Minnesota . . . State 32

Minnesota's official flag was adopted in 1893. The flag has a blue background with a central seal picturing a farmer plowing a field and an Indian riding a horse toward the sun which are surrounded by lady slippers, Minnesota's state flower. The red banner with yellow letters has the state motto, "L'ETOILE DU NORD," meaning "the star of the north" in French. Three dates are on the flag: 1858 which was the year Minnesota became a state; 1819 which was the year Fort Snelling was established and 1893 when the flag was adopted. Nineteen yellow stars surround the seal on a white band which symbolize that fact Minnesota was the 19th state to enter the union after the first 13.

Minnesota became a state on May 11, 1858 as the 32nd state. It's nickname, The "Land of 10,000 Lakes," Minnesota got this name because there are more than 10,000 lakes throughout the state, and actually more than 12,000.

There are many things to do in Minnesota including the Mall of America, zoos, bike trails, state parks, fishing, hunting, camping, famous museums and may other sites of interest. Minnesota also relies on tourism as a major revenue producer, with arts, fishing, camping, boating, hunting, and other outdoor sports bringing in millions of visitors each year.

Minnesota has four seasons. The summers and hot and humid and the winters are cold and there is a lot of snow. Most people who live in Minnesota do not mind the snow and are lovers of the winter sports, ice fishing, ice skating, skiing, sledding, and snowmobiling. The fall and spring in Minnesota are beautiful with nice temperatures.

Minnesota was ranked the nation’s second Most Livable State in 2004 and has consistently been near the top. Minnesota’s unemployment rate is well below the national and many people move to Minnesota to find a job. This is why Minnesota is one of the few Midwestern states whose population is growing faster than the overall national average.

Minnesota is rich in natural resources. It produces more than 75% of the nation's iron ore. The farms produce corn, wheat, rye, alfalfa, and sugar beets. Other leading farm products include butter, eggs, milk, potatoes, green peas, barley, soybeans, oats, and livestock.

Minnesota has 87 counties:
Aitkin - Anoka - Becker - Beltrami - Benton - Big Stone - Blue Earth - Brown - Carlton - Carver - Cass - Chippewa - Chisago - Clay - Clearwater - Cook - Cottonwood - Crow Wing - Dakota - Dodge - Douglas - Faribault - Fillmore - Freeborn - Goodhue - Grant - Hennepin - Houston - Hubbard - Isanti - Itasca - Jackson - Kanabec - Kandiyohi - Kittson - Koochiching - Lac qui Parle - Lake - Lake of the Woods - Le Sueur - Lincoln - Lyon - McLeod - Mahnomen - Marshall - Martin - Meeker - Mille Lacs - Morrison - Mower - Murray - Nicollet - Nobles - Norman - Olmsted - Otter Tail - Pennington - Pine - Pipestone - Polk - Pope - Ramsey - Red Lake - Redwood - Renville - Rice - Rock - Roseau - St. Louis - Scott - Sherburne - Sibley - Stearns - Steele - Stevens - Swift - Todd - Traverse - Wabasha - Wadena - Waseca - Washington - Watonwan - Wilkin - Winona - Wright - Yellow Medicine


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