Etymology
The word ''Minnesota'' comes from theHistory
When Europeans arrived in North America, the Dakota people lived in what is now Minnesota. The first Europeans to enter the region were FrenchGeography
Minnesota is the second northernmost U.S. state (afterGeology
Minnesota has some of the earth's oldest rocks,Flora and fauna
Minnesota has four ecological provinces:Climate
Minnesota experiences List of Minnesota weather records, temperature extremes characteristic of its continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The lowest temperature recorded was at Tower, Minnesota, Tower on February 2, 1996, and the highest was at Moorhead on July 6, 1936. Meteorological events include rain, snow, blizzards, thunderstorms, hail, derechos, tornadoes, and high-velocity Downburst, straight-line winds. The growing season varies from 90 days in the far northeast to 160 days in southeast Minnesota near the Mississippi River, and average temperatures range from . Average summer dew point, dewpoints range from about in the south to about in the north. Average annual precipitation ranges from , and droughts occur every 10 to 50 years.Protected lands
Minnesota's first state park, Itasca State Park, was established in 1891, and is the source (river or stream), source of the Mississippi River. Today Minnesota has List of Minnesota state parks, 72 state parks and recreation areas, List of Minnesota state forests, 58 state forests covering about four million acres (16,000km2), and numerous state wildlife preserves, all managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Chippewa National Forest, Chippewa and Superior National Forest, Superior national forests comprise . The Superior National Forest in the northeast contains the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which encompasses over a million acres (4,000km2) and a thousand lakes. To its west is Voyageurs National Park. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) is a corridor along the Mississippi River through the Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Area connecting a variety of sites of historic, cultural, and geologic interest.Cities and towns
Saint Paul, Minnesota, Saint Paul, in east-central Minnesota along the banks of the Mississippi River, has been Minnesota's List of capitals in the United States, capital city since 1849, first as capital of the Territory 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 the Minneapolis–Saint Paul#Combined Statistical Area, Twin Cities metropolitan area, the country's 16th-largest metropolitan area and home to about 55% of the state's population. The remainder of the state is known as "Regions of Minnesota, Greater Minnesota" or "Outstate Minnesota". The state has 17 cities with populations above 50,000 as of the 2010 census. In descending order of population, they are Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Minnesota, Saint Paul,Demographics
Population
From fewer than 6,120 white settlers in 1850, Minnesota's enumerated population grew to over 1.7million by 1900 and 3.4million in 1960. Growth then slowed, rising 11% to 3.8million in 1970, and an average of 9% over the next three decades to 4.9million in the 2000 United States Census, 2000 census. The 2020 United States Census, 2020 United States census showed Minnesota's population at 5,709,752 on April 1, 2020, a 7.65% increase since the 2010 United States Census, 2010 United States census. The rate of population change, and age and gender distributions, approximate the national average. Minnesota's center of population is in Hennepin County, Minnesota, Hennepin County. At the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census Minnesota's population was 5,303,925. The gender makeup of the state was 49.6% male and 50.4% female. 24.2% of the population was under age 18; 9.5% between 18 and 24; 26.3% from 25 to 44; 27.1% from 45 to 64; and 12.9% 65 or older. The table below shows the racial composition of Minnesota's population as of the 2020 census. According to the 2017 American Community Survey, 5.1% of Minnesota's population were of Hispanic and Latino Americans, Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race): Mexican American, Mexican (3.5%), Puerto Ricans, Puerto Rican (0.2%), Cuban American, Cuban (0.1%), and other Hispanic or Latino origin (1.2%). The ancestry groups claimed by more than 5% of the population wereReligion
The majority of Minnesotans are Protestants, including a large Lutheran contingent, owing to the state's largely Northern European ethnic makeup. Roman Catholics (of largelyEconomy
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. Minnesota's economy had a gross domestic product of $383billion in 2019, with 33 of the United States' top 1,000 publicly traded companies by revenue headquartered in Minnesota, including Target Corporation, Target, UnitedHealth Group, 3M,Industry and commerce
Minnesota's earliest industries were fur trading and agriculture. Minneapolis grew around the flour mills powered by St. Anthony Falls. Although less than 1% of the population is now employed in the agricultural sector, it remains a major part of the state's economy, ranking sixth in the nation in the value of products sold. The state is the nation's largest producer of sugar beets, sweet corn, and peas for processing, and farm-raised Turkey (bird), turkeys. Minnesota is also a large producer of corn and soybeans, and has the most food List of food cooperatives#United States, cooperatives per capita in the United States. Forestry remains strong, including logging, 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's iron 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. 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 and biomedical firms, in addition to the older food processors and heavy industry. The nation's first indoor shopping mall was Edina, Minnesota, Edina's Southdale Center, and its largest is Bloomington's Mall of America. Minnesota is one of 45 U.S. states with its Minnesota State Lottery, own lottery; its games include Multi-State Lottery Association, multi-jurisdiction draws, in-house draws, and other games.Energy use and production
Minnesota produces ethanol fuel and is the first to mandate its use, a 10% mix (E10 fuel, E10). In 2019 there were more than 411 service stations supplying E85 fuel, comprising 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. A 2% biodiesel blend has been required in diesel 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. Xcel Energy is the state's largest utility and is headquartered in the state; it is one of five investor-owned utilities. There are also a number of municipal utilities.State taxes
Minnesota has a progressive income tax structure; the four brackets of state income tax rates are 5.35%, 7.05%, 7.85%, and 9.85%. As of 2008 Minnesota was ranked 12th in the nation in per capita total state and local taxes. In 2008 Minnesotans paid 10.2% of their income in state and local taxes; the U.S. average was 9.7%. The state sales tax in Minnesota is 6.875%, but clothing, prescription drug medications and food items for home consumption are exempt. The Minnesota Legislature, state legislature may allow municipalities to institute local sales taxes and special local taxes, such as the 0.5% supplemental sales tax in Minneapolis. Excise taxes are levied on alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel. The state imposes a use tax on items purchased elsewhere but used within Minnesota. Owners of real property in Minnesota pay property tax to their county, municipality, school district, and special taxing districts.Culture
Fine and performing arts
Minnesota's leading fine art museums include the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Walker Art Center, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, and The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA). All are in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra are prominent full-time professional musical ensembles who perform concerts and offer educational programs to the Twin Cities' community. The world-renowned Guthrie Theater moved into a new Minneapolis facility in 2006, boasting three stages and overlooking the Mississippi River. Attendance at theatre, theatrical, musical, and comedy events in the area is strong. In the United States, Minneapolis's number of theater companies ranks behind only New York City's, and about 2.3million theater tickets were sold in the Twin Cities annually as of 2006. The Minnesota Fringe Festival in Minneapolis is an annual celebration of theatre, dance, improvisation, puppetry, kids' shows, visual art, and musicals with more than 800 performances over 11 days. It is the country's largest non-juried performing arts festival.Literature
The rigors and rewards of pioneer life on theEntertainment
Minnesota musicians include Prince (musician), Prince, Bob Dylan, Eddie Cochran, The Andrews Sisters, The Castaways, The Trashmen, Soul Asylum, David Ellefson, Chad Smith, John Wozniak, Hüsker Dü, Semisonic, The Replacements (band), The Replacements, Owl City, Holly Henry, Motion City Soundtrack, Atmosphere (music group), Atmosphere, and Dessa. Minnesotans helped shape the history of music through popular American culture: the Andrews Sisters' "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was an iconic tune of World War II, while the Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird" and Bob Dylan epitomize two sides of the 1960s. In the 1980s, influential hit radio groups and musicians included Prince (musician), Prince, The Original 7ven, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, The Jets (Minnesota band), The Jets, Lipps Inc., and Information Society (band), Information Society. Minnesotans have also made significant contributions to comedy, theater, media, and film. The comic strip ''Peanuts'' was created by St. Paul native Charles M. Schulz. A Prairie Home Companion which first aired in 1974, became a long-running comedy radio show on National Public Radio. A cult Science fiction, scifi cable TV show, Mystery Science Theater 3000, was created by Joel Hodgson in Hopkins, and Minneapolis, MN. Another popular comedy staple developed in the 1990s, The Daily Show, was originated through Lizz Winstead and Madeleine Smithberg. Joel and Ethan Coen, Terry Gilliam, Bill Pohlad, and Mike Todd contributed to the art of filmmaking as writers, directors, and producers. Notable actors from Minnesota include Loni Anderson, Richard Dean Anderson, James Arness, Jessica Biel, Rachael Leigh Cook, Julia Duffy, Mike Farrell, Judy Garland, Peter Graves, Josh Hartnett, Garrett Hedlund, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Lange, Kelly Lynch, E.G. Marshall, Laura Osnes, Melissa Peterman, Chris Pratt, Marion Ross, Jane Russell, Winona Ryder, Seann William Scott, Kevin Sorbo, Lea Thompson, Vince Vaughn, Jesse Ventura, and Steve Zahn.Popular culture
Stereotype, Stereotypical traits of Minnesotans include "Minnesota nice", Lutheranism, a strong sense of community and shared culture, and a distinctive brand of North Central American English sprinkled withHealth
Minnesotans have low rates of premature death, infant mortality, cardiovascular disease, and occupational fatalities. They have long life expectancies, and high rates of health insurance and regular exercise. 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 of binge drinking. While overall health indicators are strong, Minnesota does have significant health disparities in minority populations. On October 1, 2007, the Freedom to Breathe Act took effect, outlawing smoking in restaurants and bars in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Health is the primary state health agency responsible for public policy and regulation. Medical care in the state is provided by a comprehensive network of hospitals and clinics operated by a number of large providers including Allina Hospitals & Clinics, CentraCare Health System, Essentia Health, HealthPartners, M Health Fairview and the Mayo Clinic Health System. There are two teaching hospitals and medical schools in Minnesota. The University of Minnesota Medical School is a high-rated teaching institution that has made a number of breakthroughs in treatment, and its research activities contribute significantly to the state's growing biotechnology industry. The Mayo Clinic, a world-renowned hospital based in Rochester, was founded by William Worrall Mayo, an immigrant from England. ''U.S. News & World Report'' 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. 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 into cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Coronary heart disease, heart health, obesity, and other areas.Education
One of the first acts of the Minnesota Legislature when it opened in 1858 was the creation of a normal 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 a high school diploma, and the tenth-highest proportion of people with bachelor's degrees. In 2015, Minneapolis was named the nation's "Most Literate City", while St. Paul placed fourth, according to a major annual survey. 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. In 2014, Minnesota students earned the tenth-highest average composite score in the nation on the ACT (examination), ACT exam. In 2013, nationwide in per-student public education spending, Minnesota ranked 21st. While Minnesota has chosen not to implement school vouchers, it is home to the first charter school. The state supports a network of public universities and colleges, including 37 institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges 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 rank among the nation's top 100 liberal arts colleges, according to ''U.S. News & World Report''.Transportation
Transportation in Minnesota is overseen by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) at the state level and by regional and local governments at the local level. Principal transportation corridors radiate from the Twin Cities metropolitan area and along interstate corridors in Greater Minnesota. The major Interstate Highway System, Interstate highways are Interstate 35 in Minnesota, Interstate35 (I-35), Interstate 90 in Minnesota, I-90, and Interstate 94 in Minnesota, I-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. In 2006, a constitutional amendment was passed that required sales and use taxes on motor vehicles to fund transportation, with at least 40% dedicated to public transit. There are nearly two dozen rail transport, rail corridors in Minnesota, most of which go through Minneapolis–St. Paul or Duluth. There is water transportation along the Mississippi River system and from the ports ofLaw and government
Minnesota is governed pursuant to the Minnesota Constitution, which was adopted October 13, 1857, roughly one year before statehood. Like all U.S. states and the federal government, Minnesota has a Republicanism in the United States, republican system of political representation with power divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The state constitution includes a bill of rights that reaffirms many of the same rights and freedoms as its United States Bill of Rights, federal counterpart, with some protected more strongly and explicitly.Executive
The executive branch is headed by the Governor (United States), governor, currently Tim Walz, DFL (Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Democratic–Farmer–Labor), who took office on January 7, 2019. The governor has a cabinet (government), cabinet consisting of the leaders of various state government agencies, called commissioners. The other elected constitutional offices are List of secretaries of state of Minnesota, secretary of state, Minnesota Attorney General, attorney general, and Minnesota State Auditor, state auditor. Constitutional officeholders: * Governor Tim Walz (DFL) * Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (DFL) * Secretary of State Steve Simon (DFL) * Attorney General Keith Ellison (DFL) * State Auditor Julie Blaha (DFL)Legislature
The Minnesota Legislature is a bicameral body consisting of the Minnesota Senate, Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives, House 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 into ''A'' and ''B'' sections for members of the House. Senators serve for four years and representatives for two years. In the 2010 Minnesota House of Representatives election, November 2010 Minnesota House election, the Minnesota Republican Party, Republicans gained 25 house seats, giving them control of the body by a 72–62 margin. The 2010 Minnesota Senate election, 2010 Senate election also saw Minnesota voters elect a Republican majority in the state Senate for the first time since 1972. In 2012, the Democrats 2012 Minnesota House of Representatives election, regained the House of Representatives by a margin of 73–61, picking up 11 seats; the Democrats also 2012 Minnesota Senate election, regained the Minnesota Senate. Control of the House shifted back to Republicans in the 2014 Minnesota House of Representatives election, 2014 election and returned to the DFL in the 2018 Minnesota House of Representatives election, 2018 midterm election. Since 2016 Minnesota Senate election, 2016, the Senate has had a slim Republican majority. House Leadership * Speaker: Melissa Hortman (DFL-36B) * Majority Leader: Ryan Winkler (DFL-46A) * Majority Whip: Kaohly Her (DFL-64A) * Speaker Pro Tempore: Liz Olson (DFL-7B) * Assistant Majority Leaders: Heather Edelson (DFL-49A), Emma Greenman (DFL-63B), Michael Howard (American politician), Michael Howard (DFL-50A), Todd Lippert (DLF-20B), Kelly Morrison (DFL-33B), Dan Wolgamott (DFL-14B) * Minority Leader: Kurt Daudt (R-31A) * Deputy Minority Leader: Anne Neu (R-Minnesota House of Representatives, District 32B, 32B) * Minority Whip: Barb Haley (R-21A) * Assistant Minority Leaders: Dave Baker (Minnesota politician), Dave Baker (R-17B), Peggy Bennett (R-27A), Lisa Demuth (R-13A), Jim Nash (politician), Jim Nash (R-47A), Paul Novotny (R-30A), Bjorn Olson (R-23A), Peggy Scott (politician), Peggy Scott (R-35B), Paul Torkelson (R-16B) Senate Leadership * President: Jeremy Miller (politician), Jeremy Miller (R-28) * President Pro Tempore: ''Vacant'' * Majority Leader: Paul Gazelka (R-09) * Deputy Majority Leader: Mark Johnson (Minnesota politician), Mark Johnson (R-01) * Assistant Majority Leaders: Roger Chamberlain (R-38), Karin Housley (R-39), John Jasinski (politician), John Jasinski (R-24), Zach Duckworth (R-58), Eric Pratt (R-55) * Minority Leader: Melisa Franzen (DFL-49) * Minority Whips: Kent Eken (DFL-4), Jason Isaacson (DLF-42) * Assistant Minority Leaders: Nick Frentz (DFL-19), Foung Hawj (DFL-67)Judiciary
Minnesota's court system has three levels. Most cases start in the Minnesota District Courts, district 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 the Minnesota Court of Appeals, consisting of 19 judges who typically sit in three-judge panels. The seven-justice Minnesota Supreme Court hears all appeals from the tax court, the Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, workers' compensation court of appeals, first-degree murder convictions, and Certiorari#State courts, 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 workers' compensation court of appeals, and the tax court, which deals with non-criminal tax cases. Supreme Court Justices * Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea, Lorie Gildea Associate Justices * Barry Anderson * David Lillehaug * Natalie Hudson * Margaret Chutich * Anne McKeig * Paul ThissenRegional
In addition to the city and county levels of government found in the United States, Minnesota has other entities that provide governmental oversight and planning. Regional Development Commissions, Regional development commissions (RDCs) provide technical assistance to local governments in the broad multi-county areas of the state. Along with this Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), such as the Metropolitan Council, provide planning and oversight of land use actions in metropolitan areas. Many lakes and rivers are overseen by Watershed district (Minnesota), watershed districts and soil and water conservation districts.Federal
Minnesota's United States senators are Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. The state has eight Minnesota Congressional Districts, congressional districts; they are represented by Brad Finstad (Minnesota's 1st congressional district, 1st district; R), Angie Craig (Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, 2nd; DFL), Dean Phillips (Minnesota's 3rd congressional district, 3rd; DFL), Betty McCollum (Minnesota's 4th congressional district, 4th; DFL), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota's 5th congressional district, 5th; DFL), Tom Emmer (Minnesota's 6th congressional district, 6th; R), Michelle Fischbach (Minnesota's 7th congressional district, 7th; R), and Pete Stauber (Minnesota's 8th congressional district, 8th; R). Federal court cases are heard in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, and Fergus Falls. Appeals are heard by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, Missouri and St. Paul.Tribal
The State of Minnesota was created by the United States federal government in the traditional and cultural range of lands occupied by thePolitics
Minnesota is known for a politically active citizenry, and populism has been a long-standing force among the state's political party, political parties. Minnesota has a consistently high voter turnout. In the 2008 United States presidential election, 2008 U.S. presidential election, 78.2% of eligible Minnesotans votedthe highest percentage of any U.S. stateversus the national average of 61.2%. That figure was surpassed in 2020, when 79.96% of registered voters participated in the general election. Voters can register on Election Day (United States), election day at their polling places with evidence of residency. Hubert Humphrey brought national attention to the state with his address at the 1948 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 for Ronald 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 Republican Richard 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 the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). It was formed out of a 1944 alliance of the Minnesota Democratic and Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, Farmer-Labor parties. The state has had active third-party movements. The Reform Party of the United States, Reform Party, now the Independence Party of Minnesota, Independence Party, was able to elect former mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Brooklyn Park and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura to the Minnesota gubernatorial election, 1998, governorship in 1998. The Independence Party of Minnesota, Independence Party has received enough support to keep major-party status. The Green Party of Minnesota, Green Party, while no longer having major-party status, has a large presence in municipal government, 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 to 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's United States Senate, U.S. Senate seats have generally been split since the early 1990s and in the 108th United States Congress, 108th and 109th United States Congress, 109th 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 Republicans Tim Pawlenty and Carol 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 first African American U.S. Representative from Minnesota, as well as the first Muslim elected to Congress nationwide. In 2008, DFLer and former comedian and radio talk show host Al Franken defeated incumbent Republican Norm 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, and in 2016, the GOP also regained control of the State Senate. In 2018, the DFL retook control of the Minnesota House, while electing DFLer Tim Walz as Governor. In a 2020 study, Minnesota was ranked as the 15th easiest state for citizens to vote in.Media
The Twin Cities area is the fifteenth largest media market in the United States, as ranked by Nielsen Media Research. The state's other top markets are Fargo–Moorhead (118th nationally), Twin Ports, Duluth–Superior (137th), Rochester–Mason City–Austin (152nd), and Mankato (200th). Terrestrial television, Broadcast television in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest started on April 27, 1948, when KSTP-TV began broadcasting. Hubbard Broadcasting, which owns KSTP, is now the only locally owned television company in Minnesota. Twin Cities CBS station WCCO-TV and Fox Broadcasting Company, FOX station KMSP-TV are owned-and-operated by their respective networks. There are List of television stations in Minnesota (by channel number), 39 analog broadcast stations and 23 digital television, digital channels broadcast over Minnesota. The four largest daily newspapers are the ''Star Tribune'' in Minneapolis, the ''St. Paul Pioneer Press, Pioneer Press'' in Saint Paul, the ''Duluth News Tribune'' in Duluth, and the ''Post-Bulletin'' in Rochester. ''Minnesota Daily, The Minnesota Daily'' is the largest student-run newspaper in the U.S. Sites offering daily news on the Web include ''The UpTake'', ''MinnPost.com, MinnPost'', the Twin Cities ''Daily Planet'', business news site ''Finance & Commerce, Finance and Commerce'' and Washington D.C.-based ''Minnesota Independent''. Weeklies including ''City Pages'' and monthly publications such as ''Minnesota Monthly'' are available. Two of the largest public radio networks, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and Public 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. PRI weekly provides more than 400 hours of programming to almost 800 affiliates. The state's oldest radio station, KUOM-AM, was launched in 1922 and is among the 10-List of oldest radio stations, oldest radio stations in the United States. The University of Minnesota-owned station is still on the air, and since 1993 broadcasts a campus radio, college 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 and environmentalism, added to traditional interests in hunting and fishing, has attracted a large urban audience within driving range.Organized sports
Minnesota has professional men's teams in all major 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 Vikings' current stadium hosted Super Bowl LII in February 2018. Super Bowl XXVI was played in the Metrodome in 1992. 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 since 1961. The Twins began play as the original Minnesota Twins, Washington Senators, a founding member of the American League in 1901, 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 Twins also advanced to the 1965 World Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. The team has played at Target Field since 2010. 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 have played in Target Center since 1990. The National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild play in St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center, and reached 300 consecutive sold-out games on January 16, 2008. Previously, the Minnesota North Stars competed in NHL from 1967 to 1993, which played in and lost the 1981 and 1991 Stanley Cup Finals. Minnesota United FC joined Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 2017, having played in the lower-division North American Soccer League (2010), North American Soccer League from 2010 to 2016. The team plays at Allianz Field in St. Paul. Previous professional soccer teams have included the Minnesota Kicks, which played at Metropolitan Stadium from 1976 to 1981, and the Minnesota Strikers from 1984 to 1988. Minnesota also has minor-league professional sports teams. The Minnesota Swarm of the National Lacrosse League played at the Xcel Energy Center until the team moved to Georgia in 2015. The St. Paul Saints, who play at CHS Field in St. Paul, are the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A minor league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Professional women's sports include the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association, winners of the 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 WNBA Championships, Minnesota Aurora FC of the United Soccer League USL W-League, W-League, the Minnesota Vixen of the Independent Women's Football League, the Minnesota Valkyrie of the Legends Football League, and the Minnesota Whitecaps of the National Women's Hockey League. The Twin Cities campus of theOutdoor recreation
Minnesotans participate in high levels of physical activity, and many of these activities are outdoors. The strong interest of Minnesotans in environmentalism has been attributed to the popularity of these pursuits. In the warmer months, these activities often involve water. Weekend and longer trips to family cottage, cabins on Minnesota's numerous lakes are a way of life for many residents. Activities include water sports such as water skiing, which originated in the state, boating, canoeing, and fishing. More than 36% of Minnesotans fish, second only to Alaska. Fishing does not cease when the lakes freeze; ice fishing has been around since the arrival of early Scandinavian immigrants. Minnesotans have learned to embrace their long, harsh winters in ice sports such as ice skating, skating, Ice hockey, hockey, curling, and broomball, and snow sports such as cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, luge, snowshoeing, and snowmobile, snowmobiling. Minnesota is the only U.S. state where bandy is played. State and national forests and the 72 state parks are used year-round for hunting, camping, and hiking. There are almost of snowmobile trails statewide. Minnesota has more miles of bike trails than any other state, and a growing network of trail, hiking trails, including the Superior Hiking Trail in the northeast. Many hiking and bike trails are used for cross-country skiing during the winter.See also
* Index of Minnesota-related articles * Outline of MinnesotaNotes
References
External links
Culture and history
General
*Government
*Maps and demographics
Tourism and recreation