1. Minnesota Is The Best State
And that’s not just opinion. Based on a range of criteria covering everything from life expectancy to unemployment rates, Politico ranked
Minnesota as the best state to live in 2015. Forbes listed Minnesota as the best place for Veterans to live in 2013. And CNBC’s exclusive Top State Study ranked Minnesota third in the country for quality of life.
2. Nice Is The New Black
“Minnesota nice” isn’t just a saying. It’s a way of life in the North Star State where the people are friendlier. Minnesota is almost Canada, after all.
3. Minnesota Gets Down To Business
Want to know why Minnesota was named America's Top State For Business in 2015 by CNBC? Well, the 3.7 percent unemployment rate is definitely a big part of it. And it shows no signs of slowing, as Sperling’s reports a projected future job growth of 37.9 percent.
4. Minnesota Is A State Of Careers
Finding a job is good. But finding a job in a desired career with growth potential is even better and that’s what Minnesota offers. The top industries in Minnesota are health care, finance, and government and the world-renowned Mayo Clinic employs the most people across the state.
5. Smile! Minnesotans Make More Money
The national median for household income is $51,939, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In Minnesota, Sperling’s data shows that the household income in Minnesota is $59,126. Who can argue with cold, hard cash?
6. The Cities Might Be Twins But They’re Far From Identical
Minneapolis and St. Paul are known as the Twin Cities. But other than being the two biggest cities in Minnesota, they don’t have very much in common. The rivalry is much friendlier than it used to be way back when the cities would get into street fights over their baseball teams and couldn’t even agree on a Daylight Savings observance. Now it’s just the occasional jab in good fun.
7. Minnesota Is As Safe As It Is Nice
If safe neighborhoods and peace of mind are at the top of your priority list, then Minnesota is the state for you. Against a national 1-100 index (with 100 being the most unsafe), the national average scores an index of 41.4 and Minnesota beats that with an index of 37, according to Sperling’s.
8. The Name Land Of 10,000 Lakes Is An Understatement
That’s because Minnesota actually has 11,842 lakes—and that’s just accounting for the ones that are 10 acres or larger. Whether you enjoy fishing with your dad or want to learn how to SUP on Lake Marion, you’ll find yourself spending quite a bit of time on the water in Minnesota.
9. The Lights Don’t Go Out Early Everywhere In Minnesota
You might think that Minnesota’s nightlife might have an early bedtime. And you’re mostly right. Nightlife around the state is mostly reserved for restaurants and bars. But Minneapolis is a major hub for nightlife in Minnesota where you can find everything from trendy cocktail lounges to concert halls and maybe even catch a free midnight concert by Prince if you’re lucky.
10. Minnesota Is The Home Of Comfort Food
If you’ve ever been to a family get-together or a Sunday event in Minnesota, chances are you’ve experienced the culinary stylings of someone’s aunt’s famous hot dish, usually complete with perfectly toasted tater tots.
But Minnesota’s food scene has grown much more than church basement potlucks and they have the enormous bratwursts and pretzels to show for it. German and Scandinavian cuisines are huge in Minnesota and if you’re around Minneapolis, there’s no better way to taste it than at New Bohemia.
11. Minnesota Helps You Get Your Learn On
Minnesota has 31 colleges and universities sprawling across 54 campuses where you can find a quality education. But the University of Minnesota stands at the top with a total of five campuses and an enrollment so large, the Twin Cities campus ranks as the fourth-largest American campus.
And with Sperling’s data that ranks college graduation rates other than master’s degrees throughout Minnesota higher than the national average, along with a quality education found in grades K-12, it’s no wonder than CNBC’s Top State Study ranked Minnesota as the second best state in the country for education.
12. True Minnesotans Own Winter
While the rest of the country falls to its knees over a few inches of snow, Minnesotans are busy owning winter by sledding, ice skating, ice fishing, skiing, or hitting the pond for a game of Minnesota ice hockey and way too busy to notice that places like Rochester and the Twin Cities have a January high of 24 degrees. Summers are a welcome change of pace, though, with July temperatures that average in the low-to mid 80s.
13. Minnesota Has A Mall Big Enough To Be Its Own Country
Believe any of the hype you’ve ever heard about the Mall of America. With its very own zip code at 4.2 million square feet which includes an indoor amusement park and roller coaster, it’s truly a retail sight to behold.
But once you’re a Minnesotan, you’ll most likely never go there. Especially around Christmas.
14. Minnesota Knows Drama
Theater might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Minnesota, but perhaps it should. The theater scene in the Twin Cities is second only to New York City per capita.
15. Minnesota’s Many Contributions To The World
Did you know that the first Target opened its doors in Roseville, Minnesota in 1962? Minnesota also gave the world Scotch Tape, Post-It Notes, the first supercomputer and all those deliciously sugar General Mills cereal. And the music industry can bow down to Minneapolis for the genius of both Bob Dylan and Prince. That’s one well-rounded resume Minnesota has.
16. Sports Teams In Minnesota Make Miracles Happen
Every state likes to brag about their sports teams. But can any state brag about the famous 1980s Miracle On Ice team? Minnesota can. They can also brag about the Mighty Ducks (Minnesotans do love their hockey), the NFL Vikings, NBA Timberwolves, MLB Twins, pro-hockey team Minnesota Wild, and an awesome WNBA team, the Minnesota Lynx.
17. Minnesota Does Art Bigger
From Bloomington to Grand Rapids to the Twin Cities and everywhere in between, Minnesota is brimming with art museums, galleries, and art centers bringing even more beauty to an already picturesque state.
But the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden just might be one of the most recognizable in the world for its famous giant spoon and cherry sculpture overlooking the Minneapolis skyline along with a variety of 74 other gigantic works of art.
18. Minnesota Gets You To Work Faster
The U.S. Census data reports that the national average commute time is about 25 minutes each way daily. But Minnesota shaves a few of those minutes off the commutes here with a one way drive averaging just 22.4 minutes.
19. Minnesota Gets Down With The Preakness
Louisville can keep the Kentucky Derby. Shakopee is home to Live Racing Season at Canterbury Park, a popular season for anyone who wants to have some fun and bet the farm while they’re at it.
20. Families Love Minnesota As Much As Minnesota Loves Them
Great schools, safe streets, and the Mall of America aren’t the only reason families love Minnesota. Along with a variety of outdoor adventures, families can experience traditional Indian powwows, go spelunking in Niagara Caves, get a hands-on education at the Minnesota Children’s Museum, or visit the animals at the Como Park Zoo or the Minnesota Zoo, and much more.
21. Minnesota Is A State Of Events As Unique As It Is
There’s always something to do around the North Star State. The Chilly Open celebrates a love for golf and Minnesota winters, The Fish House parade literally parades ice fishing houses down the street of Aitkin the day after Thanksgiving, Wabasha throws a Grumpy Old Men Festival, Moorhead throws an annual Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival, the Polar Fest in Detroit Lakes bring the polar plunge tradition to a whole new level of crazy, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival brings fairies to life, and the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships is everything there is to love about Minnesota. And that’s just the tip of the Minnesota iceberg.
Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
