Minnesota is the fifth of the eight states I've lived in to make the list! I lived there for one year, fresh out of college, while I was working an AmeriCorps program.
State Name:
Minnesota
Capital:
Saint Paul
Date of Entry:
May 11, 1858
Maps:
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| Map of USA. Minnesota outlined in dark ink. |
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| A close-up of Minnesota & its neighbors. |
Neighbors:
Canada, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota
Water Borders:
Lake of the Woods, Rainy River, Rainy Lake, Lake Superior, St. Croix River, Mississippi River, Red River
Total Area:
86,936 square miles
Five Largest Cities:
Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington
Famous Geographical Point:
Mille Lacs Lake
State Nickname:
The North Star State. It’s derived from Minnesota’s state motto which, from the French, translates to “the star of the north.” I was honestly surprised to learn that “the land of 10,000 lakes” isn’t the official motto; I’ve never heard it called “the north star state.”
Famous Person:
Prince, singer, songwriter, and actor
True story. Shortly after I moved to Minnesota, while visiting Minneapolis with a friend who was traveling through (I lived outside the Twin Cities in a rural area), my car broke down. Through a series of random circumstances, we were rescued by a woman who drove us the 60 miles back to my place. She was basically a Deadhead for Prince, which until that moment I never knew existed. It was a weird night.
Book Set In/About:
Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
The first book of the beloved childhood series about two little girls, Betsy and Tacy, who become lifelong best friends. I chose this book in honor of my friend P, who loves the series.
Movie Set In/About:
“Fargo” (1996), directed by Joel & Ethan Coen
A man’s crime goes horribly awry, aided by his own ineptitude & the tenaciousness of a small-town police chief. This movie was a million times funnier to me after I lived in Minnesota.
Headline of the Day:
“Minnesota Families in Need Celebrate Long-awaited Boost in State Aid” in
Minnesota Public Radio News.
