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Minnesota,
Contains the northernmost point in the Continental United States, the Northwest Angle. Much of the boundry of Minnesota is outlined by natural waterways. A large Portion of the north and northeast is seperated from Manitoba and Ontario by Lake of the Woods, Rainy River, Pigeon River, Lake Superior, and numerous other lakes that stretch in an almost unbroken chain. Lake Superior and the St Croix and Mississippi Rivers mark most of its eastern boundary with Wisconsin. To the west, the Red River of the North and Big Stone and Traverse Lakes seperate Minnesota from the Dakotas. The state is bordered to the south by Iowa.
It has been said that Minnesota's way of life seems permanently positioned in the middle of the America Dream. The dream drew many immigrants to the state, bending people to the plow with the promise of a life of plenty, peace, and dignity in return for their honest labor.
Minnesota received it's name from the largest River that lies wholly within it's boundries, the Sioux called the river the Minnesota, meaning
"clouded water" because of the light colored clay it carried in suspension.
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Land and Resources
More than 2/3rds of Minnesota is nearly flat or gently rolling, with a high elevation of 366 meters or 1,200 feet above sea level. The central region is surrounded by areas of dissimilar topography. In the northeast, both the highest and lowest points in Minnesota are found in Arrowhead Country, which is named for it's triangular shape. This area is structurally part of the Canadian Sheild, underlaid with granite, gneiss, and schist. The flat prairies of the northwest and west, now the eastern plain of the Red River of the North, were once part of the ancient Lake Agassiz basin and overlie limestone and shale. To the south east the driftless area is marked by incised streams and cross cutting valleys.
The state's eastern boundries exhibit remnants of ancient volcanic activity.
During the Pleistocene Epoch, all but the southeastern corner of the state was subjected to the action of four major glaciers. The last advance is largely responsible for the present physical landscape. Central Minnesota has the state's most complete pattern of moraines and accompanying outwash sediments.
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Soils
The prairie soils of the southern part of the state and the chernozems of Western Minnesota are the most fertile. The northeast corner of the state is dominated by lithosols that have developed over resistant rock formations. Much of the area is forested and unsuitable for cultivation. Most of northern Minnesota's soils are podzols that developed under forest vegetation in a cool, humid climate.
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Drainage
Three major drainage basins are found within Minnesota. Only 9% of the state is drained by flowing eastward streams into Lake Superior. The Red, Rainy and other northerly flowing rivers drain 34% and the Mississippi River System, 57%.
The Mississippi begins its 3,779-km (2,348 mile) course to the Gulf of Mexico at Lake Itasca in Itasca State Park.
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Lakes
Although the Minnesota Automobile License plate claims to be the
"Land of 10,000 Lakes".
Lake basins with areas of 10 acres or more actually number 15,291. Within the state are about 25,000 miles of streams and 90,000 miles of Lake and River Shorelines.
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Climate
A humid continental climate dominates the state, but considerable variation occurs within it's borders. Minnesota is susceptible to outbreaks of cold polar air from the north as well as occasional warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. The January mean temperature ranges from -17 degrees C in the northwest, to -9 degrees c in the southeast. July mean temperatures vary from 15 degrees c in the northeast and 23 degrees c in the southwest. Precipitation amounts of 32 inches in the extreme southeast decrease to 19 inches in the northwestern corner. Although snow and rain are equally common in Minnesota, most of the precipitation falls as rain, averaging 25 inches yearly. The average annual snowfall of 45 inches would equal 4.5 inches of liquid.
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Vegetation and Animal Life
Minnesota is located in a transition zone for vegetation. The natural vegetation of the south and west was once extensive grasslands. Approximately 40% of the state was covered with prairie grass with gallery forests lining the watercourses and the edges of lakes. Forested areas of the state were of two major types. In the central and northern parts lay forests of spruce, balsam, and pines, whereas between the grasslands and the coniferous northern woods grew hardwood forests.
Minnesota is famous for it's hunting and fishing opportunities, retaining more than 20% of its area for public hunting grounds and wetlands. In the remote northern areas Moose are seen, while deer and smaller wild animals can be found throughout the state. More than 140 species have been sighted in Minnesota's extensive waters, fishing is a very popular sport. Some commerercial fishing also takes place.
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Growth
Since the 1950's, Minnesota has grown at a slower rate than the nation as a whole, but among the 12 states that make up the U.S. Midwest Region, Minnesota has been the fastest growing state. The state has less than 2% of the total U.S. population. The heaviest population concentration is found in the southeastern part of the state near Minneapolis and Saint Paul, but other major concentrations are found in Duluth, Rochester, and Bloomington (home to the Mall of America), all with populations exceeding 50,000.
Minnesota's birthrate is about the same as the U.S. average, but it's death rate is lower than the average. The state ranks second to Hawaii in the estimated life expectancy of its population.
The major nationality groups in Minnesota reflect the predominatly European background of the population. Other than the Indian, the Yankee,and Canadian groups, the origins of most Minnesotans can be traced directly to European countries. Sweden, Norway, and Germany have been dominant sources of Immigrants.
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Education
In 1849 the territorial legislature enacted the first law pertaining to education. Common schools were to be open to all persons between the ages of 4 and 21 years of age. Townships were to be divided into school districts when the district contained more than five families. To support the schools, the law prescribed a general sales tax supplemented by a portion of funds collected from licenses and fines. In 1851 only three schools , privately operated, existed in Minnesota, with an enrollment of 250 children. Today the state board of education, appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate, directs the Department of Education. Children must attend school from age 7 to age 16. Minnesotans are well educated, with one of the lowest high school drop out rates in the nation.
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Cultural Institutions
Contributions to the nation's culture have been made by many noted Minnesotans. Sinclair Lewis, born in Sauk Centre, used his hometown as a model for his famous novel, Main Street. The novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald was also a native.
The Minneapolis - Saint Paul area is the home of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, The Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Walker Art Center. The Ordway Music Theatre and the Guthrie Theatre provide entertainment in the preforming arts, and the Minnesota symphony is world renown. The Metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul dominates the news media in the state
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Economic Activity
Any description of Minnesota soley in terms of topographical features would be sadly wanting, the state is far from simply a wilderness or vacation haven. It is highly industrialized, with many giant business enterprises operating within its borders. Manufacturing and service sectors have displaced farming as the major source of income, with service industries now representing more than 70% of the gross state product.
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Agriculture
Minnesota is among the leading U.S. farm states, ranking among the top ten states in total farm cash receipts. It is a leading U.S. state in the production of Hay, oats, corn, sugar beets, flaxseed, spring wheat, sunflower seed, soybeans, and rye, as well as a leading producer of milk, cheese and butter. Cattle, hogs, and turkey are also important commodities. Major farm areas are in the south, south west and the Red River Valley.
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Forestry
About 0ne third of Minnesota's total land area is forest, and the forestry industry is important. Because more than half of Minnesota's commercial forestland is publically owned, the state is able to determine harvesting patterns.
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Mining
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Manufacturing and Services
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| Tourism
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Transportation
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Energy
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Government and Politics
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History
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State Tree - Norway Pine
The Norway pine, also called the red pine because of its reddish brown
bark, stands 60 to 100 feet tall, with a trunk 3 - 5 feet wide. Its needles
are 4 - 6 inches long and grow in pairs. The tallest Norway pine in Minnesota
is in Itasca State Park. It is over 300 years old and stands 120 feet high.
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State Bird - Common Loon
Dating back 60 million years, the common loon is one of the earth's
oldest living bird species. Its name comes from a Norwegian word that means
"wild, sad cry." Approximately 12,000 make their homes in Minnesota. Loons
are large black and white birds with long black bills. Clumsy on land,
they are excellent divers, underwater swimmers, and high-speed flyers.
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State Fish - Walleye
Walleye, a favorite fishing catch, inhabit waters in all parts of the
state, but mainly the large, cool lakes in northern Minnesota. Their eyes
are sensitive to light, so they go to deep dark waters during the day and
move to shallow lake areas at night. The record walleye in Minnesota weighed
17 pounds 8 ounces.
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State Flower - Pink and White Lady Slipper
The pink and white lady slipper is one of Minnesota's rarest wildflowers.
Thriving in swamps, bogs, and damp woods, they grow slowly, taking 4 to
16 years to produce their first flower. Sometimes they live for 50 years
and grow four feet tall. They bloom in late June or early July. It is illegal
to pick the lady slipper.
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State Grain - Wild Rice
Wild rice grows naturally in the shallow waters of lakes in central
and northern Minnesota. For many years, all the wild rice produced in the
world came from Minnesota. It is harvested from lakes in the traditional
Anishinabe Indian way, from
canoes. It is also planted as a farm crop.
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State Drink - Milk
Minnesota produces about 10 billion pounds of milk a year and ranks
fifth in dairy production among the states.
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State Gemstone - Lake Superior Agate
These unusually beautiful quartz stones are banded with rich red and
orange colors derived from iron ore in the soil. Found in northeastern
and north central Minnesota, they are often polished to make jewelry.
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State Mushroom - Morel
A spongy-topped mushroom that pops up in fields and forests in spring
time, are considered a rare delicacy by mushroom hunters.
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State Muffin - Blueberry
Wild blueberries are native to northeastern Minnesota, growing in bogs,
on hillsides, and in cut over forested areas.
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State Song - "Hail! Minnesota"
Minnesota, hail to thee!
Hail to thee our state so dear!
Thy light shall ever be
A beacon bright and clear.
Thy sons and daughters true
Will proclaim thee near and far.
They shall guard thy fame
And adore thy name;
Thou shalt be their Northern Star.
Like the stream that bends to sea,
Like the pine that seeks the blue,
Minnesota, still for thee,
Thy sons are strong and true.
From thy woods and waters fair,
From thy prairies waving far,
At thy call they throng,
With their shout and song,
Hailing thee their Northern Star.
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Number of Lakes - (over 10 acres): 11,842
(4,967,510 acres)
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Number of rivers and streams - 6,564 (92,000
miles)
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Tidbits
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*F Scott Fitzgerald was a Minnesotan.
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*Minnesota women have the longest life expectancy. 1990 - 79.8 years
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*The state flower is illegal to pick.
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*A ladyslipper lives about 100 years
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*Minnesota's most common bat can eat 500 mosquitos in an hour.
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*Minnesota produces 1 out of every 6 turkeys in the US
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*The hottest temperature in Minnesota was 114 degrees. July 29, 1917
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*Minnesota's Coldest temperature - 60 degrees below zero! Brrrrrrr!
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*The loon has 4 calls - wail, tremolo, yodel & hoot
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*Cream of Wheat was developed in Minnesota
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*The largest county is St. Louis, the smallest is Ramsey county.
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