Minnesota Information

Here is some general information about Minnesota:

Recommended Reading

State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide

This guide contains information about the symbols, mottoes, flowers, trees, birds, songs, and even license plates for each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.

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Name
Offical Name	State of Minnesota
Nicknames	Gopher State, North Star State, State of Hockey, The Gopher State, The Land of 10,000 Lakes
Abbreviations	MN, US-MN
Origin of Name	"Cloudy Water" in Sioux Indian language

Government
Official Language	None
Admission to Union	11 May 1858
Time Zone	Central
Official Web Site	www.state.mn.us

Population
Capital	Saint Paul
Largest City	Minneapolis
Population	4,919,479 (as of 2000 census)
Economy	Agriculture: sugar beets, soybeans, corn, logging Industry: food processing, pulpwood processing, paper manufacturing, taconite mining, recreational vehicles, boat manufacturing, financial services, computer manufacturing, biomedical products

Geography
Area	87,014 square miles (225,365 km²)
Major Rivers	Mississippi River, Rainy River, Red River of the North, St. Croix River, Minnesota River
Major Lakes	Lake Pepin, Lake Superior, Lake of the Woods, Leech Lake, Lower Red Lake, Mille Lacs Lake, Rainy Lake, Vermillion Lake, Winnibigoshish Lake, Upper Red Lake
Highest Point	Eagle Mount - 2,301 feet (701 meters)
Bordering States	Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa
Bordering Country	Canada
Bordering Body of Water	Lake Superior

Symbols
Flag
Motto	"L'Etoile du nord" - Star of the North
Song	Hail Minnesota
Bird	Common Loon
Butterfly	Monarch
Fish	Walleye
Reptile	Blanding's Turtle
Flower	Pink and White Showy Lady Slipper
Fruit	Honeycrisp Apple
Tree	Norway Pine
Grain	Wild Rice
Mushroom	Morel
Beverage	Milk
Muffin	Blueberry
Gemstone	Lake Superior Agate
Soil	Minnesota Lester
Photograph	Grace