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Table of Contents
Minnesota is a state in the Midwestern United States. Minnesota became the 32nd state on May 11, 1858, created from the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and part of the Wisconsin Territory.
See the fact file below for more information on Minnesota or alternatively, you can download our 28-page Minnesota worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
HISTORY
- Minnesota’s history is born from its original Native American occupants, European exploration and settlement, as well as the emergence of industries enabled by the state’s natural resources.
- In 1660, the first fur traders to arrive in Two Harbors, Minnesota, discovered that the Chippewa and Sioux Native American tribes had inhabited the area for some time.
- Fur traders carrying hundreds of pounds of animal skins discovered what is today known as Voyageurs National Park around the same time.
- In 1679, the whole Lake Superior region was claimed by France, who continued to trade furs successfully in the area where hunting was excellent. At the end of the Indian and French war, around 1765, Britain controlled the eastern region of Minnesota.
- After being owned by several different territories, Minnesota officially became its own territory on March 3, 1849, and became the 32nd state of the union on May 11, 1858.
GEOGRAPHY
- With a total area of 225,163 square kilometers, Minnesota is located in the North-Central region of the United States and has a total land area of 1,050 square kilometers. During the Ice Age, glaciers completely covered what is now Minnesota.
- The majority of Minnesota is made up of gently rolling plains left by glaciers. Much of the remainder of the state has fifty feet (15 m) or more glacial sediment left behind after the last glaciers retreated.
- Fertile topsoil covers these areas. Despite some sandy and stony areas, this region has some of the richest farmland in the United States.
- Minnesota is bound to the north by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, to the east by Lake Superior and Wisconsin, to the south by Iowa, and the west by South Dakota and North Dakota.
- Minnesota’s northernmost region is the most rugged. The state’s northeast contains many rocky ridges and deep lakes, and the region north of Lake Superior is the roughest and most secluded.
- Eagle Mountain, Minnesota’s highest point, is located north of Lake Superior. The border of Minnesota resembles an arrowhead in the far northeast. This region is known as “Arrowhead Country.”
DEMOGRAPHICS
- The state of Minnesota had a population of 5,707,390 people at the last census in 2021, and an estimate from a year later in 2022 suggests that number decreased to 5,702,253.
- The state currently has the 22nd highest population growth rate in the country, with the 12th largest area.
- Minnesota’s median age is estimated to be 37.8 years old, whereas the gender ratio is 50.3% females and 49.3% males.
- When it comes to religious preferences, the Minnesota population is 74% Christian, 5% non-Christian, and 20% not affiliated with any religion.
- Over 85% of Minnesota residents are of European descent, with German ancestry accounting for 38.6% and Norwegian ancestry accounting for 17%.
- Further, Irish ancestry accounts for 11.9%, Swedish ancestry accounts for 9.8%, and English ancestry accounts for 5.4%.
- Minnesota’s Hispanic population is growing like that in the rest of the country. Recent immigrants have come from all over the world, including Hmong, Somalis, Vietnamese, and emigrants from former Soviet Russia. Minnesota is home to Native American tribes such as the Sioux and the Ojibwa.
- Before a bill to make English the state language was filed by Minnesota House Republicans in 2011, Minnesota did not have an official language.
- The state has a large English-speaking population, although there are also modest Spanish, German, and other foreign-speaking communities.
ECONOMY
- Minnesota’s early economic growth links to the exploitation of its primary natural resources, such as soils, iron ore, and timber, which fueled the growth of activities such as railroad construction, natural resource processing, and agricultural implement manufacturing.
- In the late 1960s and early 1970s, these began to decline, and service-related industries began to thrive. On the other hand, agriculture continues to remain one of the most important industries in Minnesota.
- Minnesota’s most valuable and productive farmland is concentrated in the state’s southern quarter.
- It is characterized by dark, fertile soils and hot, humid summer weather, where corn and soybeans are the major cash crops.
- Minnesota was famous for its soft-ore iron mines for over a century, which manufactured a substantial proportion of the world’s iron ore.
- Although the pure ore has been depleted, taconite mining continues to thrive using locally developed processes to save the industry.
- Fur trading and agriculture were the first industries of the state. Agriculture remains an important part of the economy, even though it employs only a small proportion of the population, which is less than 1 percent.
- Minnesota is the leading producer of sugar beets, sweet corn, green peas, as well as farm-raised turkeys in the United States.
EDUCATION
- The size and resources of Minnesota’s school districts vary greatly, with the relatively large and wealthier municipalities generally located in the major urban centers.
- Small rural school districts have frequently centralized or collaborated to provide a comprehensive curriculum and essential services.
- The state of Minnesota has one of the most educated populations in the country, with 91.3 percent of adults aged 25 and older having a high school diploma and 31.4 percent having a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- The University of Minnesota (1851) is a land-grant university and a leading research institution in the state. Its main campus is in Minneapolis, with satellite locations in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, and Rochester.
- The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which is separate from the University of Minnesota, consists of more than 30 institutions, which include community, technical, and tribal colleges, as well as state universities.
CULTURE
- Scandinavian Americans, Finns, Irish, Germans, Native Americans, Czechoslovak Americans, and many more immigrant groups have all influenced Minnesotan culture, a subculture of American culture. They function in the setting of the chilly mining and agricultural state.
- Minnesota is home to professional teams in all major sports; Olympic medalists, particularly from the Winter Olympics; collegiate teams from large and small schools; as well as competitive amateur teams and individuals.
- Despite being mostly known for its winters, Minnesota has mild summers where locals and visitors can engage in a range of outdoor activities. The state has produced Olympic-caliber skiers and curlers, as well as the first people to invent the snowmobile, rollerblades, water skiing, and ice fishing.
- In addition, amateur and professional ice hockey players are renowned for their enthusiasm.
Minnesota Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Minnesota across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets about Minnesota which is the 38th state and is located in the midwestern United States.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Minnesota Facts
- Minnesota Summarized
- Minnesota Mapping
- State Knowledge
- Pro Sport Teams
- Famous Citizens, MN
- Land of the Lakes
- The Anthem
- MN Counties Word Find
- Greetings from Minnesota
- U.S. in Minnesota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Minnesota famous for?
Minnesota is famed for its 10,000 glittering lakes – more than any other US state. Furthermore, Minnesota’s Mall of America stands tall as the nation’s largest shopping mall and offers an unforgettable experience to travelers from around the globe. Additionally, outdoor activities like hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing will make your trip extraordinary!
What did Minnesota invent?
The state of Minnesota has given the world many inventors and inventions. For example, Scott Olson invented rollerblades, Ralph Wilford Samuelson invented waterskis, and a professor at the University of Minnesota patented diaper adhesives. Another Minnesotan, Reyn Guyer, also created black boxes on airplanes.
What food is known in Minnesota?
Minnesota is lucky because it has wild rice as its official state grain. This grain is grown locally, and adding it to your favorite dishes will make them taste great. For example, you can add wild rice to soups or pancakes for a hearty taste.
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Link will appear as Minnesota Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 20, 2022
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.