12 Mighty facts about Minnesota

First published 17th April 2020 Robin James

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The absolute gorgeous scenery surrounding Minnesota state has to be seen to be believed. It’s known as the ‘land of 10,000 lakes’ for a reason – it’s absolutely full of wonderful waterways and walks! This historically rich state is well known for its farming, its wildlife and its European heritage. Let’s take a look at some fun facts about Minnesota to help clue you in.

1. A fascinating flag!

Minnesota’s modern flag has a blue background and features three very important dates. The date 1893, in reference to when the first flag was designed, 1819, which was the year Fort Snelling was established, and 1858, the year Minnesota claimed statehood.

2. Rivers all around!

There are 92,000 miles of rivers in Minnesota! The biggest is the famous Mississippi, which from its source flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. The St. Lawrence River and Red River are two more of the biggest waterways you’ll spot across the state.

3. Sharks in Minnesota!

Great White Sharks swim in the St. Lawrence River! Swimmers are warned – but sometimes ignore the signs! This river is 310 miles long, meaning it’s rife with all manner of other wildlife and curious beasts.

Minnesota State Flag

4. Now that’s a catch!

On May 23rd, 2022, a record-breaking fish was caught in Minnesota. The sturgeon weighed 120 pounds! This was the largest freshwater fish caught since 2019.

It’s unsurprising that the biggest fresh catch came from Minnesota. The state is famous for being home to pretty large fish, with more than 100,000 calculated bigger than 40 inches long in the Rainy River!

5. Land giants!

Some of the biggest wild moose have been recorded in Minnesota. With antlers measuring up to five feet across, these animals weigh between 950 and 1,000 pounds! Better steer clear if you can, then… unless you can take some photos from afar.

6. Better wrap up warm.

Situated in the north midwest of America, the climate of Minnesota resembles that of Russia. The coldest temperature on record for the state of Minnesota is minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit! That was on February 2nd 1996 – could it ever be beaten?

7. Minneapolis is brimming with people.

The Largest city in Minnesota is Minneapolis, with a population of 410,939 – but it’s not the state’s capital! That honor goes to St. Paul.

8. It’s a paradise for shoppers, too!

In 1992, the largest mall in the US opened in Bloomington, Minnesota. A cinema, aquarium, restaurants and 520 stores are housed on four floors in an area spanning 2,869,000 feet. Plenty of chances to get lost in the shopping melee, then – wonder what it’s like at Christmas?

9. It’s a highly industrious state.

Most Minnesotans tend to work in farming and mining, though there’s a large commercial sector, too. Given the immense natural resources out here – as well as the huge number of waterways – it’s not surprising that so many people work on the land!

10. Minnesota’s ethnic breakdown is fascinating.

Records reveal that between the years 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population in Minnesota increased significantly. Furthermore, 75% of the population have European heritage.

11. A true star!

Minnesota’s motto and nickname are tied together. The official state motto here is ‘l’etoile du nord’, which translates into ‘the star of the north’. As you can imagine, that’s why it’s referred to as the North Star State!

12. The first to fight.

Interestingly, during the American Civil War, troops from Minnesota were the first to volunteer and fight for the Union. Believe it or not, it had only been a state for three years by the time they volunteered men to fight!

FAQs about Minnesota

What’s the population of Minnesota?

As of February 2022, the population of Minnesota was recorded as 5.787 million. It’s roughly the 22nd most populous state in the US, meaning it ranks somewhere in the middle.