Moving to Minnesota
Minnesota is so much more than a winter wonderland. The Twin Cities are recognized nationally as a cultural center, with a strong arts community in everything from music and literature to dance and visual arts. There are nearly 400 professional and community theaters statewide, with about half of them in the Twin Citieswhich has more theater seats per capita than any other city outside New York.
Minnesota became the 32nd state in 1858. With 4.3 million residents, it ranks 20th in population and 12th in size among the fifty states. Nicknamed the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the state actually has more than 12,000 lakes. Natural beauty, a myriad of year round outdoor activities, and cultural arts make this state a very popular place to live and vacation. Minnesota�s economy consistently ranks as one of the strongest and best in the nation.
Now that you are moving to the Gopher State, also called the North Star State, impress friends and family with fun facts of Minnesota.
State Capital is St. Paul. Largest city is Minneapolis.
State Motto: L'Etoile du Nord (The North Star).
The Mall of America in Bloomington is the size of 78 football fields --- 9.5 million square feet.
Minnesota Inventions: Masking and Scotch tape; Wheaties cereal; Bisquick; HMOs; the Bundt pan; Aveda beauty products; and Green Giant vegetables.
The St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959 allowing oceangoing ships to reach Duluth.
Minneapolis' skyway system connecting 52 blocks (nearly five miles) of downtown makes it possible to live, eat, work and shop without going outside.
The climate-controlled Metrodome is the only US facility to host a Super Bowl, a World Series, and a NCAA Final Four Basketball Championship.
Tonka Trucks were developed and are manufactured in Minnetonka.
The first open heart surgery and the first bone marrow transplant in the United States were done at the University of Minnesota.
Rochester is home of the world famous Mayo Clinic, known world wide for its doctors' expertise and the newest methods of treatments.
Hormel Company of Austin marketed the first canned ham in 1926 and introduced Spam in 1937. A Spam gift shop is open for tourists.
Minnesota candy maker Frank C. Mars introduced the Milky Way candy bar in 1923, Snickers bar in 1930, and Three Musketeers bar in 1937.
There are 201 Mud Lakes, 154 Long Lakes, and 123 Rice Lakes commonly named in Minnesota.
The state takes its name from a Dakota Indian word Minisota meaning "sky tinted waters."
State Song: "Hail! Minnesota."
Minnesota has nearly 475 golf courses and adds more each year.
New housing is being built in the Twin Cities at twice the rate of the national average.
State Flower is the Lady Slipper.
State Tree is the Norway Pine.
State Bird is the Common Loon.
Enjoy your new home Minnesota!