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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. Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers by dropping milk into water and calling it mnisota. 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 the Greek word for "city", polis. Geography
Terrain Much of the state is relatively flat, but pockmarked with lakes, having been eroded by glacial periods during the Ice Age. The extreme southeastern portion of the state is part of the Driftless Zone, which was not covered by the last Wisconsin glaciation. It is here that Lake Pepin and the rugged high bluffs of the Mississippi River are found. The northeastern portion of the state is on the Canadian Shield and is covered by rugged ranges of hills, notably the Mesabi Range, rich in iron ore, the Sawtooth Mountains along the shore of Lake Superior, the Misquah Hills and the Laurentian Highlands in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Two continental divides meet in the northwestern part of Minnesota, creating three watersheds. Rain falling in the state 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. The state's high point is Eagle Mountain at 2,301 ft (701 m) and a low of 602 ft (183 m) at the surface of Lake Superior. Minnesota is one of the most geologically stable regions in the country. It experiences earthquakes rarely, most of which are minor; the strongest earthquake in the last century occurred near Morris in 1975 and rated between 4.6 and 4.8 in magnitude. Flora and fauna Three of the great biomes of North America converge in Minnesota: the Great Plains of the west, the Eastern deciduous forest, and the Northern coniferous forest of the Canadian Shield. Much of Minnesota's northern forest was logged, leaving only a few patches of old growth forest such as in the Chippewa National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area,• but regrowth keeps large portions of the state forested. The northern coniferous forests are a vast wilderness of pristine pine and spruce forests mixed in with patchy stands of birch and poplar. While loss of habitat has created troubles for native animals such as the pine marten, North American elk, buffalo, cougar, woodland caribou and bobcat, the state contains the nation's largest population of timber wolves outside Alaska and supports healthy populations of black bear, moose and whitetail deer. Recent DNR reports have indicated an increase in cougar reports over the past decade, but many sightings have been attributed to people raising and releasing them as pets and western mountain animals seeking prey. Located on the Mississippi Flyway, the state hosts migratory waterfowl such as geese and ducks, as well as game birds such as grouse, pheasants, and turkeys. Minnesota's lakes teem with the many sport fish of the region including walleye, bass, muskellunge, and northern pike. The streams in the southeast are populated with brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout. Climate Minnesota endures temperature extremes characteristic of its continental climate, with cold winters and mild to hot summers in the south and frigid winters and generally cool summers in the north. Without the climate-moderating benefits of large bodies of water, except for highly localized effects near Lake Superior, temperatures in Minnesota vary widely, especially with variations in the short-term jet stream patterns and polar fronts. Temperature extremes range from a low of -60 °Fahrenheit (-51 °C) measured at Tower in the north on February 2, 1996, to highs of 114 °F (45.5 °C) reached in both 1917 and 1936 in the western part of the state. The average temperature in the coldest month, January, is 11.2 °F (-11.5 °C), and the average in the warmest month, July, is 73.1 °F (22.8 °C). Averages are cooler in the north and warmer in the south. Snowfall averages 49.6 inches (126 cm) statewide; averages range from about 85 inches at Duluth to 40 inches in southwestern portions of the state. Snowfall extremes have ranged from 150 inches in the rugged Superior Highlands of the North Shore to as little as 10 inches in southern Minnesota. Minnesota experiences blizzards during its long winters, with dangerous wind chills and occasional thunderstorms the rest of the year; the state averages 30–40 days of thunderstorm activity per year. Minnesota is located on the northern edge of Tornado Alley, and peak tornado activity is from June through August. On average, the state has 24 tornadoes per year. Total precipitation averages range from 20–35 inches across the state, with the most in the southeast and the least in the northwest. The heaviest winds in the state are found along the Buffalo Ridge, an elongated area extending from Watertown, South Dakota, diagonally across southwestern Minnesota and into Iowa. Created by a glacial drift from the last ice age, the Buffalo Ridge is ideal for wind power generation, with average wind speeds of 16.1 miles per hour (26.8 kph).• Lakes and rivers The state's nickname, The Land of 10,000 Lakes, is no exaggeration. In fact, there are 11,842 lakes over 10 acres in size.Lakes, rivers & wetlands facts Retrieved September 16, 2006. The Minnesota portion of Lake Superior is the largest (962,700 acres) and deepest (1,290 feet) body of water in the state. Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that traverse a total of 69,000 miles. The Mississippi River begins a 680 mile journey through Minnesota from its headwaters at Lake Itasca. It is joined at Fort Snelling by the Minnesota River, and in the southeast by many trout streams. The Red River of the North, in the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz, drains the northwest part of the state northward towards Canada's Hudson Bay. Protected lands
History Cities and towns
Demographics histpop |1850|6,077| |1860|172,023|2,731% |1870|439,706|156% |1880|780,773|78% |1890|1,310,283|68% |1900|1,751,394|34% |1910|2,075,708|19% |1920|2,387,125|15% |1930|2,563,953|7% |1940|2,792,300|9% |1950|2,982,483|7% |1960|3,413,864|14% |1970|3,804,971|11% |1980|4,075,970|7% |1990|4,375,099|7% |2000|4,919,479|12% |2005 est The gain since 2000 has resulted from a natural increase of 161,252 people (358,012 births minus 196,760 deaths) and net migration of 54,032 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 70,800 people, while migration within the country produced a net loss of 16,768 people. As of 2004 6.1% of Minnesota residents were foreign-born, compared to 11.1% for the nation. Race and ancestry Over 75% of the population is of Western European descent, with the largest reported ancestries being German (37.3%), Norwegian (17.0%), Irish (12.2%), and Swedish (10.0%).• The state had a reputation of being relatively homogenous, but that is changing. The Hispanic population of Minnesota continues to increase in great numbers. Recent immigrants have come from all over the world, including Hmongs, Somalis, Vietnamese, Indians, Middle Easterners, and emigrants from the former Soviet bloc. The state has the third-largest population of Hmong speakers in the United States. It is also first in concentration of Hmong population. Many modern immigrants have been sponsored and assisted by religious congregations. Population distribution The population distribution by age in 2000 was: Religion
Economy The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Minnesota's total state product in 2005 was $233.3 billion. Per capita personal income in 2004 was $36,184, 8th in the nation. The average household income in 1999 was approximately $48,000, also ranking eighth in the nation (U.S. Census Bureau). Average household income per county averages range from $17,369 in Todd County to $42,313 in Hennepin County. In general, salaries are lowest in more rural areas, particularly in the northwest portion of the state. Retail sales per capita were $10,260 in 1997, higher than the U.S. average of $9,190 (U.S. Census Bureau). The Twin Cities suburb of Roseville has the highest per capita sales, which recorded $14,870 per capita, but total revenues are much higher in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and Edina. Industry and commerce
Energy use and production Ethanol fuel is produced in the state, and a 10% mix of ethanol (E10) into consumer gasoline has been mandated since 1997. As of 2006, Minnesota is the only U.S. state with such a mandate. 20% ethanol (E20) will be mandated in 2013. Minnesota has nearly 300 gas stations supplying E85 fuel as well. 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. As of October 2006, the state is the country's fourth-largest wind energy producer, with 794 megawatts installed and an additional 82 MW planned. Like other Midwestern states that experience cold winters, Minnesota is heavily dependent on natural gas for home heating. Just over two-thirds of homes use the fuel. The state does not produce any petroleum of its own but boasts the largest oil refinery of any non-oil-producing state, the Pine Bend Refinery. One of the longest pipelines in the world, the Lakehead Pipeline, traverses northern Minnesota. Most of the petroleum used in the state comes from Canada and the northwestern United States. State taxes Minnesota has three brackets of state income tax rates, 5.35%, 7.05% and 7.85%. The sales tax in Minnesota for most items is 6.5%. The state does not charge sales tax on clothing, some services, or food items for home consumption. It does tax prepared food, candy and soft drinks. The state also imposes a use tax on items purchased elsewhere but used within Minnesota. Minnesota property owners pay property tax to their county, municipality, school district, and special taxing districts. Three factors that affect the tax bill are the amount the local governments spend to provide services to the community, the estimated market value of the property, and the classification of the property. Fine arts and architecture The Twin Cities area is considered the capital for the arts in the Upper Midwest. Major fine art museums include the Weisman Art Museum, the Walker Art Center, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Attendance at theatrical, musical, and comedy events across the area is strong, which may be attributed to the cold winters, the large number of colleges and universities, and a generally vibrant economy. In 2000, 2.3 million theater tickets were sold in the Twin Cities region, which is more theater seats per capita than in any other American city, except New York City.• Entertainment Minnesotan musicians from all genres have gained notoriety over the years, with the singing Andrews Sisters gaining worldwide prominence during World War II, followed most notably by Hibbing, MN native Bob Dylan (who launched his career playing free shows on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus), to the rise of punk rockers Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum, the Replacements, and the rhythm and blues stylings of Morris Day and the Time and Prince in the 1980s. R&B mega-producing team Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis have origins in the Twin Cities, and jazz musician Lester Young lived there for a time in his youth. These later sources brought the Minneapolis music scene to national attention; the period from about 1977 to 1987 was a period of incredible dynamism in the Minneapolis music scene, with offshoots in the punk scene including Soul Asylum, Babes in Toyland, the Clams and many other seminal favorites, while Prince's immense power in the industry (which peaked during this period) created a Rhythm and Blues mini-empire at his Paisley Park Studios, based in suburban Chanhassen. Contemporary local artists continue to enjoy critical acclaim such as hip-hop duo Atmosphere and frontman Slug's label Rhymesayers Entertainment, the smaller Doomtree, and commercially successful pop-rockers Semisonic. While things have slowed considerably, the Twin Cities are still the region's musical hotbed. The area has also shown an unusual affinity for certain artists. For instance, while largely unnoticed on their home turf in New York City, the Twin Cities accounted for the majority of national sales for Soul Coughing's second album Irresistible Bliss during its first eight weeks of release; this followed from the fledgling fan that Soul Coughing found here while touring for their first effort, Ruby Vroom. Minnesota and Wisconsin have also contributed significantly to comedy in its many different forms. Ole and Lena jokes can't be fully appreciated unless delivered in the accent of Scandinavian-Americans, and Garrison Keillor is known around the country for resurrecting the old-style radio comedy with A Prairie Home Companion. 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 numerous others brought the offbeat cult shows Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Let's Bowl to the national cable-waves from the Twin Cities. Popular culture Stereotypical Minnesotan traits include Lutheranism, "Minnesota nice," hot dish (a Minnesotan term for casserole), lutefisk (a pungent preparation of fish from Scandinavian recipes that include soaking in lye), a strong sense of community and shared culture with many other Minnesotans instead of just with one's town or city, Minnesota's form of Upper Midwest American English (including Scandinavian-sounding words like "uff da"), and a distinctive type of upper Midwestern accent. The book How to Talk Minnesotan made fun of these stereotypical traits of Minnesotans. Outdoor activities are major parts of the lives of many Minnesotans. Fishing is popular in Minnesota, over 36% of Minnesotans fish, which is second only to Alaska. During the winter ice fishing is popular, as it has been since the early Scandinavian immigrants arrived. Hunting is another common activity. Families frequently own or share cabins on central and northern tracts of land in forests and adjoining lakes, and weekend trips out to these properties are common, particularly in the summer. A concern for environmentalism is shared by most state residents in one form or another, which is sometimes attributed to the popularity of these outdoor activities. The 71 state parks which protect diverse landscapes in a state of nature are quite popular. As with other northwoods states (such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine), residents like to joke that the mosquito is the state bird because of their high populations in these areas. In reality, Minnesota's state bird is the common loon, whose distinctive cry can often be heard by campers in the northern part of the state and can even on occasion be found as far south as the lakes of Minneapolis. Socio-economic 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, Minnesota has remained among the ten strongest states in the United States in education in most surveys. It ranks sixth on the 2005-06 Morgan Quitno Smartest State Award and first on the percentage of its residents with a high school diploma or higher. While Minnesota has resisted movements in education such as school vouchers and the teaching of intelligent design, it is home to one of the first charter schools. Health The University of Minnesota Medical School is a highly-rated teaching institution which has made a number of significant breakthroughs in treatment, and its research activities significantly contribute to the state's growing biotechnical industry. The Mayo Clinic, a world-renowned medical practice, is based in Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo and the University are partners in the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics, a state-funded program which conducts research projects in cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart health, obesity, and other areas. Minnesota ranks first in the percentage of residents engaging in regular physical exercise, and second in three crucial indices: low infant mortality; long life expectancies, and death rate per 100,000. These and other measures have led one group to rank Minnesota as the healthiest state in the nation, and another to rank it fourth. Transportation Transportation in Minnesota is overseen by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Principal transportation corridors radiate out from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and Duluth. 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 at the southern edge of the state. There are nearly two dozen rail corridors within the State, most of which go to or through Minneapolis-St. Paul or Duluth. There is water transportation along the Mississippi River system and from Lake Superior ports. Minnesota's principal airport is Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), the headquarters and a major passenger and freight hub for Northwest Airlines. MSP is also a hub for Sun Country Airlines, and is served by most other domestic carriers. Large commercial jet service is also provided at Duluth and Rochester, with scheduled commuter service to six smaller cities with Eagan, MN based Mesaba Airlines. Amtrak's Empire Builder runs through Minnesota, making stops at Midway Station in St. Paul and five other stations. 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. Law and government As in the national government of the United States, power in Minnesota is divided into three main branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Executive The executive branch is headed by the governor, currently Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, whose term began 6 January, 2003. The current lieutenant governor of Minnesota is Carol Molnau. Molnau also currently serves as the head of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Both the governor and lieutenant governor have four-year terms. The governor has a cabinet consisting of the leaders of various government agencies in the state, called commissioners. The other constitutional offices are secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor. 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 2004 election, the Republican Party retained control of the Minnesota House of Representatives by a single seat (68-66), having lost a total of 13 seats. The Minnesota Senate is controlled by the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) (38-29). 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 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. Two specialized courts within administrative agencies have been established, the Tax Court which deals with non-criminal tax cases, and the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals. Regional government 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 govern themselves independently. Federal representation Minnesota's two U.S. 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 Politics Minnesota is known for active yet quirky politics, with populism being a longstanding force among the state's political parties. Minnesota politics include such oddities as Jesse Ventura, a professional wrestler turned governor and R.T. Rybak, a protester turned crowd-surfing mayor. Minnesota has consistently high voter turnout; in the 2004 U.S. presidential election 77.2% of eligible Minnesotans voted, the highest of any U.S. state, due in part to its liberal voter registration laws. Previously unregistered voters can register on election day, at their polls, with evidence of residency. In the last half of the 20th century Minnesota has leaned Democratic but now is viewed as more a swing state. Minnesotans have voted for Democrats for president ever since 1976, longer than any other state. Minnesota and the District of Columbia were the only electoral votes not won by incumbent Republican President Ronald Reagan. Minnesota voters instead chose former Vice President and Senator Walter Mondale, a Minnesota native. Mondale or Hubert Humphrey were on the Democratic ticket as candidates for President or Vice President in the 1964, 1968, 1976, 1980 and 1984 elections. The state has had active third party movements. The Reform Party was able to elect the former mayor of Brooklyn Park, and former professional wrestler, Jesse Ventura to the governorship in 1998. The state's Green Party has elected several city council members and other local office-holders in Duluth, Minneapolis and Winona, and has made strong runs for state legislature during the past two election cycles. In 2000, Green Party candidate Ralph Nader received just over 5% of the presidential votes cast, gaining Major Party status for the Green Party of Minnesota. The Independence Party has also received sufficient support to receive major party status. Media The Twin Cities area is the 15th largest media market in the United States as ranked by Nielsen Media Research. The state's other top 210 media markets are Fargo-Moorhead (118th), Duluth-Superior (137th), Rochester-Mason City-Austin (152nd), and Mankato (200th). Broadcast television in Minnesota, and the Upper Midwest, started on April 27, 1948 when KSTP-TV began broadcasting. Hubbard Broadcasting Corporation which owns KSTP is now the only locally owned television company in Minnesota. There are currently 39 analog broadcast stations and 23 digital channels broadcast all over Minnesota. The Twin Cities metro area has the state's two largest newspapers: the Star Tribune in Minneapolis and the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. A number of other weekly and monthly publications (most of which are fully supported by advertising) are also available. The most prominent of these is City Pages, the alternative weekly, with 2002 newcomer The Rake offering some competition in the form of a free monthly. Two of the largest public radio networks are based in Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and Public Radio International (PRI). MPR has the largest audience of any regional public radio network, while PRI provides more than 400 hours of programming to affiliates across the United States. Sports
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