Native Americans
Minnesota has been inhabited by people for thousands of years, including ancient cultures such as the Woodland people and the Mississippian culture. When Europeans arrived in the 16th century, Native American tribes populated the entire region. The largest Native American tribe in the area was the Dakota Sioux. They hunted buffaloes and grew crops such as corn, beans, and squash. Other smaller tribes included the Ojibwa, Cree, and Cheyenne.
Information about Minnesota State:
| Capital | Saint Paul |
| Population | 5,717,184 (Source: 2022 U.S. Census) |
| Major Cities | Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington |
| Borders | North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan (at Lake Superior), Canada |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $446,499.5 million (2022 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis) |
| Key Industries | Agriculture including corn, peas, sugar beets, and turkeys Paper products, iron ore, biomedical, food processing, and tourism |
Flag of Minnesota State:
Europeans Arrive
The first Europeans to arrive in Minnesota were the French. It was in his 1650s that explorers such as Pierre Radisson and Médard des Grosseilleres first visited the area. These early explorers mapped the shores of Lake Superior and claimed French lands.
The French made a fur trade agreement with the Ojibwe in 1671. French trader Daniel Graysolon, Choux du Rousse, explored the area and helped negotiate a peace treaty between the Dakota and Ojibwa peoples in 1679. The city of Duluth is named after him.
Changing Hands
After the end of the French and Indian War between England and France in 1763, the British occupied eastern Minnesota. However, the country was in British hands for only 20 years before becoming an American territory after the Revolutionary War. In 1803, the United States purchased the remainder of Minnesota from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
Minnesota State Symbols
- Minnesota State Nickname: North Star State
- Minnesota State Slogan: Explore Minnesota
- Minnesota State Motto: L’Etoile du Nord (The North Star)
- Minnesota State flower: Pink and white lady’s slipper
- Minnesota State bird: Common Loon
- Minnesota State fish: Walleye
- Minnesota State tree: Red (or Norway) Pine
- Minnesota State mammal: NA
- Minnesota State foods: Milk, Honeycrisp Apple, Wild Rice, Blueberry Muffin
Explorers
After the Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson sent explorers to learn more about the vast new land. Explorer Zebulon Pike arrived in Minnesota in 1805. His main goal was to find the source of the Mississippi River. Although he did not find the source of the Mississippi, he made an agreement with the Dakota Indians for land in the area.
Finally in 1832, explorer Henry Schoolcraft, with the help of the Ojibwe, discovered the source of the Mississippi River. He named the spring Lake Itasca. Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow then wrote “The Song of Hiawatha” based on Native American legends and Minnesota stories told by Schoolcraft.
Twin Cities
The first major U.S. outpost in Minnesota was Fort Snelling, completed in 1825. It was built at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. Eventually, he created two large cities on either side of the Mississippi River. The city to the west was called Minneapolis and the city to the east was called Saint Paul. Today, these two cities, often referred to as the Twin Cities, are Minnesota’s two largest cities.
The Geography of Minnesota State:
- Total Size of Minnesota: 79,610 sq. miles (source: 2003 Census)
- Geographical Low Point of Minnesota: Lake Superior at 601 feet (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- Geographical High Point of Minnesota: Eagle Mtn. at 2,301 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Cook (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- Central Point of Minnesota: Located in Crow Wing County approx. 10 miles southwest of Brainerd (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
- Counties of Minnesota: 87 (source: National Association of Counties)
- Bodies of Water of Minnesota: Lake Superior, Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake, Upper Red Lake, Lower Red Lake, Mississippi River, Minnesota River
Becoming a State
In 1849 Minnesota became a territory of the United States. Over the next two decades, many immigrants from northern European countries such as Germany and Sweden settled in Minnesota. On May 11, 1858, Minnesota became her 32nd state to join the United States.
Famous People of Minnesota State:
| NAMES | PROFESSIONS |
| Richard W. Sears | Businessman who founded Sears department stores |
| Roger Maris | Professional baseball player |
| Judy Garland | Actress and singer from the Wizard of Oz |
| Ethan and Joel Coen | Movie directors |
| F. Scott Fitzgerald | Author who wrote The Great Gatsby |
| Prince | Singer and songwriter |
| Bob Dylan | Singer and songwriter |
| Winona Ryder | Actress |
| Jessica Biel | Actress |
| Charles Schulz | Cartoonist who created the comic strip Peanuts |
Interesting Facts of Minnesota State:
The Mall of America in Minneapolis is one of the largest shopping malls in the world. It’s as big as 78 soccer fields!
His Mayo Clinic, one of the world’s largest medical facilities, is located in Rochester, Minnesota.
The Tonka truck hails from Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Minneapolis has a skyway system that connects buildings, allowing you to explore the entire city without having to go outside. Good news for the snowy winter!
Another nickname for this state is Land of 10,000 Lakes. With so many rivers and lakes, one in six Minnesota residents owns a boat.
The name is derived from the Native American Dakota word meaning “water that reflects the sky”.
Anoka, Minnesota is considered the Halloween capital of the world.
In fact, mosquitoes are legally recognized as a public nuisance.
According to legend, the 10,000 lakes were formed by the footprints of Paul his banyan giant cow, Babe. The University of Minnesota performed the first open heart surgery in the United States.
Timeline Overview:
1650s – The first Europeans visit and map parts of Minnesota.
1763 – The United States conquers eastern Minnesota after winning the French and Indian War.
1803 – The United States purchases western Minnesota from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
1805 – Zebulon Pike explores the area.
1825 – Fort Snelling is founded at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers.
1832 – Explorer Henry Schoolcraft discovers the source of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca.
1849 – United States establishes Minnesota Territory.
1858 – Minnesota is incorporated as her 32nd state.
1862 – The Dakota War is fought between the United States and the Dakota Sioux.
1889 – The Mayo Clinic in Rochester is founded by Dr. Founded by William Mayo.
1965 – Herbert Humphrey becomes Vice President of the United States.
1992 – The Mall of America is completed in Bloomington.
1998 – Former professional wrestler and Navy SEAL Jesse Ventura is elected governor.