100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
Minnesota (MN) lies in the north of the USA on the Canadian border and is known for its tens of thousands of lakes and great conditions for winter sports. Popular tourist attractions include Voyageurs National Park and the country’s largest shopping mall, the Mall of America. Minnesota’s capital is Saint Paul and its largest city is Minneapolis. In 1952, the first successful open-heart surgery in the world was performed at the prestigious University of Minnesota.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Minnesota Abbreviation MN Capital St. Paul Largest city Minneapolis (Population: 425 115) Current time 0:44 Time zone CST (UTC-6), the state observes daylight saving time CDT (UTC-5) Population 5,706,804 (#22 most populous US state) Area 86,936 sqmi (#12 largest US state) Admitted to the Union May 11, 1858 (#32 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Minnesota
The capital of the State of Minnesota is Saint Paul, officially founded in November 1849 and named after the biblical figure Saint Paul of Tarsus. Saint Paul became the capital of the Minnesota Territory in 1849 and, after statehood in 1858, the capital of the state.
🏙️ Largest City in Minnesota
Minnesota’s largest city is Minneapolis, with a 2023 population of 425,115. Second is the capital, St. Paul, with 303,820 residents, and third is Rochester with a population of 122,413.
🕒 Time in Minnesota
The current time in Minnesota is 0:44. The entire state observes Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6), with daylight saving time observed from March through November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Minnesota
In 2023, Minnesota had 5,706,804 residents, making it the 22nd most populous state in the United States.
📍 Area of Minnesota
Minnesota’s total area is 86,936 sqmi, of which 79,626 sqmi is land and 7,309 sqmi is water. Minnesota is the 12th largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About the State of Minnesota
🧩 Which States Border Minnesota
Minnesota borders four U.S. states. To the west are South Dakota and North Dakota, to the east is Wisconsin, and to the south is Iowa. To the north it shares a border with the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, and to the northeast the boundary is formed by Lake Superior.
📅 Date of Minnesota Statehood
Minnesota joined the Union on May 11, 1858, as the 32nd state; before that, most of the area was part of the Minnesota Territory.
📛 Minnesota State Nickname
Minnesota’s nickname is “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” referring to roughly 11,842 lakes of at least 10 acres in size found in the state. For historical reasons, the original label is still used even though the actual number is higher. The nickname appears on the license plates of all vehicles registered in Minnesota.
A second nickname appears on the Minnesota state seal. “Mni Sóta Makoce” comes from the Dakota language and translates to “the land where the waters reflect the sky.” The phrase again highlights Minnesota as a land with many bodies of water.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Minnesota
Minnesota’s highest point is Eagle Mountain at 2,302 ft, part of the Misquah Hills. The range’s name comes from the Ojibwe language and translates to “red.”
🏞️ Rivers in Minnesota
Minnesota’s longest river is the Mississippi River, with a total length of 2,318 mi. Other major rivers include the Red River of the North (553 mi), the Des Moines River (525 mi), the Minnesota River (373 mi), and the Cedar River (338 mi).
🎓 Universities in Minnesota
The state’s largest university is the University of Minnesota, founded in 1851 and now enrolling about 55,000 students. The second largest is Walden University with roughly 42,000 students, followed by Capella University with approximately 40,000.
✉️ ZIP Codes in Minnesota
Minnesota uses ZIP code ranges 550xx-551xx and 553xx-567xx. Learn more about how they work in ZIP Codes in the USA, and look up a ZIP code for a specific address on the USPS website.
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Weather in Minnesota
The best time to visit Minnesota is late spring or early fall, when temperatures are pleasant and the landscape is either beginning to bloom or glowing with color.
Spring in Minnesota is marked by changeable weather and rapid warming. While March often hovers around 37 °F, by May temperatures usually reach about 59 °F. May is the rainiest month, which can cause flooding in lower-lying areas.
Summer in Minnesota is warm and humid, with July and August temperatures commonly reaching 77 °F to 86 °F. Rain showers with thunderstorms are frequent, especially in the northern part of the state. Summer months also bring a higher risk of tornadoes.
Fall in Minnesota brings a cool-down from the usual 55 °F to 64 °F in September to about 39 °F in November. Precipitation totals are lower, with snow gradually replacing rain.
Winter in Minnesota is typically harsh with below-freezing temperatures; December and January usually see around 23 °F. In some areas, temperatures can drop to -22 °F. Northern Minnesota can receive more than 150 cm of snow.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Minnesota
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What to See in Minnesota
1️⃣ Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park is known for its unspoiled wilderness and expansive lakes, the largest being Rainy Lake with depths up to 161.0 ft. In summer, visitors come to fish, camp, and paddle. In winter, the park is popular for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Wildlife sightings can include wolves, bears, and eagles.
2️⃣ Mall of America Shopping Center
The Mall of America is the largest shopping center in the USA by total area and one of Minnesota’s most visited attractions. It features more than 500 shops, numerous restaurants, and entertainment venues. One standout is the Sea Life aquarium, with a 300 ft glass tunnel where you can watch more than 4,500 marine animals, including sharks, rays, and turtles.
3️⃣ Itasca State Park
Itasca State Park lies northeast of Minneapolis and is the source of the Mississippi River, one of the most important waterways in the USA. The park offers a network of hiking trails with views of forests and lakes.
A fun experience is stepping across the stones at the river’s headwaters. Itasca is Minnesota’s oldest state park, established in 1891.
4️⃣ Split Rock Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most famous beacons on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It went into service in 1910 to help protect ships on the lake’s treacherous waters.
The 54.0 ft lighthouse was retired in 1969; today, together with the nearby museum, it tells the story of navigation on Lake Superior. Guided tours of the lighthouse are available.
5️⃣ Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
This protected wilderness along the Minnesota–Canada border encompasses more than 1,000 lakes and other waterways. It is beloved by outdoor enthusiasts for kayaking and canoeing, fishing, camping, and wildlife watching. You may spot white-tailed deer, moose, beavers, wolves, and American black bears. The lakes here are among the cleanest in the USA.
6️⃣ North Shore Scenic Drive
The North Shore Scenic Drive begins in Duluth and follows Lake Superior all the way to the Canadian border. The 154 mi route is dotted with waterfalls, lighthouses, and state parks worth at least a short stop. It is beautiful year-round, with fall being the most popular season when the leaves turn orange and red.
7️⃣ Minnehaha Park
Minnehaha Park is one of Minneapolis’s largest and oldest city parks. Its main attraction is Minnehaha Falls, which drops 53.0 ft; the strongest flow is in spring. The park has several hiking trails and makes a great picnic spot.
8️⃣ Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) ranks among the most important art museums in the United States, with a collection of more than 90,000 works spanning many periods and cultures. Founded in 1883, it is home to famous paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet. Admission to the Minneapolis Institute of Art is free.
9️⃣ Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort
Lutsen Mountains sits near the North Shore of Lake Superior. Winter sports fans will find nearly one hundred runs for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, from beginners to very advanced riders. In summer, Lutsen Mountains is popular for its wide network of hiking trails, some with beautiful views of Lake Superior.
🔟 Minnesota State Capitol
The Capitol building in the capital city of Saint Paul is one of Minnesota’s most important structures and a fine example of late 19th-century architecture. American architect Cass Gilbert designed it in the Renaissance style; it was built from 1896-1905. The Capitol has the second largest self-supporting marble dome in the world after St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
The Capitol is open to the public for guided tours, where visitors can admire richly decorated interiors, sculptures, and historical artifacts.
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Largest Cities in Minnesota
The table lists the ten largest cities in the state of Minnesota in 2023; the data source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose main task is the national census.
City County Population 1 Minneapolis Hennepin 425,115 Map of Minneapolis 2 St. Paul Ramsey 303,820 Map of St. Paul 3 Rochester Olmsted 122,413 Map of Rochester 4 Duluth St. Louis 87,680 Map of Duluth 5 Bloomington Hennepin 87,398 Map of Bloomington 6 Brooklyn Park Hennepin 82,017 Map of Brooklyn Park 7 Woodbury Washington 79,538 Map of Woodbury 8 Plymouth Hennepin 77,648 Map of Plymouth 9 Lakeville Dakota 76,243 Map of Lakeville 10 Blaine Anoka, Ramsey 73,774 Map of Blaine -
Sports Teams in Minnesota
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
Minnesota’s only NHL team is the Minnesota Wild, founded in 2000 and competing in the Central Division of the Western Conference. The team plays home games at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul and uses forest green, red, gold, and Minnesota wheat as its colors.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
Minnesota’s NFL club since the 1961 season has been the Minnesota Vikings. The team colors are purple, gold, and white, and the club is part of the NFC North. The Vikings play home games at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
Since the 1989 season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have competed in the NBA as part of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference. Team colors are navy, blue, green, gray, and white. All home games are played at Target Center in Minneapolis.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
The Minnesota Twins have played in MLB since 1901 and are in the American League’s Central Division. All home games are held at Target Field in Minneapolis; the team colors are red, navy blue, and white.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
Minnesota United FC has competed in MLS’s Western Conference since the 2017 season. The team plays home matches at Allianz Field in Saint Paul and uses gray, sky blue, and black as its colors.
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Minnesota State Symbols
Minnesota law defines around twenty state symbols; this article lists some of them.
Minnesota State Flag
Minnesota’s flag is one of the newest in the United States; the current design was adopted on May 11, 2024. The left half is dark blue with an eight-pointed white star in the upper portion, symbolizing both Indigenous and immigrant cultures. The right half is light blue. The color transition represents a simplified outline of Minnesota.
Great Seal of Minnesota
The current Great Seal of Minnesota has been in effect since May 11, 2024, and it incorporates several state symbols. The most prominent is the common loon, accompanied by a pine tree, wild rice, and the North Star as a reference to the state motto.
State Bird
The official state bird since 1961 is the common loon (Gavia immer); an estimated 12,000 individuals live in Minnesota.
State Fish
In 1965, the state fish was designated as the walleye (Sander vitreus), which is relatively common in Minnesota waters. Its preferred habitat is the cooler lakes of the north.
State Flower
In 1967, lawmakers designated the showy lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae) as Minnesota’s state flower. The plant, 35 cm to 85 cm tall, typically grows in marshes, bogs, and moist forests. The species is protected and may not be collected.
State Fruit
The state fruit is the Honeycrisp apple, a cultivar specially developed at the University of Minnesota to withstand the state’s harsh climate. It became Minnesota’s official fruit in 2006.
State Gemstone
Since 1969, the official gemstone has been Lake Superior agate, noted for its bright orange to red coloring due to the soil’s high iron content.
State Tree
Since 1953, the state tree has been the red pine (Pinus resinosa), which grows to 59 ft to 98 ft. Extensive red pine stands can be found, for example, in Itasca State Park.
State Muffin
In 1988, at the suggestion of elementary school students in Carlton, the blueberry muffin became one of the state symbols. Wild blueberries are typical of the forests of northeastern Minnesota.
State Beverage
Minnesota is a major milk producer among U.S. states. In 1984, milk was designated the official state beverage as a way to support the local dairy industry.
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