Geography and Climate of Minnesota
Minnesota, the northernmost state in the contiguous U.S., borders Wisconsin to the east, North and South Dakota to the west, Ontario and Manitoba of Canada to the north and Iowa to the south. The state also shares part of Lake Superior with Wisconsin and Michigan to the northeast.
The terrain of Minnesota has some of the oldest rocks on earth, at 3.6 billion years old. During this time, basaltic lava poured out of the primordial ocean, which formed the Canadian Shield in northeast Minnesota. The roots of those volcanic mountains, along with the Precambrian seas, created the Iron Range in northern Minnesota. Glaciers covered Minnesota except in the southeast, known as the Driftless Zone.
Most of Minnesota is the same elevation, with gently undulating plains covered in forest. The highest point is Eagle Mountain at 2,301 feet, close to the shore of Lake Superior.
“Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Minnesota’s nickname, is an understatement, considering there are 11,842 lakes larger than 10 acres scattered across the state. There are an estimated 10.6 million acres of wetlands within the borders of Minnesota, only second to Alaska.
In the northeast, two continental divides meet, creating a triple watershed. Rain flows from the start of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, or eastward to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway or into the Arctic Ocean through the Hudson Bay watershed. There are 58 state forests and 72 state parks, in addition to a slew of wildlife preserves.
Minnesota is a continental climate with extreme temperatures, going from hot and mildly humid summers to cold winters. Annual snowfall ranges from 10 inches in southern Minnesota to over 170 inches in the extreme rugged Superior Highlands. The state endures all kinds of weather, from rainfall to snow, thunderstorms, blizzards, hail, tornadoes, derechos, floods and straight-line winds with a high velocity.
History of Minnesota
Originally inhabited by the Anishinaabe, Chippewa and Dakota Native American tribes, Minnesota was first settled by French fur traders in the 1650s. Several forts and trading posts were set up, but after the American Revolutionary War, whatever lay east of the Mississippi River in the Minnesota region became part of the U.S. The rest of the land was bought with the Louisiana Purchase.
Zebulon Pike struck a bargain with Native American tribes to buy the land where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers meet. The land purchase led to the establishment of Fort Snelling and eventually Minneapolis at nearby Saint Anthony Falls. Squatters from Canada established a camp near the fort, but had to move down the Mississippi into what is present-day St. Paul, creating the Twin Cities.
In 1849, Minnesota became its own territory, with thousands of people pouring in to build farms. Lumber and farming kept Minnesota’s economy stable, with logging centers at Winona, Marine of St. Croix and Saint Anthony Falls. By 1858, Minnesota became an official state. Flourmills sprung up in the area, as millers created “patent” flour, nearly twice the price of “barkers” flour.
At the start of the Civil War, Minnesota contributed to the Union effort with troops and supplies. During the same time, unfair treaties that exiled the Dakotas led to the Dakota War of 1862. The brutal event ended with 38 Dakota executed and the rest forcibly removed to the Crow Creek Reservation in Nebraska.
European immigrants began settling after the war, tripling the state’s population over three decades. Railroads began construction through Minneapolis-Saint Paul, further solidifying its status as a large Midwestern city.
In the 1880s, the discovery of iron at Vermilion and Mesabi ranges led to the growth of the iron mining industry. Ore shipped to Two Harbors and eastward to the Great Lakes. The growth of manufacturing made way for industrial development.
In the early 1900s, much of the population gradually migrated from rural towns to the cities. A drought hit Minnesota during the Great Depression, ruining crops and lowering prices for farmers. However, New Deal programs helped relieve some of the economic fallout.
Minnesota’s technology sector grew after World War II, with the addition of several engineering and research centers. The state has also become a center for culture, as the Minnesota Orchestra, the Guthrie Theater, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Walker Art Center became nationally recognized.
Demographics of Minnesota
Minnesota’s estimated population as of 2007 is 5,197,621. The state has consistently developed since 1850, with the current population growth rate at nine percent.
German is by far the largest ancestry group in Minnesota, along with Norwegian, Dane, Swedish and Irish. Despite a traditionally white population, the state’s population now has a sizeable number of Somalis, Indians, Vietnamese and emigrants from Soviet bloc countries.
Christianity is the dominant religion, with 32 percent of the population affiliated with the Protestant church and 21 percent associated with Evangelical Protestants. Catholics make up 28 percent, while Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist populations are growing. As one of the more liberal Midwestern states, 13 percent of Minnesotans do not belong to any specific religion.
Economy of Minnesota
In 2005, Minnesota’s gross state product was $234 billion, with a per capita income of $37,290.
In agriculture, Minnesota is the largest producer of sugar beets. The state is also a major producer of sweet corn, green peas and turkeys.
Manufacturing, logging and paper processing are strong industries, as are taconite mining used to mine iron ore. Other top economic contributors include biomedicine, technology, food processing and heavy industry.
Target, 3M, U.S. Bancorp, Best Buy, General Mills and UnitedHealth Group are just some of the nation’s top companies headquartered in Minnesota, along with the Mayo Clinic, which is widely considered one of the best medical institutions in the world. The state is also home to the Mall of America, the largest in the country.
Minnesota Law and Government
Minnesota’s current governor is Republican Tim Pawlenty. There are eight congressional representatives for Minnesota in the U.S. House, while Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Norm Coleman represent the state in the U.S. Senate. St. Paul is the state’s capital.
Politically, Minnesota is very active, with a high voter turnout and liberal voter registration laws. Both Republicans and Democrats have large followings in the state, although the state-level Democratic Party is separate, known as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, or the DFL.
Populist movements and independent parties have also gathered a lot of strength from Minnesota. While Minnesotans have contributed the longest run of voting support for Democrats in presidential elections, Minnesota is a swing state.
Minnesota Transportation
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport serves the metro area and acts as a major hub for Northwest Airlines. Other regional airports have commercial flights from Rochester and Duluth.
I-90 travels east to west at the southern edge of Minnesota, while I-94 and I-35 go through the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Highway 60 runs from the Iowa border up the Mississippi River. In 2007, the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapsed in Minneapolis during rush hour, causing 50 cars, trucks and a school bus to plunge into the river.
Twin City Rapid Transit operates a one line light rail from the Mall of American to downtown Minneapolis. Bus systems run in major cities, while the Metro Transit system has over 200 routes within the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. There is also a substantial amount of water traffic, with the shipment of products down the Mississippi River from Minneapolis ports or upwards towards the Great Lakes and through the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Major Cities and Towns of Minnesota
Minneapolis and St. Paul, known as the Twin Cities, are the most populous metro area in the state. Rochester, Duluth and Bloomington are other major urban centers in Minnesota.
Rivers, creeks, waterfalls and wetlands, not to mention lakes, surround the Twin Cities. The Grand Round Scenic Byway links a series of parks in a circular path around the city. Minneapolis’ park system is among the best, while culture and the arts are prevalent, with award-winning theaters and several art museums.
Minnesota Educational System
Minnesota is one of the most literate states in the U.S., with high average scores on standardized tests and a high percentage of high school graduates.
There are 32 institutions of higher learning within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. The University of Minnesota is the flagship establishment. The state is also home to over 20 other private colleges.
Learn more at the Minnesota Department of Education.
Minnesota Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
Minnesota has at least one of every major professional sports team. The Minnesota Vikings play for the NFL, while the Minnesota Twins play in the MLB. The Minnesota Timberwolves play for the NBA, whereas the Minnesota Wild plays for NHL and consistently sells out game tickets.
Other minor league sports teams play baseball, basketball and ice hockey. The University of Minnesota is a NCAA Division I school with a strong ice hockey team. One of the best places for runners, Minnesota is host to the Grandma’s Marathon, which takes place every summer along the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Outdoor activities are extremely popular with Minnesotans, from fishing to biking. Camping, water skiing, jet skiing, boating, kayaking and canoeing are just some water sports Minnesotans enjoy during the summer months. Ice fishing is a state tradition, along with other winter sports, such as hockey, ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, broomball and curling.
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