15 Interesting Facts about Minnesota

Introduction:

Minnesota is full of interesting facts and unknown secrets. From lake monsters and frozen lands, to clever inventors and pioneering politicians, and much more. Here are 15 interesting facts to learn about the state of Minnesota that you may not know.

Fact 1: Minnesota is home to the world’s largest shopping mall.

The Mall of America, located in Bloomington, Minnesota is known to be the largest shopping mall in the world. It was opened in 1992 and with over 5 million square feet, it houses more than 520 stores, 50 restaurants, and a number of family entertainment attractions.

Fact 2: Minnesota is home to the world’s largest population of white-tailed deer

Minnesota is known for its vast population of white-tailed deer. With over 1.5 million deer across the state, it is the highest state for white-tailed deer population. It is estimated that there are at least six deer per square mile in the state.

Fact 3: Minnesota is home to the U.S.’s oldest state park.

Minnesota is home to Itasca State Park, the oldest state park in Minnesota. Located in northern Minnesota, Itasca State Park was established in 1891 and is now visited by an abundance of visitors every year. Popular attractions in the park include the headwaters of the Mississippi River, Lake Itasca and a number of hiking trails.

Fact 4: Minnesota is one of the only two states to never ratify the 18th Amendment.

Minnesota is one of two states in the United States to never ratify the 18th amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcoholic beverages. The other state to never ratify the amendment was Mississippi.

Fact 5: Minnesota has more shoreline than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined.

It may be surprising to learn that Minnesota has over 82 miles of shoreline, which is more than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined. The state is home to over 12,000 miles of shoreline and 10,000+ lakes.

Fact 6: Minnesota’s Post Office is the only one in the nation that doesn’t have to have a postmark.

This may come as a surprise to some people, but the Minnesota Post Office is the only one in the nation which does not have to include a postmark on letters sent out by the state. It is believed that external postmarks were omitted since Minnesota already had a large population of postmasters back in the 1800s.

Fact 7: The longest freshwater in the world, Lake Superior, borders Minnesota.

The longest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Superior, borders the great state of Minnesota. The lake stretches over 2,000 miles long and is also the world’s deepest freshwater lake at 1,332 feet deep.

Fact 8: Minnesota is known for its varied and picturesque landscapes.

From the picturesque northern lakes and forests, to the rolling prairies in the south, Minnesota is a state full of beautiful and varied landscapes. There are over 500 Minnesota state parks, monuments, recreation areas, and waysides, all of which feature beautiful landscapes.

Fact 9: Minnesota is known for its interesting lake monsters.

It might surprise some, but Minnesota is known for its mysterious lake monsters. The most famous of these is called Ogonek, a creature said to live in Lake Vermilion, MN. There have also been sightings of Bessie, a lake monster that reportedly lives in Lake Mille Lacs.

Fact 10: Minnesota is home to a number of great inventors.

The state of Minnesota has been a hotbed for invention and innovation. Some of the more famous inventors from the state include Charles Michaelis, who invented the first sugar beet processor, and George Seibel, who designed the first permanent wave machine.

Fact 11: Minnesota is home to the world famous Mayo clinic

The world renowned Mayo Clinic is located in Rochester, Minnesota. Founded in 1897 by Dr. William Worrall Mayo and his sons, the clinic specializes in many areas of medicine. It is the home of the world’s only integrated practice, research, and education organization.

Fact 12: Minnesota has the most golf courses per capita of any state.

Golfing is a popular pastime in the great state of Minnesota. With over 600 courses to choose from, it’s no wonder why the state holds the record for most golf courses per capita.

Fact 13: The extremely cold climate of Minnesota has allowed an abundance of glaciers.

Most people think of Minnesota as having a cold climate, but it has actually been known as one of the most glaciated states in the US. 10,000 years ago, Minnesota was home to nearly 3,000 glaciers, although today, there are only an estimated 170 glaciers left.

Fact 14: The names of some of Minnesota’s towns and cities honor the widely-spoken language of Sioux.

Many of the towns and cities in Minnesota have names that honor the language of the Sioux tribe such as Minnehaha, Wakota, and Minnesota itself, which translates to “land of sky-tinted waters.”

Fact 15: Minnesota is the only portion of the 48 contiguous states to have it’s entirety located in a single time zone.

The state of Minnesota is located in the Central time zone, and the entire state is located in this one time zone. This makes it the only portion of the 48 contiguous states not located in multiple time zones.

Conclusion

As shown, Minnesota is a unique state filled with interesting facts and secrets. From lake monsters and frozen lands, to clever inventors and pioneering politicians, and much more, the state is full of fascinating tidbits of information. With these , you now have a better understanding of just what this great state has to offer.