1. Minnesotans Know The World Owes Them Big Time
Do you like putting your bread in that nifty little machine that pops toast back at you every morning? How about Scotch Tape, and that stapler that always goes missing? Invented right in Minnesota.
Snow blowers, pacemakers, oxygen masks, modern water skis, Bisquick, even Bundt cake pans—all thanks to Minnesota too. And let’s not forget the two most legendary inventions: Bob Dylan and The-Artist-Formerly-Known-As and then Currently-Back-To Prince.
2. So What If The World Doesn’t Get Nordy, Minnesotans Love Him
The Vikings might be the team that comes to mind when you think of Minnesota. But even more than football, Minnesotans are literally wild about their hockey. Ahem, Miracle On Ice, anyone?
The Minnesota Wild is the state’s popular pro hockey team by far, and Nordy is the proud mascot. What he actually is, isn’t exactly clear. Is he a wildcat? A bear? A hybrid of both? The world may never know. But everyone in Minnesota knows when he shows up the party’s about to begin.
3. Minnesotans Know It’s “Duck, Duck, Gray Duck,” Not “Duck, Duck, Goose”
If you’re not from Minnesota you probably grew up playing "Duck, Duck, Goose." Unfortunately, the people of Minnesota will tell you that your entire childhood is based on a lie, as the only true version of this game is "Duck, Duck, Gray Duck."
The games are played exactly the same, except for the notable difference of which animal gets to be “it." Outsiders spend their whole lives thinking their version is the right way to play, until they cross paths with a Minnesotan who tells them the truth: They’ve unknowingly been the Gray Duck all along.
4. Everyone In Minnesota Is Trying To Forget When They Elected A Wrestler For Governor
Remember back when ex-pro-wrestler Jesse Ventura became the governor of Minnesota and it wasn’t a joke or a Saturday Night Live skit? Okay, he really wasn’t that bad back when he was elected, which is why he was elected. Ventura had a no-frills, non-sugar-coated approach, which Minnesotans liked. He wasn’t even a bad governor.
Everything was fine until he left office, went off the grid for a little while, and then resurfaced as a conspiracy-theory-crazed, aging-hippie who talks about the underground existence of lizard people. Whoops.
5. Everyone In Minnesota Is Crazy Proud Of The Mall Of America, But Never Actually Goes There
If someone’s plans include a trip to an amusement park, an aquarium, a mall, and a movie theater, they're usually spread out over several days and locations. In Minnesota you get them all in one shot at the Mall of America.
Minnesotans are incredibly proud of it, but guess what: They don’t actually use it. Seeing over 40 million visitors every year, Minnesotans know it’s more than crowded. You come here for the experience of admiring the fantastic Lego sculptures and hurling up your Cinnabon after riding the rollercoaster. It’s a trip, and a rare one at that for most Minnesotans.
6. Folks In Minnesota Know It’s Hip To Be Square
Admittedly, Huey Lewis knew this one, too. But when it comes to squares and pizza, Minnesota’s got the market cornered.
New York City is known for their thin crust. Chicago is famous for deep dish. But somehow, Minnesota’s beloved Midwestern-style pizza is always tragically ignored. The crust is thin and the round pie is cut into squares. There are no rules as to what you can or can’t put on your Midwestern-style pizza, but when it comes to Minnesotans the more meat the better.
7. Minnesotans Love Lutefisk Even If They Hate Lutefisk
It never fails. Every holiday or major event, there is bound to be a huge dish of lutefisk on the table at every grandmother’s house, church potluck, or VFW bash.
But the thing is, despite the fact that lutefisk is a Minnesota tradition, almost no one likes the stuff. Even Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel’s culinary show Bizarre Foods said he thinks lutefisk is “one of the worst foods in the world.”
Nevertheless, lutefisk will continue to appear on tables around the state, keeping the jello mold and fruit cake that no one touches company.
8. People In Minnesota Aren’t Always As “Nice” As Everyone Says
Sure, the people in Minnesota are generally very nice people. But the term “Minnesota Nice” used to describe the people is definitely overused and abused.
Most people here are very friendly, it’s true. But some will be nice to your face and then have a whole different story to tell behind your back. That’s not to say Minnesota is the only place with passive aggressive types, but outsiders often find it a shock after hearing the stereotype for so long.
Think of it more like Minnesota Chatty.
9. You Know Minnesota Folks Are Surprised When They Say “Uff Da!”
If you’ve never heard someone say “Uff da!” you’re definitely not from around Minnesota. It’s used to convey the emotion of just about everything, really. It’s so popular today that even Red Wing has an Uffda store selling Scandinavian and Minnesotan souvenirs.
If you’re surprised, you say “uff da!” If you’re frustrated or disgusted, you say “uff da!” If you’re feeling overwhelmed or shocked… you get it. If Dorothy Gale had been from Minnesota instead of Kansas, we'd all be walking around quoting the line as, “Lions and tigers and bears… uff da!”
10. North Minnesotans Vs. South Minnesotans: The Rivalry Is Real
Minnesotans have a lot in common: Freezing cold temperatures (which is all in the wind chill anyway), mounds of snow, lutefisk at Christmas dinner, debating the best way to make hotdish, and the vernacular. But there's also quite a bit that divides them.
South Minnesota has the Twin Cities and can be in close proximity to other major cities in the surrounding areas like Sioux Falls. They consider themselves more progressive, with lots of restaurants and entertainment at their disposal.
Those folks up north tend to be more conservative, old-fashioned, outdoorsy types. The accents are also fairly different, and anyone from Minnesota can tell where someone is from after only a few seconds.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think is unique about Minnesota in the comments below! 
