From Wikipedia:
Minnesota
is the 32nd state of the United States, having
joined the Union on May 11, 1858. Its
name is from the Dakota people's name for
the Minnesota River, mini sota,
variously translated "smoky-white
water"
or "sky-tinted water." The
state's name is abbreviated MN or Minn.
Minnesota is the largest state by land area
in the Midwestern United States and is in
the sub-region known as the Upper Midwest.
The most significant metropolitan area
is known as the Twin Cities, which contains
more than half the state's population. The
Twin Cities refer to the state's most populous
cities: Minneapolis and Saint Paul, along
with multiple "rings" of suburbs.
The state is a major food producer for the
country, and has a number of natural resources
that have been greatly utilized in the last
two centuries.
The USS Minnesota was named in honor of
our state, as was the SS Gopher State. Other
nicknames for the state include The Land
of 10,000 Lakes, North Star State, and The
State of Hockey.
You can find an indepth history of our state,
as well as information on culture, economics,
education, demographics and more by clicking here.