Minnesota is known for:
- Lakes
- Mining (iron, copper, nickel)
- Largest shopping mall in the U.S.
- Cold winters
Geography & Demographics
| State Abbreviation |
MN |
| State Capital |
St. Paul |
| State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 86,939 sq miles; Land Only: 79,610 sq miles |
| Number of Counties |
87 |
| Time Zone |
Central Time Zone |
| Bordering States |
Iowa, Michigan (water border), North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin |
| Highest Point | Eagle Mountain, 2,302 feet |
| Tallest Building | IDS Tower in Minneapolis, 792 feet |
| Largest Stadium | US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, capacity 66,655 |
| National Parks | Voyageurs National Park |
| State Population (2020) | 5,706,494 |
| State Population Density | 71.7 people / square mile |
| Area Codes |
218, 320, 507, 612, 651, 763, 952 |
| Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Minneapolis (433,111)
St. Paul (306,717)
Rochester (119,862)
Duluth (85,773)
Bloomington (84,583)
|
Government & Legislature
State Symbols
| State Bird |
Common loon |
| State Butterfly | Monarch butterfly |
| State Drink | Milk |
| State Fish | Walleye |
| State Flower |
Lady slipper |
| State Fruit | Honeycrisp apple |
| State Gemstone | Lake Superior agate |
| State Grain | Northern wild rice |
| State Motto |
L'Étoile du Nord (The star of the North) |
| State Muffin | Blueberry muffin |
| State Mushroom | Morel mushroom |
| State Nickname |
North Star State; Gopher State; Land of 10,000 Lakes |
| State Photograph | Grace by Eri Enstrom |
| State Poem | Minnesota Blue |
| State Tree |
Norway pine (also called red pine) |
Sports Teams
| Major Sports Teams |
MLB: Minnesota Twins
NFL: Minnesota Vikings
NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves
NHL: Minnesota Wild
MLS: Minnesota United FC
|
| NCAA Division I Schools |
University of Minnesota (Big Ten)
|
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Afton Alps: Ski resort in Hastings, Minnesota.
- Afton State Park: State park in Hastings, Minnesota.
- American Swedish Institute: Museum featuring Swedish history, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Como Zoo: Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- Guthrie Theater: Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Itasca State Park: State park in Park Rapids, Minnesota.
- Mall of America: Shopping mall in Bloomington, Minnesota.
- Mill City Museum: History museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Minneapolis Institute of Arts: Art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Minnesota History Center: Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- Minnesota Zoo: Zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota.
- Nickelodeon Universe: Amusement park in Bloomington, Minnesota.
- Science Museum of Minnesota: Science museum in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- Split Rock Lighthouse: Lighthouse in Two Harbors, Minnesota.
- Voyageurs National Park: National park in northern Minnesota.
- Walker Art Center: Art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Weisman Art Museum: Art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in Minnesota. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
| Festival / Event |
When |
Location |
| St. Paul Winter Carnival | Late January to early February | St. Paul |
| Art-A-Whirl | May | Minneapolis |
| Stone Arch Bridge Festival | June | Minneapolis |
| Minnesota Scottish Fair Street Party | July | Eagan |
| Minnesota Fringe Festival | August | Minneapolis |
| Minnesota Garlic Festival | August | Hutchinson |
| Minnesota Irish Fair | August | St. Paul |
| Minnesota Renaissance Festival | Late August to early September | Shakopee |
| Minnesota State Fair | Late August to early September | St. Paul |
| Duluch Rising Festival | September | Duluth |
| Holidazzle | Late November to late December | Minneapolis |
Popular Iconic Minnesota Foods
Minnesota is famous for the following foods:
- Hotdish
- Juicy Lucy
- Walleye
- Wild Rice Soup
- Lefse
- Desert Bars
- Porketta
- Booyah
Famous People Born In Minnesota
Nobel Prize Winners
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Members
- Ernie Nevers (Fullback, Coach. Inducted in 1963)
- Joe Guyon (Halfback, Tackle. Inducted in 1966)
- Walt Kiesling (Guard, Tackle, Coach. Inducted in 1966)
- Sid Gillman (Coach, General Manager. Inducted in 1983)
- Jim Langer (Center. Inducted in 1987)
- Dave Casper (Tight End. Inducted in 2002)
- John Madden (Coach. Inducted in 2006)
Baseball Hall Of Fame Players
- Chief Bender (Pitcher. Inducted in 1953)
- Dave Winfield (Right Fielder. Inducted in 2001)
- Paul Molitor (Third Baseman. Inducted in 2004)
- Jack Morris (Pitcher. Inducted in 2018)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame Players
- Kevin McHale (Center-Forward. Inducted in 1999)
- Lindsay Whalen (Guard. Inducted in 2022)
Hockey Hall Of Fame Members
- Moose Goheen (Defense, Left Wing. Inducted in 1952)
- Frank Brimsek (Goalie. Inducted in 1966)
- Phil Housley (Defense. Inducted in 2015)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Jessica Biel
- Jessica Lange
- Lea Thompson
Famous Singers
- Bob Dylan
- Judy Garland
- Prince
Minnesota Fun Facts
- The state of Minnesota was named after the Dakota Indian name for the Minnesota River, "Minisota," which means "sky-tinted water."
- The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the largest urban sculpture garden in the United States.
- The Minneapolis Skyway System is a collection of enclosed pedestrian footbridges that connects 69 blocks over 11 miles of Minneapolis. This system allows people to walk in climate-controlled comfort all year.
- Southdale Center in Edina was the first enclosed climate-controlled mall in America.
- The Mall of America in Bloomington, with a retail space of 4.2 million square feet, is the largest shopping mall in the United States.
- Though Minnesota is called "The Land of 10,000 Lakes," it actually has 11,842 lakes that are at least 10 acres or more in area.
- Gates Mansion, the first home to have air conditioning in the United States, was built in Minneapolis in 1914. The unit in the Minneapolis mansion of Charles Gates was approximately 7 feet high, 6 feet wide, and 20 feet long.
- The first Target store opened in Roseville on May 1, 1962.
- Minnesota is the only state with an official State Photograph, Grace by Eric Enstrom.
- In Minnesota, it is illegal to stand around a building without a good reason to be there.
This page was last updated on October 12, 2024.
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