Origin of the name
The word Minnesota comes from the Dakota name for the Minnesota River, mnisota. Mni, or sometimes mini, or Minne can be translated as "water". Mnisota is then translated as sky-tinted water or somewhat clouded water. The Native Americans demonstrated the name by dropping milk into water and calling it mnisota. Many other locations in the state contain the Dakota word for water, such as Minnehaha Falls ("Waterfall", not "laughing waters" as is commonly thought), Minneiska ("White water"), Minnetonka, ("Big water"), Minnetrista ("Crooked water"), and Minneapolis which is a combination of mni and the Greek word for "city", polis.
Economy
The Minnesota state quarterThe Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Minnesota's total state product in 2005 was $233.3 billion. Per capita personal income in 2004 was $36,184, 8th in the nation. The average household income in 1999 was approximately $48,000, ranking eighth in the nation (U.S. Census Bureau). The county averages range from $17,369 (Todd County) to $42,313 (Hennepin County, a portion of the Metro area). In general, salaries are lowest in more rural areas, particularly in the northwest portion of the state.
The state is a major food producer for the country and has a number of natural resources that have been greatly exploited in the last two centuries.
Major industries and products
The Twin Cities are home to a diverse range of major businesses, including Cargill, 3M Co. (formerly Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.), Northwest Airlines, Target Corporation, U.S. Bancorp, TCF Financial Corporation and TCF Bank, Medtronic, Ecolab, Best Buy, St. Paul Travelers, Cray Computers, Imation, International Dairy Queen, Regis Corporation, General Mills, Polaris Industries and a regional headquarters of Wells Fargo & Co., Caterpillar Inc., Honeywell, and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (the merged entity of the former Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood). The city of Rochester is the headquarters of the Mayo Clinic, and has a significant manufacturing presence in International Business Machines. The largest shopping mall in the United States, the Mall of America, is located in Bloomington. The Schwan Food Company, headquartered in Marshall, Minnesota, is one of the largest, branded frozen-food companies in the United States and the second-largest privately held corporation in Minnesota. Hormel Foods Corporation is headquartered in Austin, Minnesota, and is a leading producer in meat products.
The state has been a major influence in the area of transportation, moving products along the Mississippi River, in and out of the inland seaport of Duluth, along railroads that crisscross the state, via highways with trucking and busing companies, and through the air with a major airline hub. However, water- and rail-borne traffic has been declining steadily over the years.
A large proportion of the state's economy is still agricultural, even though only a small percentage of the population (around 2%) consider themselves to be farmers. Minnesota is a leading US producer of sugar beets, soybeans, and corn. Additionally, northern Minnesota is a source for iron ore (in the form of taconite) and wood products, though these are both declining industries. Hibbing is the site of one of the world's largest open pit mines. The agricultural community is also strongly tied to the renewable energy market in the state.
Energy use and production
A fair amount of ethanol fuel is produced in the state, and a 10% mix of ethanol into consumer gasoline has been mandated since 1997 (as of January 2006, Minnesota is the only U.S. state with such a mandate). 20% ethanol will be mandated in 2013. A 2% biodiesel blend has also been required in diesel fuel since 2005. Many farmers also now operate wind turbines to produce electricity, particularly in the windy southwest region. As of June 2006, the state is the country's fourth-largest wind energy producer after California, Texas, and Iowa, with 744 megawatts installed and an additional 128 MW planned.
Like many Midwestern states, Minnesota is heavily dependent on natural gas for home heating. Just over two-thirds of homes use the fuel. The state does not produce any petroleum of its own but boasts the largest oil refinery of any non-oil-producing state, the Pine Bend Refinery. One of the longest pipelines in the world, the Lakehead Pipeline, also traverses northern Minnesota. Most of the petroleum used in the state comes from Canada and the northwestern United States.
Source: Wikipedia.org - English
