According to babyinger, Minnesota is located in the Midwestern United States and is bordered by Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the south, North Dakota and South Dakota to the west, and Canada’s provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north. The state covers an area of 86,943 square miles with its largest city being Minneapolis. Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” due to its abundance of freshwater lakes which make up over 11 percent of its total surface area.
Minnesota has three distinct land regions – the Superior Upland in the northeast corner of the state, Central Lowland in the southern half of Minnesota, and Northern Highland in central Minnesota. The Superior Upland is a rugged terrain made up mostly of ancient glacial deposits which includes numerous lakes and wetlands along with forests and grasslands. The Central Lowland consists mostly of prairies which are dotted with many lakes and wetlands including portions of Lake Superior along its northern border. Finally, the Northern Highland region features rolling hills with thick forests along with several large lakes including Lake Itasca which is considered to be the source of Mississippi River.
The climate in Minnesota varies greatly depending on where you are located within its borders but generally experiences hot summers and cold winters with snowfall throughout most parts of the state during winter months. In addition to snowfall, Minnesota experiences severe thunderstorms during spring months as well as tornadoes during summer months.
Overall, Minnesota has a diverse landscape that includes prairies, forests, rivers and lakes that make it a great place for outdoor recreation such as fishing, skiing or camping. Its varied climate also allows for year-round activities such as golfing or snowmobiling depending on what season you visit.
Administrative Regions in Minnesota
According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, Minnesota is divided into 87 counties with each county having its own government and responsibility for providing services to its citizens. The state is also divided into eight congressional districts which are represented by members in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The state capital of Minnesota is St. Paul and it is located in Ramsey County, one of the 87 counties in the state. The city serves as the economic, political and cultural center of the state and includes many attractions such as the Minnesota State Capitol building, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, Science Museum of Minnesota and more.
The Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area (known as the Twin Cities) is made up of seven counties located in central Minnesota including Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington Counties which make up an urban corridor along Interstate 94 stretching from St. Paul to Minneapolis and their surrounding suburbs.
There are several other metropolitan areas in Minnesota including Duluth-Superior which covers parts of St Louis County on the North Shore of Lake Superior; Rochester located along Highway 52 in Olmsted County; Mankato located along Highway 169 in Blue Earth County; St Cloud located along Highway 10 in Stearns County; Marshall located along Highway 59 in Lyon County; Willmar located along Highway 71 in Kandiyohi County; Austin-Albert Lea located on both sides of I-90 between Freeborn and Mower Counties; Winona/La Crescent located on both sides of I-90 between Winona and Houston Counties; Brainerd/Baxter/Little Falls located on both sides Highways 371 & 10 between Crow Wing & Morrison Counties; Red Wing/Hastings/Prescott located on both sides Highways 61 & 55 between Goodhue & Pierce Counties; Bemidji/Park Rapids/Menahga located northward from Fergus Falls to Itasca State Park between Clearwater & Hubbard Counties; International Falls/Baudette/Warroad located near Rainy Lake at the Canadian border between Koochiching & Roseau Counties.
Demographics of Minnesota
Minnesota is a diverse state with a population of 5.6 million people. The majority of Minnesotans (80%) are white, followed by African American (5%), American Indian (2%), Asian (5%), and Hispanic/Latino (7%). The racial makeup of the state has been shifting in recent years, with the number of minorities increasing.
The median age in Minnesota is 37.9 years, which is slightly lower than the national median age of 38.2 years. The state’s population is also older than the national average; 18% of Minnesotans are 65 or older compared to 15% nationally.
In terms of education, Minnesota has one of the highest rates for college attainment in the country with approximately 37% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. In addition, Minnesota ranks fourth in the nation for high school graduation rate at 87%.
Minnesota also has a large gender gap when it comes to employment; women make up just over half (52%) of all employed persons but earn only 79 cents for every dollar earned by men. This wage gap persists across racial and ethnic groups as well as educational levels and occupation type.
In terms of health care coverage, Minnesota has one of the highest rates in the nation with 89% having health insurance coverage either through public programs such as Medicaid or through private insurance plans such as employer-sponsored plans or individual plans purchased on their own.
When it comes to poverty, Minnesota’s poverty rate is below the national average at 9%, although there are still significant disparities between racial and ethnic groups; 13% of African Americans and 10% percent Latinos live below poverty level compared to 6% for whites and 4% for Asians/Pacific Islanders.
Overall, Minnesota is a relatively prosperous state with a diverse population that enjoys many benefits from its strong economy and high quality education system. Despite this prosperity, there are still significant disparities when it comes to income inequality and health care access that need to be addressed in order for all Minnesotans to have an equal opportunity to succeed in life.
Transportation in Minnesota
Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure is comprised of a variety of different modes of transportation, including air, rail, water, and roadway. This infrastructure has been designed to serve the needs of the state’s inhabitants and visitors alike.
Air travel is served by Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It is one of the busiest airports in the country and offers both domestic and international flights to destinations around the world.
The state also has a well-developed rail system that connects major cities throughout Minnesota. Amtrak serves many destinations across the state, including Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester, and Mankato. These services provide connections to other parts of the Midwest as well as long-distance routes to cities such as Chicago and Seattle.
Minnesota also has a number of waterways for marine transportation including rivers like Mississippi River and Minnesota River as well as several lakes like Lake Superior and Red Lake. These waterways are used for commercial shipping purposes but can also be used for recreational activities such as fishing or boating.
Finally, Minnesota’s roadway system includes over 6500 miles of highways that are maintained by both state and federal agencies. The most heavily traveled roads include Interstate 35 which runs north-south through Minneapolis-St Paul; Interstate 94 which runs east-west across western Minnesota; Interstate 90 which connects Rochester with LaCrosse; and Highway 61 which runs along Lake Superior’s north shore from Duluth to Grand Marais. These roadways provide access to all major cities in the state as well as many smaller towns throughout Minnesota.
Overall, Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure provides reliable access to all parts of the state for both residents and visitors alike. From air travel at Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport to rail service connecting major cities throughout Minnesota or marine transportation along its many waterways – this infrastructure ensures that everyone is able to get where they need to go with ease.