 Minnesota is the 32nd state of the United States. The name “Minnesota” is named after Dakota Sioux Indian word meaning "cloudy water" or "sky water" and also refers to the local river, mini sota. On May 11, 1858, the state joined the Union to become the 32nd state. The state is also dubbed as Gopher State and North Star State. The SS Gopher State was named in honor of this state. The state is also known as Land of 10,000 Lakes. The state was once a hub of natural resources, but in the last two centuries these resources have been exploited to a very large extent. The state has the distinction of being a key food producer for the country. In terms of area, Minnesota is the largest state in the Midwestern United States and the 21st most populous. Minnesota state is bordered by Iowa, Michigan (across Lake Superior), North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin states. St. Paul is the state capital and Minneapolis the largest city. Both the cities in general are referred to as the Twin Cities along with numerous "rings" of peripheries. The major rivers of the state are Minnesota River, Mississippi River, Rainy River, Red River of the North, and St. Croix River. The highest point of the state is Mt. Eagle, which is 2,301 feet (701 m) above sea level. The area was first inhabited by the Ojibwa (Chippewa) and Dakota (Sioux) tribes. They considered the peripheries of the state to be imaginary. They spread their territory far beyond, which became today’s Minnesota. From the mid-1600s to the mid-1700s, the area was occupied by the French. The exploitation of area’s natural wealth began in 1783 after the Treaty of Paris and the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The U.S. captured all the area and its natural wealth. In 1787 with the introduction of Northwest Ordinance as passed by the Continental Congress the requisites for a territory to become a state were issued. From the 1820s on, Fort Snelling, which is now located at the center of Minnesota's "Twin Cities"—Minneapolis and St. Paul, sheltered the development of the area. Throughout the Civil War, the fort was a military outpost and training center for thousands of Minnesota volunteers who became a part of the Union Army. In the second half of the 19th century, the entrepreneurs realized the value of the state's woodlands and fertile prairie. Without any delay they immigrated into the region. Gradually the region became a densely populated area. The economy of the state was ruled by farming, lumbering, and milling, printing industry and production of iron ore. Minnesota is still important center for the printing industry and a major producer of iron ore. The largest city of the state houses the Ninth Federal Reserve Bank and the world's largest cash grain market. In 1857 the population of Minnesota raised from 40,000 people to around 150,000 people. Henry Sibley presided over as first governor of Minnesota in 1858. In 1873 a three-day blizzard proved to be very fatal killing over 60 Minnesotans. Eight years later fire devastation completely ruined St. Paul. In 1893, the official Minnesota flag, designed by Amelia Hyde Center of Minneapolis, was adopted. The flag features a blue background with a picture of farmer plowing a field and an Indian riding a horse toward the sun in the center. The setting is flanked by Minnesota's state flower, ladyslippers. The red banner has yellow stars with the state motto written on it, L'ETOILE DU NORD," meaning "the star of the north." There are three dates written on the flag, 1858, 1819, and 1893 symbolizing Minnesota’s inception as a state, the set up of Fort Snelling and the flag came into being. Nineteen yellow stars enclose the picture on a white band symbolizing that Minnesota was the 19th state to join the Union. The worth seeing places of Minnesota features Minneapolis, Minnesota houses Plymouth Playhouse, State Theatre, Colling’s Fine Arts Theatre, Target Center, Fort Snelling, Schiek’s Palace Royale, Stone Arch Bridge, Mixed Blood Theatre Company and Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, Art Godfrey House, Jawaahir Dance Company, the Children’s Theatre Company, Riedel Mansion, Playwrights’ Centre, Jazzmine’s, Acme Comedy Company, the Baseball Hall of Fame, Brooklyn Park Historical Farm, Lilli Putt Amusement Park, Ethnic Dance Theatre, Northrop Auditorium, Boom, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome, Brave New Workshop, Saint Anthony Falls, the Minneapolis Planetarium, Sosin Studio Gallery, Foshay Tower, Lyndale Park Gardens and the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Bird Sanctuary, the Minnesota Zoo, Wells Fargo History Museum, the American Swedish Institute, Bell Museum of Natural History, the Ellingson Car Museum, the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the largest urban sculpture garden in the country and the Guthrie Theater is the largest regional playhouse in the country. Minnesota has 90,000 miles of seashore.
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