Entered Union May 11, 1858 (32nd state)
Minnesota (5,706,804), St. Paul (311,518), Minneapolis (429,985)
The granite capitol was originally completed in 1905 using the designs of Cass Gilbert. It is located on MLK Boulevard at University Avenue. Interstate Highway 94 is two blocks southeast of the capitol. The Capitol is designed in Italian Renaissance and Beaux Arts style. The only major supporting structure is the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals building in Saint Paul. The state was officially created as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858 from Native American lands, Louisiana Purchase, and the Minnesota Territory. Saint Paul has been the capital since 1849. The state’s name comes from the river which is the Native American word meaning “clear blue water.” Saint Paul is named for a French chapel named for the saint. Minneapolis is named for the river and the Greek word for city. Eagle Mountain in Cook County is the highest point and the lowest point is at Lake Superior.
Minnesota government, in the Executive, consists of a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Auditor. There are 67 Senators and 134 Representatives in the Legislative. Seven Supreme Court Justices and 19 Court of Appeals Judges serve Minnesota in the Judicial. Minnesota is located in the north central part of the United States on the border with Canada. The geographic center is in Crow Wing County 10 miles southwest of Brainerd. The state is surrounded clockwise by Canada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
The area is 86936 square miles. It is 12th largest state in the country. It is the 22nd most populated state in the country. It has a density of 65.6 persons per square mile making it 31st in the country. Its major rivers are the Mississippi, the Minnesota, the Saint Louis, the Saint Croix, the Crow Wing, the Red, the Thief, and the Rainy. Lansing is located in the southeast quarter of the state. Minneapolis is located on the southeast quarter of the state adjoined to Saint Paul to its west.
Click here to link to Minnesota county slideshow
Click below to link to a Minnesota county page