Minnesota Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location...: Located in the midwestern region of the U.S., Minnesota is the twelfth largest state by area. Minnesota was admitted to the union as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858.
Cities: The state’s capital is St. Paul, and a great majority of Minnesota’s residents live in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul industrial center known as the Twin Cities.
Behind the Name: Minnesota’s nicknames include both the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” because of the 11,842 lakes in Minnesota, as well as the “North Star State” in reference to the historic state motto. [Ed. Note: With this is mind, guess where the prominent Land O’ Lakes company is located.]
A Closer Look: Three of the nation’s major rivers, the Mississippi River, the Red River of the North and the St. Lawrence River, all begin in the state of Minnesota.
Did You Know? Minnesota is home to three distinct eco-systems that each offer a unique lifestyle: the western plains and prairies; the northern coniferous forest; and the eastern hardwood forest.
Minnesota Careers and Employment:
Population: 5,220,393 (6.1% increase since 2000) – 50..2% Female, 49.8% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 11th in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) manufacturing; (2) health care and social assistance; (3) retail trade; (4) accommodation and food services; and (5) finance and insurance.
Taxes: Income Tax, 5.35% to 7.85% and Sales Tax, 6.5% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 104.3 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 13th of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 7.94; Apr: 42.45; July: 69.08; Oct: 45.19 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 2nd of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Minnesota Economics:
In General: A majority of Minnesota’s jobs are in the service industry, however other sectors offering significant career opportunities include wholesale and retail trade (19%), the finance, real estate and insurance industry (33%) and manufacturing (15%).
Service Industry: The most important community, business and personal services include private health care, computer programming and data processing, legal services and automobile repair.
Agriculture: Minnesota is a leading state in annual farm income, ranking fifth in the nation. The state serves as a top milk-producer, most of which is converted into butter and cheese, as well as a national leader in the production of hogs, eggs and turkey. Minnesota is also a leading producer of both corn and soybeans.
Manufacturing: The state’s primary manufactured products are computer and electronic products (medical devices, computer components, communications equipment). Minnesota is also a leading meatpacking state and a leading producer of flour, processed into cake mixes and breakfast cereals.
Did You Know? Some of the most significant of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies in America are headquartered in Minnesota, including Target, UnitedHealth Group, Best Buy, General Mills and US Bancorp.
Minnesota Education:
Find Colleges and Universities in Minnesota, here.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.
