since 1990. Two years later, the Republicans regained control of the Minnesota House,and in 2016, the GOP also regained control of the State Senate.
In 2018, the DFL retook control of the Minnesota House, while electing DFLerTim Walzas Governor.
In a 2020 study, Minnesota was ranked as the 15th easiest state for citizens to vote in.
The Twin Cities area is the fifteenth largestmedia marketin the United States, as ranked byNielsen Media Research. The state's other top markets areFargo–Moorhead(118th nationally),Duluth–Superior(137th), Rochester–Mason City–Austin (152nd), and Mankato (200th).
Broadcast televisionin Minnesota and the Upper Midwest started on April 27, 1948, whenKSTP-TVbegan broadcasting.Hubbard Broadcasting, which owns KSTP, is now the only locally owned television company in Minnesota. Twin CitiesCBSstationWCCO-TVandFOXstationKMSP-TVareowned-and-operatedby their respective networks. There are39 analogbroadcast stations and 23digitalchannels broadcast over Minnesota.
The four largest daily newspapers are theStar Tribunein Minneapolis, thePioneer Pressin Saint Paul, theDuluth News Tribunein Duluth, and thePost-Bulletinin Rochester.The Minnesota Dailyis the largest student-run newspaper in the U.S.Sites offering daily news on the Web includeThe UpTake,MinnPost, the Twin CitiesDaily Planet, business news siteFinance and Commerceand Washington D.C.–basedMinnesota Independent. Weekly and monthly publications such asMinnesota Monthlyare available.
Two of the largestpublic radionetworks,Minnesota Public Radio(MPR) andPublic Radio International(PRI), are based in the state. MPR has the largest audience of any regional public radio network in the nation, broadcasting on 46 radio stations as of 2019.PRI weekly provides more than 400 hours of programming to almost 800 affiliates.The state's oldest radio station,KUOM-AM, was launched in 1922 and is among the 10-oldest radio stationsin the United States. The University of Minnesota-owned station is still on the air, and since 1993 broadcasts acollege rockformat.
Minnesota has an active program of organized amateur and professional sports. Tourism has become an important industry, especially in the Lake region. In the North Country, what had been an industrial area focused on mining and timber has largely been transformed into a vacation destination. Popular interest in the environment andenvironmentalism, added to traditional interests inhuntingand fishing, has attracted a large urban audience within driving range.
Minnesota has professional men's teams in all major sports.
TheMinnesota Vikingshave played in the National Football League since their admission as an expansion franchise in 1961. They played inMetropolitan Stadiumfrom 1961 through 1981 and in theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodomefrom 1982 until its demolition after the 2013 season for the construction of the team's new home,U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings' current stadium hostedSuper Bowl LIIin February 2018.Super Bowl XXVIwas played in the Metrodome in 1992. The Vikings have advanced to the Super BowlSuper Bowl IV,Super Bowl VIII,Super Bowl IX, andSuper Bowl XI, losing all four games to their AFC/AFL opponent.
TheMinnesota Twinshave played in the Major League Baseball in the Twin Cities since 1961. The Twins began play as the originalWashington Senators, a founding member of the American League in 1901, relocating to Minnesota in 1961. The Twins won the 1987 and1991 World Seriesin seven-game matches where the home team was victorious in all games. The Twins also advanced to the1965 World Series, where they lost to theLos Angeles Dodgersin seven games. The team has played atTarget Fieldsince 2010.
TheMinneapolis Lakersof the National Basketball Association played in theMinneapolis Auditoriumfrom 1947 to 1960, after which they relocated to Los Angeles. TheMinnesota Timberwolvesjoined the NBA in 1989, and have played inTarget Centersince 1990.
The National Hockey League'sMinnesota Wildplay in St. Paul'sXcel Energy Center, and reached 300 consecutive sold-out games on January 16, 2008.Previously, theMinnesota North Starscompeted in NHL from 1967 to 1993, which played in and lost the 1981 and 1991Stanley Cup Finals.
Minnesota United FCjoinedMajor League Socceras an expansion team in 2017, having played in the lower-divisionNorth American Soccer Leaguefrom 2010 to 2016. The team plays atAllianz Fieldin St. Paul.Previous professional soccer teams have included theMinnesota Kicks, which played atMetropolitan Stadiumfrom 1976 to 1981, and theMinnesota Strikersfrom 1984 to 1988.
Minnesota also has minor-league professional sports teams. TheMinnesota Swarmof theNational Lacrosse Leagueplayed at the Xcel Energy Center until the team moved to Georgia in 2015. TheSt. Paul Saints, who play atCHS Fieldin St. Paul, are theTriple-Aminor league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
Professional women's sports include theMinnesota Lynxof the Women's National Basketball Association, winners of the 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 WNBA Championships,Minnesota Aurora FCof theUnited Soccer LeagueW-League, theMinnesota Vixenof theIndependent Women's Football League, theMinnesota Valkyrieof the Legends Football League, theMinnesota Frostof theProfessional Women's Hockey League, and theMinnesota Whitecapsof the National Women's Hockey League.
The Twin Cities campus of theUniversity of Minnesotais a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I school competing in theBig Ten Conference. Four additional schools in the state compete in NCAA Division I ice hockey: theUniversity of Minnesota Duluth;Minnesota State University, Mankato;St. Cloud State UniversityandBemidji State University. There are nineNCAA Division IIcolleges in theNorthern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and twentyNCAA Division IIIcolleges in theMinnesota Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceandUpper Midwest Athletic Conference.
Minneapolis has hosted theNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championshipin1951,1992,2001, and2019.
TheHazeltine National Golf Clubhas hosted theU.S. Open,U.S. Women's Open,U.S. Senior OpenandPGA Championship. The course also hosted theRyder Cupin the fall of 2016, when it became one of two courses in the U.S. to host all major golf competitions. The Ryder Cup is scheduled to return in 2028.
Interlachen Country Clubhas hosted theU.S. Open,U.S. Women's Open, and Solheim Cup.
Winter Olympic Gamesmedalists from the state include twelve of the twenty members of thegold medal1980 ice hockey team(coached by Minnesota nativeHerb Brooks) and the bronze medalistU.S. men'scurlingteam in the2006 Winter Olympics, as well as the gold medal-winning team fromDuluthat the2018 Winter Olympics. SwimmerTom Malchowwon an Olympic gold medal in the2000 Summer gamesand a silver medal in1996.
Grandma's Marathonis run every summer along the scenicNorth Shore of Lake Superior, and theTwin Cities Marathonwinds around lakes and the Mississippi River during the peak of thefall color season. Farther north,Evelethis the location of theUnited States Hockey Hall of Fame.
Minnesotans participate in high levels of physical activity,and many of these activities are outdoors. The strong interest of Minnesotans in environmentalism has been attributed to the popularity of these pursuits.
In the warmer months, these activities often involve water. Weekend and longer trips to familycabinson Minnesota's numerous lakes are a way of life for many residents. Activities includewater sportssuch aswater skiing, which originated in the state,boating,canoeing, andfishing. More than 36% of Minnesotans fish, second only to Alaska.
Fishing does not cease when the lakes freeze;ice fishinghas been around since the arrival of early Scandinavian immigrants.Minnesotans have learned to embrace their long, harsh winters in ice sports such asskating,hockey, curling, andbroomball, and snow sports such ascross-country skiing,alpine skiing,luge,snowshoeing, andsnowmobiling.Minnesota is the only U.S. state wherebandyis played.
State and national forests and the 72 state parks are used year-round for hunting,camping, andhiking. There are almost 20,000 miles (32,000 km) of snowmobile trails statewide.Minnesota has more miles ofbike trailsthan any other state,and a growing network ofhiking trails, including the 235-mile (378 km)Superior Hiking Trailin the northeast.Many hiking and bike trails are used for cross-country skiing during the winter.
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