What is the abbreviation for Minnesota, and what region is it in?

Minnesota's two-letter postal abbreviation is MN. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the Midwest region, in the West North Central division, and about 5.71 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When did Minnesota become a state, and what number state was it?

Minnesota became the 32nd state on May 11, 1858. The land east of the Mississippi River came from the old Northwest Territory and the land to the west from the Louisiana Purchase, and Congress created the Minnesota Territory in 1849.

What does the name Minnesota mean?

The name comes from the Dakota words "Mni Sota," the Dakota name for the Minnesota River, usually translated as "cloudy water" or "sky-tinted water."

What is the capital of Minnesota, and has it always been the capital?

Saint Paul has been the capital since the territory was organized in 1849. In 1857 the legislature voted to move the capital to St. Peter, but territorial lawmaker Joe Rolette took the bill and hid until the session ended, so it was never signed. The current State Capitol, designed by Cass Gilbert, opened in 1905.

What states and countries border Minnesota?

Minnesota borders North Dakota and South Dakota to the west, Iowa to the south, and Wisconsin to the east. To the north it borders the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, and in the northeast it has a shoreline on Lake Superior. The Northwest Angle, cut off from the rest of the state by Lake of the Woods, is the northernmost point of the 48 contiguous states.

How many lakes does Minnesota have?

Minnesota's license plates say "Land of 10,000 Lakes," but the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources counts 11,842 lakes of 10 acres or more. The Mississippi River begins at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota.

What are Minnesota's nickname, motto, and symbols?

Minnesota is called "The North Star State," from its French motto "L'Étoile du Nord" ("The Star of the North"). Its state bird is the common loon, its flower is the pink and white lady's slipper, and its tree is the red pine.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Minnesota have?

Based on the 2020 census, Minnesota kept its 8 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, which gives it 10 votes in the Electoral College. Its 8th seat was the last of the 435 seats assigned in the 2020 apportionment, just ahead of New York.

U.S. State32nd State • May 11, 1858

Minnesota MN

"The North Star State"

The land where the Mississippi begins as a trickle, where iron ore built American industry, and where Bob Dylan and Prince proved that the cold north can produce the world's most transcendent art.

State Debt - FY2024

$17.0 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$35.7 billion

Total Minnesota state tax collections in fiscal 2024, led by the individual income tax ($13B) and the general sales tax ($8.5B).

Borrowing

Minnesota holds a AAA rating and issues general obligation bonds backed by its full faith and credit, sold to investors in the tax-exempt municipal market. A share of every biennial bonding bill is constitutionally dedicated to trunk highways. The state reported about $497 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

5.7M

Population

32nd

State (1858)

11,000+

Lakes

15+

Fortune 500 HQs

Minnesota's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hi there, Minnesota. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a governor and lieutenant governor, a U.S. senator for an open seat, your member of the U.S. House, the attorney general, secretary of state, and auditor, all 201 state legislators, judges, and one constitutional amendment about school funding.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. Gov. Tim Walz withdrew from his re-election race in January, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar is now running for governor. Sen. Tina Smith is retiring.

A Minnesota quirk worth knowing: for the amendment to pass, it needs a yes from a majority of everyone who votes in the election, so skipping the question counts the same as a no.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against published sources on October 5, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Early voting began (in person and by mail)	Friday, September 18
Last day to pre-register (you can still register at your polling place on Election Day)	Tuesday, October 13
Last day of early in-person voting	Monday, November 2
Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in most places; absentee ballots must arrive by Election Day	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Minnesota

Pre-register by October 13 online or on paper. Missed it? Minnesota has Election Day registration: register at your polling place with proof of residence, such as a Minnesota driver's license or ID with your current address, or another approved document.

Any voter can vote early, in person at your county or city election office or by mail, from September 18 through November 2; no reason needed. A mailed ballot must reach your election office by Election Day.

On Election Day, polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in most places (some small towns open as late as 10 a.m.). If you're already registered, you don't need to show ID.

Find your polling place and sample ballot at mnvotes.gov.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Minnesota's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

A Minnesota quirk worth knowing: for the amendment to pass, it needs a yes from a majority of everyone who votes in the election, so skipping the question counts the same as a no.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against published sources on October 5, 2026

Key Dates

Early voting began (in person and by mail)

Friday, September 18

Last day to pre-register (you can still register at your polling place on Election Day)

Tuesday, October 13

Last day of early in-person voting

Monday, November 2

Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in most places; absentee ballots must arrive by Election Day

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Minnesota

On Election Day, polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in most places (some small towns open as late as 10 a.m.). If you're already registered, you don't need to show ID.

Find your polling place and sample ballot at mnvotes.gov.

Minnesota's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Minnesota

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Minnesota's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Minnesota

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading