Quick Facts (Adapted from the New Ben’s Guide to Government)
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| Capital City: | St. Paul |
| Nickname: | North Star State / Gopher State / Bread and Butter State |
| Motto: | L’Etoile du Nord (The star of the north.) |
| Statehood: | May 11, 1858 (32th) |
| Origin of State’s Name: | Based on the Dakota Sioux Indian word for “sky-tinted water,” referring to the Minnesota River or the state’s many lakes. |
| Largest Cities: | Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Bloomington, Duluth, Rochester |
| Border States: | Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin |
| Land Area: | 79,617 sq. mi., 14th largest |
| State Bird: | Common Loon |
| State Flower: | Pink and white lady’s-slipper (cypripedium reginae) |
| State Tree: | Red Pine (pinus resinosa) |
| State Song: | Hail! Minnesota |
| E-mail your Congressperson: | U.S. House: 111th Congress U.S. Senate: 111th Congress Or look up your Congressperson in the Congressional Directory database! |
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