Facts and Information for Minnesota

Map of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Refuges in Minnesota

Reference: www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/Minnesota.html

Official Minnesota State Website	http://www.state.mn.us/
State Capital	St. Paul
Origin of State Name	Minnesota is from a Dakota Sioux Indian word that means "Cloudy Water" or "Sky Water" and refers to local rivers.
Joined the Union	Minnesota became the 32nd state on May 11, 1858
State Bird	Great Northern Diver also known as Loon, and Common Loon Gavia immer
State Fish	Walleye stizostedion v. vitreum
State Reptile	Blanding's Turtle
State Butterfly	Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus
State Tree	Red Pine also known as Norway Pine Pinus resinosa
State Flower	Pink and White Ladyslipper Cyprideum calceolus
State Fruit	Honeycrisp Apple
State Mushroom	Morel
State Grain	Wild Rice
State Gemstone	Lake Superior Agate
State Song	"Hail! Minnesota" The music and first verse were written by Truman Rickard; the second verse was written by Arthur Upson.
State Motto	"L’etoile du Nord" French translation: “Star of the North”
State Nickname	"The North Star State"
State Drink	MIlk
State Muffin	Blueberry Muffin
State Photograph	The photograph “Grace”
Time Zone Location	CST - Central Standard (GMT - 6 hours)
Population projected estimate for year 2010 based on U.S. Census 2000 results.
Male	2,702,710
Female	2,717,926
Total	5,420,636
Crime Information	Crime Statistics for 1997 - 2006
Median Household Income (latest figures available)	$55,914
Unemployment Rate	4.4
10 Largest Cities by Population	Minneapolis St. Paul Rochester Duluth Bloomington Plymoouth Brooklyn Park St. Cloud Eagan Coon Rapids
Cities and Towns	Minnesota Cities & Towns
Counties	Minnesota Counties
Major Universities	Major Minnesota Universities
Major Rivers	Major Minnesota Rivers
Major Lakes	Major Minnesota Lakes
Total Land Area	79,610.08 Square Miles
Total Water Area	7,328.79 Square Miles
Total of Both Land And Water Area	86,938.87 Square Miles
General Coastline	None
Lowest Elevation	Lake Superior; 601 feet
Highest Elevation	Eagle Mountain; 2,301 feet

REFERENCES
• minnesota north star, 2/16/2008, http://www.state.mn.us/
• Minnesota Legislative Reference Library | Minnesota State Symbols, 02/24/2008 , http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/Symbols.asp
• NWRS - Refuge Locator Map, 2/16/2008, http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/
• Interim Projections of the Male Population for the United States and States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2030, 2/16/2008, http://www.census.gov/population/projections/SummaryTabA2.pdf
• Interim Projections of the Female Population for the United States and States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2030, 2/16/2008, http://www.census.gov/population/projections/SummaryTabA3.pdf
• United States Crime Rates 1960 - 2006, 2/16/2008, http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
• Minnesota, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Minnesota&oldid=191715937 (last visited Feb. 17, 2008).