Minnesota, which derives its name from theDakota language, has been inhabited by variousNative Americans since theWoodland period of the 11th century BCE. Between roughly 200 and 500 CE, two areas of the indigenousHopewell tradition emerged: theLaurel complex in the north, and Trempealeau Hopewell in theMississippi River Valley in the south. TheUpper Mississippian culture, consisting of theOneota people and otherSiouan speakers, emerged around 1000 CE and lasted through the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century. French explorers andmissionaries were the earliest Europeans to enter the region, encountering theDakota,Ojibwe, and variousAnishinaabe tribes. Much of what is now Minnesota formed part of thevast French holding of Louisiana, whichthe United States purchased in 1803. After several territorial reorganizations, theMinnesota Territory wasadmitted to the Union as the 32nd state in 1858. Minnesota's official motto,L'Étoile du Nord ("The Star of the North"), is the onlystate motto inFrench.[2] 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 andhomesteaders from 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.[12] Minnesota's rapid industrialization and urbanization precipitatedmajor social, economic, and political changes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the state was at the forefront oflabor rights,women's suffrage, and political reform.[13] 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.[14]
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 among national averages in terms oflife expectancy, healthcare standards, and education, and above 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 reflectScandinavian andGerman influence. This heritage continues to affect the state's racial demographics, making it one of the country's least diverse states,[15] 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 Americans and second-largestHmong community.[16]
Etymology
The wordMinnesota comes from theDakota[17] name for theMinnesota River, which got its name from one of two words in Dakota: "mní sóta", which means "clear blue water",[18][19] or "Mníssota", which means "cloudy water".[20][21] 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.[22]Dakota people demonstrated the name to early settlers by dropping milk into water and calling itmní sóta.[21]
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 word combining Dakotamní ("water") and-polis (Greek for "city").[23] Thestate seal features the phraseMni Sóta Makoce ("the land where the water reflects the skies"), the Dakota name for the larger region.[24]
In 1805,Zebulon Pike bargained with Native Americans to acquire land at theconfluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers to create a military reservation. The construction of Fort Snelling followed between 1819 and 1825.[29] Its soldiers built agrist mill and asawmill atSaint 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.[30]
Minnesota was part of several territorial organizations between acquisition and statehood. From 1812 to 1821 it was part of theTerritory of Missouri that 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.[31]
When Iowa gained statehood, western Minnesota was in an Unorganized Territory again.Minnesota Territory was formed on March 3, 1849. The first territorial legislature, held on September 2, 1849,[32] was dominated by men ofNew England ancestry.[33] Thousands of pioneers had come to create farms and cut timber. Minnesota became the32nd U.S. state on May 11, 1858. The founding population was so overwhelmingly of New England origins that the state was dubbed "the New England of the West".[34][31][35][36]
Mixed Dakota-Europeans who were rescued by "non-hostile" Dakota. The girl in the foreground wrapped in the striped blanket is Elise Robertson, the sister of Thomas Robertson, a mixed blood who acted as an intermediary between the Dakota and the European-Americans during theDakota War of 1862
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.[37] 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.[38] The six-week war ended with the defeat of the eastern Dakota and 2,000 in custody, who were eventually exiled to theCrow Creek Reservation by theGreat Sioux Reservation inDakota Territory. The remaining 4,500 to 5,000 Dakota mostly fled the state intoRupert's Land.[28] As many as 800 settlers were killed during the war.[39]
Minnesota GovernorAlexander Ramsey subsequently declared that "the Sioux Indians of Minnesota must be exterminated or driven forever beyond the borders of the state"[40] 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 Snelling to be held until the spring thaw allowed riverboats to take them out of Minnesota to Crow Creek Indian Reservation.[41]William Crooks, commander of6th Minnesota, had apalisade erected around the encampment on Pike Island, just below the fort, to protect native people from the soldiers and settlers.[42] Conditions there were poor and between 125 and 300 died of disease.[43][44] Around 400 Dakota men were tried after the war. 303 were sentenced to death, butAbraham Lincoln reviewed the convictions and approved 39 of the death sentences. In December 1862, 38 of them were hanged.[28]
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.[44] 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, andWinona processed vast quantities of timber. These cities were on rivers that were ideal for transportation.[28] 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.[45] 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.[46]
The state's iron-mining industry was established with the discovery of iron in theVermilion andMesabi ranges in the 1880s, followed by theCuyuna Range in the early 1900s. The ore went by rail toDuluth andTwo Harbors for ship transport east via theGreat Lakes.[28]
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 Deal programs provided some economic turnaround. TheCivilian Conservation Corps and other programs around the state established some jobs for Indians on their reservations, and theIndian Reorganization Act of 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 languages were no longer suppressed.[29]
After World War II, industrial development quickened. New technology increased farm productivity through automation offeedlots for hogs and cattle, machine milking at dairy farms, and raising chickens in large buildings. Planting became more specialized, withhybridization of corn and wheat, and farm machinery such astractors andcombines became the norm.University of Minnesota professorNorman Borlaug contributed to these developments as part of theGreen Revolution.[29] Increased mobility enabled more specialized jobs.[29]
In 1957, the legislature created a planning commission for the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which became theMetropolitan Council in 1967.[50] 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.[51][52] Two postwar Minnesota governors, former dentistRudy Perpich and former professional wrestlerJesse Ventura, attracted national attention for their unconventional manner, but both enjoyed some popularity within the state.[50][51] 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.[53][54]
Minnesota has some of the earth's oldest rocks,gneisses that are about 3.6billion years old (80% as old as the planet).[58][59] About 2.7billion years agobasalticlava poured out of cracks in the floor of the primordialocean; the remains of thisvolcanic rock formed theCanadian Shield in northeast Minnesota.[58][60] The roots of these volcanic mountains and the action ofPrecambrian seas formed theIron Range of northern Minnesota. Since a period ofvolcanism 1.1billion 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.[58]
Inmore recent times, massive ice sheets at least one kilometer thick ravaged the state's landscape and sculpted its terrain.[58] TheWisconsin glaciation left 12,000 years ago.[58] 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 Zone for its absence ofglacial drift.[61] Much of the remainder of the state has 50 feet (15m) or more ofglacial till left behind as the last glaciers retreated. GiganticLake Agassiz formed in the northwest 13,000 years ago. Its flatbed now is the fertileRed River valley, and its outflow,glacial River Warren, carved the valley of theMinnesota River and the Upper Mississippi downstream fromFort Snelling.[58] Minnesota is geologically quiet today; it experiencesearthquakes infrequently, most of them minor.[62]
The state's high point isEagle Mountain at 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.[60][63] Notwithstanding dramatic local differences in elevation, much of the state is a gently rollingpeneplain.[58]
The state's nickname "Land of 10,000 Lakes" is apt, as there are 11,842Minnesota lakes over 10 acres (4 ha) in size.[65] Minnesota's portion of Lake Superior is the largest at 962,700 acres (389,600 ha; 3,896 km2) and deepest (at 1,290 ft (390 m)) body of water in the state.[65] Minnesota has 6,564 natural rivers and streams that cumulatively flow for 69,000 miles (111,000 km).[65] The Mississippi River begins its journey from itsheadwaters atLake Itasca and crosses the Iowa border 680 miles (1,090 km) downstream.[65] It is joined by theMinnesota River at Fort Snelling, by theSt. Croix River nearHastings, by theChippewa River atWabasha, 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 km2) of wetlands are within Minnesota's borders, the most of any state outside Alaska.[66]
Minnesota has four ecological provinces:prairie parkland, 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 forest and the broadleaf forests to the south.[67] These northern forests are a vast wilderness ofpine andspruce trees mixed with patchy stands ofbirch andpoplar.
Minnesota experiencestemperature extremes characteristic of itscontinental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The lowest temperature recorded was −60 °F (−51 °C) atTower on February 2, 1996. The highest was 114 °F (46 °C) atMoorhead on July 6, 1936.[74] 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).[75] Average summerdewpoints range from about 58 °F (14 °C) in the south to about 48 °F (9 °C) in the north.[75][76] Average annual precipitation ranges from 19 to 35 inches (48 to 89 cm). Droughts occur every 10 to 50 years.[75]
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.[77]
Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected cities in Minnesota[78]
Saint Paul, in east-central Minnesota along the banks of the Mississippi River, has been Minnesota'scapital city since 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.[81] The remainder of the state is known as "Greater Minnesota" or "Outstate Minnesota".[82]
Minnesota's population continues to grow, primarily in the urban centers. The populations of metropolitanSherburne andScott counties doubled between 1980 and 2000, while 40 of the state's 87 counties lost residents over the same period.[84]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau and 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.[87] 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.[88] 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, particularlySomalis andEthiopians; andSouth andSoutheast Asia, especiallyHmong,Vietnamese, andIndians.[7] 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.[89]
Race and ethnicity
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.[90] 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%.
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.[95] 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.[96][97] Minnesota also receives large numbers of non-refugee immigrants, primarily from Mexico, India, China, Korea, and Canada.
Country of origin of first and second-generation immigrants (2023)[98][99]
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.Catholicism also continued to be significant due to Irish immigrants, and theArchdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis serves 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, andHindu communities, as well as a sizableJewish community.[100][101] 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.[102]
Languages
The Spanish, Cushite, Beja, Somali, Miao, Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Amharic, Karen, and Niger-Congo languages are spoken in Minnesota.[103]
Historical racial and ethnic composition
(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.[104] Minnesota's economy had agross domestic product of $383billion in 2019,[105] with 33 of the United States' top 1,000 publicly traded companies by revenue headquartered in Minnesota,[106] 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,[107] andCarlson Companies, the parent company ofRadisson Hotels.[108]
Minnesota'sper capita personal income in 2019 was $58,834, the thirteenth-highest in the nation.[109] Its 2019median household income was $74,593, ranking thirteenth in the U.S. and fifth among the 36 states not on the Atlantic coast.[110]
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,[112] it remains a major part of the state's economy, ranking sixth in the nation in the value of products sold.[113] The state is the nation's largest producer ofsugar beets,sweet corn, andpeas for processing, and farm-raisedturkeys. Minnesota is also a large producer of corn and soybeans,[114] and has the most foodcooperatives per capita in the United States.[115]Forestry remains strong, includinglogging,pulpwood processing and paper production, and forest products manufacturing. Minnesota was famous for its soft-ore mines, which produced a significant portion of the world'siron ore for more than a century. Although the high-grade ore is now depleted,taconite mining continues, using processes developed locally to save the industry. In 2016 the state produced 60% of the country's usable iron ore.[114] 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 andbiomedical firms, in addition to the older food processors and heavy industry. The nation's first indoorshopping mall wasEdina'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.
Largest employers
As of 2025, Minnesota's largest employers were:[116]
Minnesota producesethanol fuel and is the first to mandate its use, a 10% mix (E10).[117] In 2019 there were more than 411 service stations supplyingE85 fuel, comprising 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.[118] A 2%biodiesel blend has been required indiesel fuel since 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.[119]
Xcel Energy is the state's largest utility and is headquartered in the state;[120] it is one of five investor-owned utilities.[121] There are also a number of municipal utilities.[121] There are also 44 electric distribution cooperatives serving retail electric consumers throughout the state.[122]
State taxes
Minnesota has aprogressive income tax structure; the four brackets of stateincome tax rates are 5.35%, 7.05%, 7.85%, and 9.85%.[123] As of 2008 Minnesota was ranked 12th in the nation in per capita total state and local taxes.[124] In 2008 Minnesotans paid 10.2% of their income in state and local taxes; the U.S. average was 9.7%.[124] The statesales tax in Minnesota is 6.875%, but clothing, prescription drug medications and food items for home consumption are exempt.[125] Thestate legislature may allow municipalities to institute local sales taxes and special local taxes, such as the 0.5% supplemental sales tax in Minneapolis.[126]Excise taxes are levied on alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel. The state imposes ause tax on items purchased elsewhere but used within Minnesota.[125] Owners ofreal property in Minnesota payproperty tax to their county, municipality, school district, and special taxing districts.
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.[130] The fair covers the variety of Minnesota life, includingfine art,science,agriculture, food preparation,4-H displays, music,the midway, and corporate merchandising. It is known for its displays ofseed art,butter sculptures ofdairy princesses, the birthing barn, and the "fattest pig" competition. In September 1927,John Philip Sousa and his band gave the premiere performance of "The Minnesota March" at the fair before a grandstand crowd of 12,000.[131] 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.
Minnesotans have low rates of premature death, infant mortality, cardiovascular disease, and occupational fatalities.[132][133] They have long life expectancies,[134] and high rates of health insurance and regular exercise.[132][135][136] 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.[132][137] While overall health indicators are strong, Minnesota does have significant health disparities in minority populations.[138]
On October 1, 2007, theFreedom to Breathe Act took effect, outlawing smoking in restaurants and bars in Minnesota.[139]
U.S. News & World Report's 2020–21 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.[143] 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.[144]
One of the first acts of the Minnesota Legislature when it opened in 1858 was the creation of anormal school in 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.[145] In 2015, Minneapolis was named the nation's "Most Literate City", while St. Paul placed fourth, according to a major annual survey.[146] 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.[147] In 2014, Minnesota students earned the tenth-highest average composite score in the nation on theACT exam.[148] In 2013, nationwide in per-student public education spending, Minnesota ranked 21st.[149] While Minnesota has chosen not to implementschool vouchers,[150] it is home to the firstcharter school.[151]
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 Cities metropolitan area and along interstate corridors in Greater Minnesota. The majorInterstate highways areInterstate35 (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.[153] In 2006, aconstitutional amendment was passed that required sales and use taxes on motor vehicles to fund transportation, with at least 40% dedicated topublic transit.[154] There are nearly two dozenrail corridors in Minnesota, most of which go through Minneapolis–St. Paul or Duluth.[155] There is water transportation along theMississippi River system and from the ports ofLake Superior.[156]
TwoMetro Green Line trains on the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities campus
Minnesota is governed pursuant to theMinnesota Constitution, which was adopted on October 13, 1857, roughly one year before statehood.[160] Like all U.S. states and the federal government, Minnesota has arepublican system of political representation with power divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.[161] 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.[160]
The executive branch is led by Minnesota'sgovernor, currentlyTim Walz, aDFLer who took office on January 7, 2019. Walz was alsoKamala Harris's running mate in the2024 United States presidential election. As chief executive, thegovernor appoints 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.[162] Acabinet consisting of thelieutenant governor and the heads of Minnesota's 22 state agencies consults and assists the governor in the business of state government.[163]
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.[162][c][d][e] These five "executive officers" together constitute theExecutive Council, which has certain statutory responsibilities in matters of state finance, emergency management, and public lands administration.[169]
TheMinnesota Legislature is abicameral body consisting of theSenate and 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 intoA andB sections 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.[170]
Judiciary
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 Court hears all appeals from the tax court, theworkers' compensation court of appeals, first-degree murder convictions, anddiscretionary appeals from the court of appeals; it also hasoriginal jurisdiction over election disputes.[171]
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.
The State of Minnesota was created by the United States federal government in the traditional and cultural range of lands occupied by theDakota andAnishinaabe peoples 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-autonomousreservations that negotiate with the U.S. and the state on a bilateral basis:
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, andpopulism has been a long-standing force among the state'spolitical parties.[174][175] 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%.[176] That figure was surpassed in 2020, when 79.96% of registered voters participated in the general election.[177] Voters can register onelection day at theirpolling places with evidence of residency.[178]
Hubert Humphrey brought 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 Reagan in 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–Labor parties.
The state has had active third-party movements. TheReform Party, now theIndependence Party, was able to elect former mayor ofBrooklyn Park andprofessional wrestlerJesse Ventura to thegovernorship in 1998. TheIndependence Party has received enough support to keep major-party status. TheGreen Party, while no longer having major-party status, has a large presence in municipal government,[179] 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. Senate seats was split in the early 1990s and in the108th and109th Congresses, 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 Pawlenty andCarol Molnau narrowly 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 American U.S. Representative from Minnesota, as well as the firstMuslim elected to Congress nationwide.[180] In 2008, DFLer and former comedian and radio talk show hostAl Franken defeated incumbent RepublicanNorm Coleman in 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,[181] and in 2016, the GOP also regained control of the State Senate.[182]
In 2018, the DFL retook control of the Minnesota House, while electing DFLerTim Walz as Governor.
In a 2020 study, Minnesota was ranked as the 15th easiest state for citizens to vote in.[183]
Two of the largestpublic radio networks,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.[187][188] PRI weekly provides more than 400 hours of programming to almost 800 affiliates.[189] The state's oldest radio station,KUOM-AM, was launched in 1922 and is among the 10-oldest radio stations in the United States. The University of Minnesota-owned station is still on the air, and since 1993 broadcasts acollege rock format.
Sports, recreation and tourism
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 inhunting and fishing, has attracted a large urban audience within driving range.[190]
TheMinnesota Twins have 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 Series in 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 Dodgers in seven games. The team has played atTarget Field since 2010.
Minnesota also has minor-league professional sports teams. TheMinnesota Swarm of theNational Lacrosse League played at the Xcel Energy Center until the team moved to Georgia in 2015. TheSt. Paul Saints, who play atCHS Field in St. Paul, are theTriple-A minor league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
Minnesotans participate in high levels of physical activity,[197] and many of these activities are outdoors. The strong interest of Minnesotans in environmentalism has been attributed to the popularity of these pursuits.[198]
In the warmer months, these activities often involve water. Weekend and longer trips to familycabins on Minnesota's numerous lakes are a way of life for many residents. Activities includewater sports such aswater skiing, which originated in the state,[199]boating,canoeing, andfishing. More than 36% of Minnesotans fish, second only to Alaska.[200]
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.[204] Minnesota has more miles ofbike trails than any other state,[205] and a growing network ofhiking trails, including the 235-mile (378 km)Superior Hiking Trail in the northeast.[206] Many hiking and bike trails are used for cross-country skiing during the winter.
^Hmong people are a stateless group; the majority of Hmong in Minnesota have immigrated from either Laos or Thailand.
^The secretary of state is custodian of state records and thestate seal, registers businesses, and administers elections. The secretary of state also processes notary public applications and administers Minnesota'saddress confidentiality program for victims of crime, among other responsibilities.[164]
^The attorney general is the chief law officer for the state of Minnesota, representing state agencies in legal proceedings and issuing written opinions on questions of law. As chief law officer, the attorney general also enforces state consumer protection and antitrust laws, regulates charities, and advocates for people and small businesses in utilities matters, among other responsibilities.[165]
^The state auditor supervises and audits the finances of Minnesota's 3,600 local governments, which altogether spend over $40 billion annually.[166] The state auditor also performs under contract the annualsingle audit offederal programs administered by state agencies and their subrecipients. Public expenditures overseen by the state auditor thus exceed standalone state spending by 15.3 percent.[167][168]
References
^"State Seal".Minnesota Secretary Of State. RetrievedAugust 18, 2024.
^"Greater Minnesota Refined & Revisited"(PDF).Greater Minnesota Status Report. Minnesota State Demographic Center. January 2017.Archived(PDF) from the original on April 12, 2019. RetrievedMay 13, 2019.
^New Lakota dictionary. Lakota Language Consortium (2008).
^"Mnisota".Dakota Dictionary Online. University of Minnesota Department of American Indian Studies. 2010. Archived fromthe original on October 2, 2013. RetrievedOctober 6, 2016.
^"Mnisota".Dakota Dictionary Online. University of Minnesota Department of American Indian Studies. 2010. Archived fromthe original on May 25, 2017. RetrievedOctober 6, 2016.
^ab"Minnesota State". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived fromthe original on September 1, 2007. RetrievedApril 26, 2008.
^abMinnesota: A History of the State By Theodore Christian Blegen page 202-203
^"City History".Welcome to the City of Crystal, MN. Archived fromthe original on October 27, 2014. RetrievedOctober 28, 2014.
^New England in the Life of the World: A Record of Adventure and Achievement By Howard Allen Bridgman page 112
^A Collection of Confusable Phrases By Yuri Dolgopolov page 309
^Sketches of Minnesota, the New England of the West. With incidents of travel in that territory during the summer of 1849. With a map by E. S. SEYMOUR page xii
^Northern Lights: The Stories of Minnesota's Past By Dave Kenney, Hillary Wackman, Nancy O'Brien Wagner page 94
^Anderson, Gary Clayton (2019).Massacre in Minnesota: The Dakota War of 1862, the Most Violent Ethnic Conflict in American History. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. P. 107ISBN978-0-8061-6434-2
^"Forced Marches & Imprisonment".The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. Minnesota Historical Society. August 23, 2012.Archived from the original on March 20, 2013. RetrievedJuly 6, 2013.
^abMinnesota Bounties On Dakota Men During The US-Dakota War, Hamline University, C. Rotel, 2013,[1]Archived September 22, 2017, at theWayback Machine
^Fye, W. Bruce (2010). "PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: The Origins and Evolution of the Mayo Clinic from 1864 to 1939: A Minnesota Family Practice Becomes an International "Medical Mecca"".Bulletin of the History of Medicine.84 (3):323–357.doi:10.1353/bhm.2010.0019.ISSN0007-5140.JSTOR44448967.PMID21037395.S2CID44839983.
^abGilman, Rhoda R. (1991).The Story of Minnesota's Past. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society.ISBN0-87351-267-7.
^abBerg, Tom (2012).Minnesota's miracle: learning from the government that worked. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.ISBN978-0-8166-8053-5.
^Kenney, Dave; Saylor, Thomas (2013).Minnesota in the 70s. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press.ISBN978-0-87351-900-7.
^"Just the Facts". Minnesota North Star (official state government site). June 7, 2002. Archived fromthe original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved on July 4, 2009.
^Bison disappeared in the mid-19th century; the last bison was reported in southwest Minnesota in 1879.Moyle, J. B. (1965).Big Game in Minnesota, Technical Bulletin, no. 9. Minnesota Department of Conservation, Division of Game and Fish, Section of Research and Planning. p. 172. As referenced inAnfinson, Scott F. (1997).Southwestern Minnesota Archaeology. St. Paul, Minnesota:Minnesota Historical Society. p. 20.ISBN978-0-87351-355-5.
^"Itasca State Park". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Archived fromthe original on April 3, 2008. RetrievedMay 3, 2008.
^"Places To Go". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. RetrievedMay 3, 2008.
^Hibbs, James (November 1, 2016)."Analysis of the 2015 Population and Household Estimates"(Presentation).Demographic Reports and Analysis. Minnesota State Demographics Center. p. 2.Archived(PDF) from the original on June 28, 2018. RetrievedJune 28, 2018.Minnesota's estimated population in 2015 is 5,485,238. Over half (54.8%) of Minnesota's population lives in the seven Twin Cities area counties that make up Region 11. The population of Region 11 has surpassed three million.
^"Greater Minnesota Refined and Revisited"(PDF).Minnesota State Demographics Center. State of Minnesota: Department of Administration.Archived(PDF) from the original on June 28, 2018. RetrievedJune 28, 2018.
^ab"Wealth of Resources". Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. RetrievedNovember 26, 2006.
^"The Co-Op Advantage".Minnesota Monthly. Greenspring. August 2008. Archived fromthe original on January 15, 2013. RetrievedFebruary 10, 2012.
^"Minnesota: Profile Analysis". U.S. Energy Information Administration. March 15, 2018.Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. RetrievedSeptember 28, 2018.
^"How to fringe".Fresh Art Delivered Daily. Minnesota Fringe Festival. 2006. Archived fromthe original on November 14, 2006. RetrievedNovember 22, 2006.
^"Explore Minnesota Living"(PDF). Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.Archived(PDF) from the original on August 22, 2006. RetrievedAugust 16, 2006.
^"Governor's Cabinet". Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan.Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. RetrievedOctober 8, 2023.
^"Minnesota Supreme Court". Court Information Office, State of Minnesota. Archived fromthe original(doc) on November 1, 2006. RetrievedOctober 19, 2006.
^"Water Skiing History".ABC of Skiing. MaxLifestyle.net "Go Skiing like Max!". 2006. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. RetrievedApril 7, 2008.
^"Turning Snow into Sport".Explore Minnesota Experiences. Minnesota Department of Tourism. Archived fromthe original on April 1, 2008. RetrievedApril 7, 2008.
^"Home".USA Bandy.Archived from the original on February 11, 2018. RetrievedJanuary 3, 2015.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
