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General Information
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St. Paul is celebrating its 150th birthday in 1999, and the city
reflects this proud heritage. You can step back in time and
discover historic European charm along Summit Avenue, a drive
that features the St. Paul Cathedral and the longest stretch of
Victorian architecture in America, including the James J. Hill
House, F. Scott Fitzgerald's home and the Governor's Mansion.
St. Paul is also a leader in higher education, and is home to
many colleges and universities, including Concordia University,
St. Paul, the College of St. Catherine, Hamline University,
Macalester College, and the University of St. Thomas.
Minneapolis is the height of haute culture, with glass office
towers, trendy neighborhoods, an urban sculpture garden and
modern art museums. The Chain of Lakes, connected by 45 miles of
winding parkways and hiking and biking trails, are natural
retreats in the middle of the bustling city. During the summer,
you'll find people swimming, picnicking, or relaxing in the sun.
The Mississippi River, which runs between both cities, brings
together the present and the past. Minneapolis's riverfront is
lined with historic mills, and at the many area restaurants, you
can dine on a cobblestone patio overlooking the Mighty
Mississippi. On the St. Paul side of the river, you can see the
sites from aboard an old-fashioned paddleboat, or enjoy the view
from the No Wake Café, the Mississippi's only floating
restaurant bed and breakfast.
The sports enthusiast will find no shortage of exciting athletic
contests in the Twin Cities. In the spring, baseball takes
center stage with the two-time World Series Champion Minnesota
Twins playing in the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis, and the
spirited minor league St. Paul Saints playing outdoors in Midway
Stadium. The Minnesota Vikings football team takes over the
Metrodome in the fall, and fans can enjoy games indoors no
matter how cold the weather. Professional basketball now boasts
both a men's and women's team, with the Minnesota Timberwolves
and Lynx. St. Paul will also be hockey headquarters when the
Minnesota Wild begins play downtown at a new arena in 2000.
If you head further north of the cities to Blaine, you'll find
the National Sports Center, a four-season, state-of-the-art
sports facility with the world's largest soccer field, an
outdoor stadium, indoor arena and cycling velodrome. Some of the
cities' best golf courses, including Edinburgh USA and Bunker
Hills, are located in the north metro.
If culture is what you're looking for, you'll find it in the
Twin Cities. Minneapolis is home to the world-renowned Minnesota
Orchestra led by Oji Oue, and St. Paul has a stupendous Chamber
Orchestra. The Twin Cities have many theaters, including the
Ordway in St. Paul and the Guthrie in Minneapolis, which have
hosted Tony-award-winning plays and Shakespeare classics. Other
smaller theaters also feature outstanding performances.
Die-hard shoppers will love the Mall of America in Bloomington.
The 4.2 million-square foot shopping mecca opened in 1992 with
department stores Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Macy's and Sears,
and more than 520 national and regional specialty shops. When
the shopping is done, take a ride on one of Knott's Camp
Snoopy's 50 attractions, enjoy a glimpse of life below the sea
at UnderWater World or sate your hunger at one of the many
restaurants.
The southern metro area is home to some of the cities' best
attractions. The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley has exotic tigers
and marine life. Alternatively, if you like outdoor amusement
parks, then Valleyfair in Shakopee is the place to be. Step back
to another era at the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee with
jousting, comedy, music and medieval feasts fit for a king.
Outdoor fun is the feature of the western suburbs, several of
which border beautiful Lake Minnetonka, the largest lake in the
Twin Cities. You can take in the lake view on a cruise aboard a
luxury yacht or historic steamboat, and see elegant mansions
owned by some of the Twin Cities most notable residents. The
excellent outdoor scenery also stretches to the east with
gorgeous St. Croix River views in Stillwater. Century-old brick
and limestone buildings now house antique shops, antiquarian
book dealers, restaurants and specialty shops. The quaint town
of Hastings has more than 60 buildings on the National Register
of Historic Places, and was named one of Minnesota's 'Best Day
Trips' by the Twin Cities newspaper City Pages. Wherever you
travel throughout the Twin Cities, you'll find plenty to explore
and experience. You'll also discover that special quality known
as 'Minnesota nice.'
- Nickname: North Star State
- Motto: L'etoile du nord (Star of the
north)
- Flower: Pink and white lady's slipper
- Bird: Common loon
- Area: 86,938 square miles (2000; U.S. rank: 12th)
- Elevation: Ranges from 600 feet to 2,301 feet
above sea level
- Climate: North part of state lies in the moist
Great Lakes storm belt; western border is at the edge of the
semi-arid Great Plains; spring is brief; summer is short,
hot, and humid; winter is long and severe with heavy
snowfall.
- Admitted to Union: May 11, 1858
- Capital: Saint Paul
- Head Official: Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) (until
2007)
- Population
- 1980: 4,076,000
- 1990: 4,432,000
- 2000: 4,919,492
- 2004 estimate: 5,100,958
- Percent change, 1990–2000: 12.4%
- U.S. rank in 2004: 21st
- Percent of residents born in state: 70.2% (2000)
- Density: 61.8 people per square mile (2000)
- 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 177,454
- Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000)
- White: 4,400,282
- Black or African American: 171,731
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 54,967
- Asian: 141,968
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 1,979
- Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 143,382
- Other: 65,810
- Age Characteristics (2000)
- Population under 5 years old: 329,594
- Population 5 to 19 years old: 1,105,251
- Percent of population 65 years and over: 12.1%
- Median age: 35.4 years (2000)
- Vital Statistics
- Total number of births (2003): 70,248
- Total number of deaths (2003): 37,558 (infant
deaths, 325)
- AIDS cases reported through 2003: 1,900
- Economy
- Major industries: Manufacturing; trade; finance,
insurance, and real estate; agriculture; services
- Unemployment rate: 4.4% (March 2005)
- Per capita income: $34,039 (2003; U.S. rank: 9th)
- Median household income: $54,480 (3-year average,
2001-2003)
- Percentage of persons below poverty level: 7.1%
(3-year average, 2001-2003)
- Income tax rate: 3.0%
- Sales tax rate: 6.25%
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