Minnesota

is a in the upper Midwestern . It is the 12th largest U.S. in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.7 million residents.

Admitted to the UnionMay 11, 1858 (32nd)
Saint Paul
Largest Minneapolis
Largest  and urban areasMinneapolis–Saint Paul
 GovernorTim Walz 
 Lieutenant GovernorPeggy Flanagan
 Upper houseSenate
 Lower house
Judiciary Supreme Court
U.S. senatorsAmy Klobuchar 
Tina Smith 
 Total Area86,935.83 sq mi (225,163 km2)
  Area79,626.74 sq mi (206,232 km2)
  Area7,309.09 sq mi (18,930 km2)
 Lengthabout 400 mi (640 km)
 Width200–350 mi (320–560 km)
Elevation1,200 ft (370 m)
Highest elevation2,301 ft (701 m)
Lowest elevation602 ft (183 m)
  Population  Total5,707,390
 Median household $68,388

's consists of western prairies, now given over to intensive ; deciduous forests in the southeast, now partially cleared, farmed, and settled; and the less populated North Woods, used for , forestry, and recreation.

Roughly a third of the is covered in forests, and it is known as the “ of 10,000 ” for having over 14,000 bodies of fresh of at least ten acres.

A little more than half of Minnesotans live in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul , known as the “Twin ”, the 's main , , and cultural hub.

The Twin is the 16th largest in the U.S. Other minor and micropolitan statistical areas include Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead, Rochester, and St. Cloud.

, which gets its name from the Dakota language, has been inhabited by various indigenous peoples since the Woodland period of the 11th century BCE.

Between roughly 200 and 500 CE, two areas of the indigenous Hopewell tradition emerged: the Laurel Complex in the north, and Trempealeau Hopewell in the Valley in the south.

The Upper Mississippian , consisting of the Oneota and other Siouan speakers, emerged around 1000 CE and lasted through the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century.

explorers and missionaries were the earliest Europeans to enter the , encountering the Dakota, Ojibwe, and various Anishinaabe tribes.

Much of what is now formed part of the vast holding of , which the purchased in 1803.

After several territorial reorganizations, the Territory was admitted to the Union as the 32nd in 1858.

's official motto, L'Étoile du Nord, is the only motto in ; meaning “The Star of the North”, it was adopted shortly after statehood and reflects both the 's early settlers and its position as the northernmost in the contiguous U.S.

As part of the frontier, attracted settlers and homesteaders from across the , with its growth initially centered on timber, , and .

Into the early 20th century, European immigrants arrived in significant numbers, particularly from Scandinavia, , and Central ; many were linked to the failed revolutions of 1848, which partly influenced the 's development as a major center of labor and social activism.

's rapid industrialization and urbanization precipitated major social, , and changes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the was at the forefront of labor rights, women's suffrage, and reform.

Minnesotan politics, , and identity continue to reflect this and remain highly progressive by national standards.

Since the late 20th century, 's has diversified significantly, shifting from traditional industries such as and resource extraction to services, , and health care; it is consequently one of the richest in terms of GDP and per capita .

The is home to 11 federally recognized reservations (seven Ojibwe, four Dakota), and remains a center of Scandinavian and German cultures.

In recent decades, has become increasingly multicultural, driven by both greater domestic migration and immigration from America, , the Horn of , and the Middle East; it has the nation's largest population of Somali Americans and second largest Hmong population.

's standard of living and level of are among the highest in the U.S., and it is ranked among the best states in metrics such as employment, median , , and governance.

Last Updated on 3 years by pinc