Minnesota. It is one of the 50 member states of the United States, located in the middle region and adjacent to Canada, it is the twelfth state in terms of territorial extension with an area of 225,365 km². According to several specialists, Minnesota is considered the healthiest and most peaceful state in the entire Union.
Population
Despite the fact that for many decades the population of the state was considered homogeneous, there are communities that have made themselves felt, an example of this are the Chinese and Japanese, who have had long presences in the state, and the Latin American population of Minnesota that continues to increase.
The immigrants that the state currently receives come from all over the world, such as the Miao, the Somalis, the Vietnamese, the Indians, those from the Middle East and the emigrants from the former Soviet socialist republics and the European nations. The state has the third largest population of Miao speakers in the United States. Many of these new immigrants are being assisted by religious congregations.
Economy
According to a2zdirectory, the economy of the state of Minnesota has gone from being a supplier of raw materials in its beginnings to an economy based on finished products and the provision of services.Agriculture inherited from those first forms of subsistence is still one of the main sources of the state economy, although it only occupies 2% of the population. Forestry, one of the first industries to develop in the state, remains strong thanks to logging, the processing of cellulose pulp, the manufacturing forest products and paper production.
Minnesota was famous for its iron mines, which were responsible for a significant portion of the iron ore produced in the world for more than a century. Although at present the pure ore is quite small, taconite mining remains strong, using locally developed processes to keep the sector active.
Government
Like the federal government, the Minnesota state government has a separation of powers: the executive, controlled by the governor, the legislative, made up of the Senate and by the state House of Representatives, and the judiciary, made up of the different criminal courts. of the state.
State policy
At the beginning of its history as a state, Minnesota was dominated politically by the Republican Party, both at the state and national levels. Most of the senators and elected representatives to the Minnesota State Congress were Republicans, and the same can be said of the senators and state representatives in the United States Congress. Gradually, however, beginning in the 1930s, the Democrats began to gain traction in state politics. Since the 1960s, elections at the regional, state and national levels in Minnesota have been very close, between Republicans and Democrats, and both parties have a lot of political force in the state.
Minnesota is known for its active and unstable politics, with populism being a traditional force among all parties in the state. The history of politics in Minnesota records such curiosities as Jesse Ventura, a professional wrestler who became governor, and RT Rybak, a protester who became mayor. Minnesota has a high percentage of turnout at the polls; 77.2% of the state’s electorate voted in the 2004 presidential election, the highest percentage in the United States.
During the second half of the 20th century, Minnesota’s vote has leaned more toward the Democrat, although it is now seen as a “swing state” (literally, “swing state”, that is, a state in which one party does not clearly dominate. over another). Minnesotans have voted Democrats for president since 1976, longer than any other state. The electoral votes of Minnesota and the District of Columbia were the only ones that Republican President Ronald Reagan did not win. Minnesota voters instead elected former Minnesota vice president and senator Walter Mondale. 1964, 1968, 1976, 1980 and 1984.
Culture
In the Upper Midwest, the Twin Cities area is considered the cultural capital of the region, this is largely due to the large number of colleges, universities, and a generally strong economy, which provides strong support and high demand. of artistic creations. Speaking of stereotypes, Minnesota is known for the hospitality of its residents towards outsiders; the state is also known for its high percentage of people who call themselves Lutheran and for “lutefisk” (a spicy fish preparation native to Norway and Scandinavia). With respect to English in Minnesota it has a particular accent, although its residents deny this fact, however the Asian emigration and from other states of the country is causing the state culture to undergo numerous transformations. This influx of emigrants from all over the world is bequeathed to the state given its good reputation for prioritizing education and health services.
Minnesota has 71 state parks. Like other northern forest states, such as Wisconsin and Michigan, Minnesotans jokingly comment that the mosquito is the state bird because of its abundance in that area. In reality, the state bird is the great loon (Gavia immer), whose distinctive growl can often be heard by campers in the northern part of the state, and sometimes even further south, such as the Minneapolis lakes.
Education
Practically since its creation as a state of the Union, Minnesota has paid special attention to education, an example of this is the creation of a teachers’ school in Winona. Thanks to numerous state government efforts, Minnesota has remained in the top ten strongest states for education in most of the studies conducted.
The first school for children of European descent in the region of present-day Minnesota was founded in Fort St. Anthony, present-day Fort Snelling. Later, several schools were inaugurated by the missionaries, some dedicated to Native Americans and others for the population of European descent. In 1849, the government of the territory of Minnesota passed a law that ordered the construction of public schools in the communities in the territory. Currently, all educational institutions in Minnesota must follow certain rules and patterns dictated by the Minnesota Department of Education. This council directly controls the State’s public school system, which is divided into several school districts. The council is led by a commissioner, chosen by the governor with the approval of the Senate. Each major city, several secondary cities, and each county consist of at least one school district. In cities, the responsibility for managing schools rests with the municipal school district, while in less densely populated regions,
In the 2008-2009 academic year, approximately 10,900 international students were enrolled in Minnesota’s colleges and universities. Of these, 4,120 attended the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minnesota-Twin Cities), the state’s leading academic research institution. Minnesota ranked 18th among the most popular destinations in the United States for foreign students, with the top countries being China (with 1,617 students), India (with 1,139), Nepal (with 966), the Republic of South Korea (with 929) and Canada (with 363). [5]
Health
The state of Minnesota ranks first in the percentage of residents who exercise regularly, and second in three key indices: low infant mortality; long life expectancy and a low death rate per 100,000 population. These and other measures have led one group to rank Minnesota as the healthiest state in the nation, and another to rank it fourth. [6]
Transport
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is responsible for overseeing transportation in the state. The state has nearly two dozen rail lines, most of which also run through the Minneapolis-St. Paul. Shipping is primarily focused on the Mississippi River and ports along Lake Superior in northern Minnesota. Public transportation in Minnesota is currently limited to several bus lines in major cities as well as a light rail in the Minneapolis-St Area. Paul.
Minnesota’s primary airport is Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), which is also the headquarters and passenger and fleet hub for Northwest Airlines.
