Background: Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul, designed by Cass Gilbert. photo date on June 22, 2005 by Author:Mulad.
Living in Minnesota
Minnesota - Land of 10,000 Lakes
History, Geography, Homes, and State Resources of Minnesota
Minnesota USA Map
The big preponderance of Minnesota is bodies of water and rural areas, with a majority of the activity occurring around the southeastern portions. Interestingly, many of
the major cities in Minnesota are in somewhat of a close cluster, with an the exceptions of Duluth and Rochester which is located at the southernmost tip of the
Minnesota, while Duluth is situated directly on the shores of Lake Superior along the border running between Wisconsin and Minnesota at the northeastern Minnesota
quadrant.
Following the visits of several French explorers, fur traders, and missionaries, including Jacques Marquette, Louis Joliet, and Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, the
region was claimed for Louis XIV by Daniel Greysolon, Sieur Duluth, in 1679.
The U.S. acquired eastern Minnesota from Great Britain after the Revolutionary War and 20 years later bought the western part from France in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Much of the region was explored by U.S. Army lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike before the northern strip of Minnesota bordering Canada was ceded by Britain in
1818.
Climate
Minnesota has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. ... The moderating effect of Lake Superior keeps the surrounding area
somewhat cooler in the summer and relatively warmer in the winter, giving that region a
tighter annual temperature range.
Minnesota Colleges.
Mississippi features a network of public universities and colleges, including 37 facilities of the Minnesota State College and Universities System and five major campuses
of the University of Minnesota System. It is also home to more than 20 private colleges and universities, six of which are among the 100 best liberal arts colleges in the
nation. News & World Report.
Economy
Minnesota, has the nations's 17th largest GDP and produces about 2 percent of the United States' GDP,
had its output grow from $300 billion in 2016 to $305.6 billion in 2017. ... Between 2016 and 2017, Minnesota
was 21st for GDP growth. Washington, the state with the fastest-growing economy, grew at 4.4 percent.
Flora and Fauna
Minnesota State Flower - Pink and white lady's slipper
Minnesota State Tree - Red Pine
There are three primary life zones in the state which include: the wooded lake regions of the north and east, the prairie lands of the west and southwest, and a transition zone in between. Oak, maple, elm, birch, pine, ash, and poplar still thrive although much of the state's woodland has been cut down since the 1850s. Common shrubs include thimbleberry, sweetfern, and several varieties of honeysuckle.
Familiar among some 1,500 native flowering plants are puccoon, prairie phlox, and blazing star; the pink and white (showy) lady slipper is the state flower. White and yellow water lilies cover the pond areas, with bulrushes and cattails on the shore. Three plant species were listed as threatened in 2003, including Leedy's roseroot, prairie bush-clover, and western prairie fringed orchid; the Minnesota dwarf trout lily was listed as endangered that year.
Among Minnesota's common mammals are the opossum, eastern and starnose moles, little brown bat, raccoon, mink, river otter, badger, striped and spotted skunks, red fox, bobcat, 13-lined ground squirrel (also known as the Minnesota gopher, symbol of the University of Minnesota), beaver, porcupine, eastern cottontail, moose, and white-tailed deer.
The common loon (the state bird), western meadowlark, Brewer's blackbird, Carolina wren, and Louisiana water thrush are among some 240 resident bird species; introduced birds include the English sparrow and ring-necked pheasant.
Found in Minnesota's many lakes are such game fishes as walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, and steelhead, rainbow, and brown trouts. The two poisonous snakes in the state are the timber rattler and the massasauga.
Classification of rare, threatened, and endangered species is delegated to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Among rare species noted by the department are the white pelican, short-eared owl, rock vole, pine marten, American elk, woodland caribou, lake sturgeon, and paddlefish; threatened species include the bobwhite quail and piping plover. Eight species were listed as threatened or endangered in 2003 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, including the gray wolf, bald eagle, piping plover, Topeka shiner, and Higgins' eye pearlymussel.
The Minnesota State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Minnesota, in its capital city of Saint Paul. It houses the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, the office of the Attorney General and the office of the Governor. The building also includes a chamber for the Minnesota Supreme Court, although court activities usually take place in the neighboring Minnesota Judicial Center.
The building is set in a landscaped campus. Various monuments are to its sides and front. Behind, a bridge spans University Avenue, and in front others were later added over the sunken roadway of Interstate 94, thus preserving the sight lines. Set near the crest of a hill, from the Capitol steps a panoramic view of downtown Saint Paul is presented.
The governor and lieutenant governor are jointly elected for four-year terms; both must be US citizens at least 25 years old, and must have been residents of Minnesota for a year before election. Other constitutional officers are the secretary of state, auditor, treasurer (will be abolished, as of 2003), and attorney general, all serving for four years. Numerous other officials are appointed by the governor, among them the commissioners of government departments and many heads and members of independent agencies.
Those voting in state elections must be at least 18 years old, US citizens, and state residents for at least 20 days prior to election day. Restrictions apply to convicted felons and those declared mentally incompetent by the court.
From the lake-laden North Country to the marble exterior of the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota is brimming with natural and cultural beauty. Plan to explore the wilderness areas of Minnesota, including Superior National Forest and the North Shore of Lake Superior or cultural attractions, like the Minneapolis Institute of Art or the outstanding Munsinger Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud. Whether it's wandering down the hiking trails, paddling the waterways, or shopping at Mall of America, Minnesota is more than a land of 10,000 lakes, it's a state with unlimited things to do
Split Rock Lighthouse
Lighthouses in Minnesota
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List of all lighthouses in the state of Minnesota as identified by the United States Coast Guard. There are five active lights in the state; one light is inactive but has been converted to a museum, and one is in ruins.
The first lighthouse in the state was erected in 1858 and the last in 1922 (ignoring automated towers erected later); the oldest active light is the Two Harbors Light.
Nickelodeon Universe (originally Knott's Camp Snoopy, later known as The Park at MOA) is the seven-acre indoor amusement park in the center of the Mall of America (MOA), in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Paul Bunyan Land is an amusement park located in Brainerd, Minnesota, on This Old Farm. Its trademark is the 26-foot-tall animated and talking statue of Paul Bunyan. As children enter, Paul welcomes them by name. The amusement park has 27 rides for children and is surrounded by 30 buildings.
Spirit Mountain is a ski area in Duluth, Minnesota. It was founded by The City of Duluth and was built in 1974. With a vertical elevation of approximately 700, it is the second tallest ski hill in Minnesota
In the 21st century Spirit Mountain began renovating and adding to its infrastructure and attractions. An alpine coaster opened in 2010. In April 2011 they announced plans to add a zip line, miniature golf, and snow tubing to expand operations and attract more visitors in summer. Work began on downhill mountain bike trails during the summer of 2012. Improvements planned over the next ten years include chalet renovations, chair lift replacement, and a chalet on Grand Avenue, where a Nordic Ski Center opened in 2017
Valleyfair is a 125-acre amusement park in Shakopee, Minnesota, the park features over 75 rides and attractions including eight roller coasters. with the roller coaster High Roller being the main attraction. The carousel in the park came from Excelsior Amusement Park which was closed in 1973. It is the oldest ride in the park.Valleyfair also has a water park called Soak City which is included with the price of admission. Cedar Point and Valleyfair were the first two parks in the Cedar Fair chain (although Cedar Point Amusement Park originally opened in 1870) and a combination of the park names – "cedar" and "fair" – were used to name the company.
Travel into the past to discover the present. Explore the partnership of the Grand Portage Ojibwe and the North West Company during the North American fur trade and the NPS today. Follow pathways into a distant time. Experience the sights and smells of a bustling depot reconstructed in its exact location. Hear the beat of the drum echo over Gichigami - Lake Superior.
In the middle of a bustling urban setting, this 72 mile river park offers quiet stretches for fishing, boating and canoeing, birdwatching, bicycling, and hiking. And there are plenty of visitor centers and trails that highlight the fascinating human history of the Mississippi River. This a great place to start your exploration of this important river.
Come to the North Country. Trek the hills and valleys. Lakes and streams remain from glaciers 10,000 years before. Here you’ll find clear-flowing water, the red and gold of autumn, a fairyland of snow, wide open prairies, and distant horizons. Historic sites along the way tell the story of how America settled and grew as a nation. From New York to North Dakota, you're never far from adventure.
For countless generations, American Indians have quarried the red pipestone found at this site. These grounds are sacred to many people because the pipestone quarried here is carved into pipes used for prayer. Many believe that the pipe's smoke carries one's prayer to the Great Spirit. The traditions of quarrying and pipemaking continue here today.
Grab your paddle and your longing for adventure and head to the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers! Together they form the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, offering over 200 miles of clean water that glides and rushes through a forested landscape. Paddle, boat, fish, and camp among this wild and scenic beauty. Hiking and historic towns also beckon, if you can bear to leave the cool water.
With over 40% of the park water, Voyageurs is a maze of interconnected water highways. Plan ahead before coming to this water park by bringing your own watercraft, reserving a watercraft, or taking a park ranger boat tour.
With 1,300 lakes and ponds, 925 miles of rivers, and 440,000 acres of wetlands, there are many opportunities for boating and fishing in this forest. There are over 180 nesting pairs of bald eagles as well as Canada lynx, and sandhill cranes here
Superior National Forest - 2,092,767 acres
Superior National Forest includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which has over 1,500 miles of canoe routes, 1,000 lakes, and 2,200 designated campsites. Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Minnesota at 2,301 feet, is also in the forest
Sports
The Minnesota Vikings have played in the National Football League since their admission as an expansion franchise in 1961. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961
through 1981 and in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome from 1982 until its demolition after the 2013 season for the construction of the team's new home, U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Viking’s current stadium hosted Super Bowl LII in February, 2018. Super Bowl XXVI was played in the Metrodome. The Vikings have advanced to the Super Bowl Super Bowl
IV, Super Bowl VIII, Super Bowl IX, and Super Bowl XI, losing all four games to their AFC/AFL opponent
The Minnesota Twins have played in the Major League Baseball in the Twin Cities starting in 1961. The Twins began play as the original Washington Senators, relocating to
Minnesota in 1961. The Twins won the 1987 and 1991 World Series in seven game matches where the home team was victorious in all games . The team has played at Target
Field since 2010. The Twins also advanced to the 1965 World Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.
The Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association played in the Minneapolis Auditorium from 1947 to 1960, after which they relocated to Los Angeles. The
Minnesota Timberwolves joined the NBA in 1989, and play in the Target Center since 1990.
Gas tax: 28.6 cents per gallon for regular gasoline and diesel
Transportation
Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport
Minnesota Airports.
There are 156 airports in Minnesota that can be used by the public. Minnesota Airports see huge traffic every year as many people visit this "land of 10,000 lakes".
Minnesota Airports are among the most convenient to use, offering their customers a comfortable travel experience.
Minnesota International Airports are located at Duluth International Airport in Duluth, at Falls International International Airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International
Airport in Minneapolis, the international airport of Rochester in Rochester. There are also airports in Minnesota which are international airports of general aviation. These
are the Baudette International Airport at Baudette and the Warroad International Airport at Warroad.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Minnesota. It serves nearly 35 million passengers a year. The MSP Airport is a haven for
technology fans who need to stay connected. The airport has a power connection with all the technical amenities that a traveling businessman would need. Apart from that, the
airport has ATMs, money exchange counters, lockers and wireless internet in certain halls, many shops, restaurants and playgrounds for children. Apart from these amenities,
the airport also offers excellent friendly support for foreign travelers, special assistance for the disabled and the elderly, and emergency medical care.
Ports
Minnesota’s marine freight system - including river and lake ports, commercially navigable waterways and related infrastructure - plays a vital role in the state’s multimodal freight transportation system, and in the economic competitiveness of Minnesota's communities. The Mississippi River provides access to river ports to the south and the Gulf of Mexico via New Orleans; the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway provides access to other ports along the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
Three ports on Lake Superior and four ports on 195 miles of the Mississippi River system provide essential transportation connections and access to national and international markets. MnDOT is identifying opportunities, challenges and strategies to improve movement along this marine freight system.
Rail
Amtrak's daily Empire Builder (Chicago–Seattle/Portland) train runs through Minnesota, calling at the Saint Paul Union Depot and five other stations. Intercity bus providers include Jefferson Lines, Greyhound, and Megabus. Local public transit is provided by bus networks in the larger cities and by two rail services. The Northstar Line commuter rail service runs from Big Lake to the Target Field station in downtown Minneapolis. From there, light rail runs to Saint Paul Union Depot on the Green Line, and to the MSP airport and the Mall of America via the Blue Line.
Roads
The Interstate Highways in Minnesota are all owned and operated by the State of Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) provides primary maintenance for all 921.621 miles of highway. There are no tolled miles on the Minnesota Interstate, with the exception of HOV lanes governed by the MnPASS program. The system is made up of three primary routes, four auxiliary sections, including two spurs and two loop sections, as well as one of three split sections remaining in the
nation, I-35E and I-35W.
Minnesota Housing
The median home value in Minnesota is $229,200. Minnesota home values have gone up 6.5% over the past year and predictions
are they will rise 8.5% within the next year. The median list price per square foot in Minnesota is $180. The median price of homes currently listed in Minnesota is $264,000 while the median price of homes that sold is $227,900. The median rent price in Minnesota is $1,595.
Minnesota is divided into 87 counties and contains 853 incorporated cities, with populations ranging from 422,331
in Minneapolis to just 5 Funkley in 2017.
Voyageurs National Park
