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Minneapolis–Saint Paul

Coordinates:44°57′N93°12′W/ 44.950°N 93.200°W/44.950; -93.200
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Minneapolis–Saint Paul
  • Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WI
  • Metropolitan area
Minneapolis(top) andSaint Paul(bottom)
Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area (Met Council counties in red)
Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area (Met Councilcounties in red)
CountryUnited States
StatesMinnesotaandWisconsin
Principal citiesMinneapolis,Saint Paul
Area
• Urban
1,021.8 sq mi (2,646 km2)
• Metro
8,120 sq mi (21,000 km2)
Highest elevation
1,376 ft (419 m)
Lowest elevation
660 ft (200 m)
Population
(2020[1])
Urban
2,650,890 (16th)
• Urban density2,594.3/sq mi (1,001.7/km2)
MSA
3,690,261 (16th)
CSA
4,078,788 (16th)
  • MSA/CSA: 2020
  • Urban: 2018
GDP
• MSA$323.973 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC−6(CST)
• Summer (DST)UTC−5(CDT)
Area code(s)320,507,612,651,715/534,763,952

Minneapolis–Saint Paulis ametropolitan areain theUpper Midwestern United Statescentered around the confluence of theMississippi,Minnesota,andSt. Croixrivers in theU.S. stateofMinnesota.It is commonly known as theTwin Citiesafter the area's two largest cities,MinneapolisandSaint Paul.Minnesotans often refer to the two together (or the seven-county metro area collectively) simply as "The Cities".[3][4]The area is Minnesota's economic, cultural, and political center.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul are independent municipalities with defined borders. Minneapolis sits mostly on the west side of theMississippi Riveron lake-covered terrain. Although most of the city is residential neighborhoods, it has a business-dominateddowntownarea with some historic industrial areas, theMill Districtand theNorth Looparea. Saint Paul, which sits mostly on the east side of the river, has a smaller business district, many tree-lined neighborhoods, and a large collection of late-Victorian architecture.Both cities, and the surrounding smaller cities, feature lakes, hills, and creeks.

Originally inhabited by theOjibweandDakotapeople, the cities were settled by various Europeans. Minneapolis was strongly influenced by earlyScandinavianandLutheransettlers, while Saint Paul was settled predominantly by theFrench,theIrish,andGermanCatholics.Both urban areas are home to new immigrant communities, includingMexicans,Somalis,Hmong,Indians,Oromo,Vietnamese,Cameroonians,andLiberians.

"Twin Cities" is sometimes used to refer to the seven-county region governed by theMetropolitan Councilregional governmental agency and planning organization. TheUnited States Office of Management and Budgetofficially designates 15 counties as the "Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MN–WIMetropolitan Statistical Area ". It is the16th-largest metropolitan statistical areain the U.S. and third-largest metropolitan area in theMidwest,with a population of 3,690,261 at the2020 census.The larger 21-county Minneapolis–St. Paul MN–WICombined Statistical Area,the nation's 16th-largest combined statistical area, had a population of 4,078,788 at the 2020 census.

History

[edit]
St. Croix RiverinStillwater
St. Paulwith barges on theMississippi River,theCapitol dome,andMinneapolis's skyline in the far background (right ofSt. Paul). In the lower right is a typical 19th century home inIndian Mounds Park.

European settlement

[edit]

The first European settlement in the region was near what is now the town ofStillwater, Minnesota,about 20 miles (30 km) from downtown Saint Paul and on the western bank of theSt. Croix River,which forms the border of central Minnesota and Wisconsin. Another settlement that fueled early interest in the area was the outpost atFort Snelling,which was constructed from 1820 to 1825 at theconfluenceof theMinnesota Riverand theMississippi River.[5]

The Fort Snelling military reservation bordered both sides of the river up toSaint Anthony Falls.The town of Saint Anthony grew just outside the reservation on the river's east side. For several years, the only European resident to live on the west bank of the river was ColonelJohn H. Stevens,who operated a ferry service across the river. When the military reservation was reduced in size, settlers quickly moved to the land, creating the new village of Minneapolis. The town grew, with Minneapolis and Saint Anthony eventually merging.[6]On the eastern side of the Mississippi, a few villages such as Pig's Eye and Lambert's Landing grew to become Saint Paul.[7]

Geography

[edit]

Natural geography played a role in the two cities' settlement and development. TheMississippi River Valleyin the area is defined by a series of stone bluffs that line the river. Saint Paul grew up around Lambert's Landing, the last place to unload boats coming upriver at an easily accessible point, seven miles (11 km) downstream fromSaint Anthony Falls,the geographic feature that, due to the value of its immense water power for industry, defined Minneapolis's location and its prominence as the Mill City. The falls can be seen from theMill City Museum,housed in the formerWashburn "A" Mill,which was among the world's largest mills in its time. The phrase "St. Paul is the last city of the East, Minneapolis the first city of the West" alludes to the historical difference.[8]

Farming

[edit]
Lock and Dam No. 1on theMississippi Riverupstream from theMinnesota River

The state's oldest farms are inWashington County.The county borders theSt. Croix RiverandWisconsinon the eastern side of the metropolitan area. Joseph Haskell was Minnesota's first white farmer, harvesting the first crops in the state in 1840 on what is now part of Afton Township on Trading Post Trail.[9]

Grand Excursion

[edit]

TheGrand Excursion,a trip into the Upper Midwest sponsored by theRock Island Railroad,brought more than a thousand curious travelers into the area by rail and steamboat in 1854. In 1855,Henry Wadsworth LongfellowpublishedThe Song of Hiawatha,anepic poembased on theOjibwelegends ofHiawatha.A number of natural area landmarks appear in the story, includingLake MinnetonkaandMinnehaha Falls.Tourists inspired by the coverage of the Grand Excursion in eastern newspapers and those who readThe Song of Hiawathaflocked to the area in the following decades.

Rail transport

[edit]

At one time, the region also had numerous passenger rail services, including both interurbanstreetcarsystems and interstate rail. Due to the river's width at points farther south, the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area was briefly one of the few places where the Mississippi could be crossed by railroad. Much commercial rail traffic also ran through the area, often carrying grain to be processed at Minneapolis mills or delivering other goods to Saint Paul to be transported along the Mississippi. Saint Paul was long at thehead of navigationon the river, until alock and dam facilitywas added upriver in Minneapolis.

Passenger travel hit its peak in 1888, with nearly eight million traversing to and fromSaint Paul Union Depot.[citation needed]This amounted to approximately 150 trains daily. Soon, other rail crossings were built farther south and travel through the region began to decline. In an effort by the rail companies to combat the rise of the automobile, some of the earlieststreamlinersran fromChicagoto Minneapolis/Saint Paul and eventually served distant points in thePacific Northwest.Today, the only vestige of this interstate service isAmtrak'sSeattle/PortlandtoChicagoEmpire Builderroute, running once daily in each direction. It is named afterJames J. Hill,a railroad tycoon who settled onSummit Avenuein Saint Paul in what is now known as theJames J. Hill House.

Socioeconomic history

[edit]

Like many Northern cities that grew up with theIndustrial Revolution,Minneapolis and St. Paul experienced shifts in their economic base as heavy industry declined, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. With the economic decline of those decades came population decline in thecentral city areas,white flightto suburbs,[10]and, in the summer of 1967,race riotson Minneapolis's North Side.[11]But by the 1980s and 1990s, Minneapolis and Saint Paul were often cited as formerRust Beltcities that had made successful transitions to service, high-technology, finance, and information economies.[12]

In May and June 2020, the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area became a focus of international attention afterMPDofficerDerek ChauvinmurderedGeorge Floydby kneeling on his neck for almost ten minutes. The murder sparkedlocal,nationwideandinternational protestsagainst racism and police brutality, bringing considerable attention to the MPD.[13]Minneapolis–Saint Paul was the site of the second-costliest act of civil disobedience in U.S. history, after the1992 Los Angeles Riots.[14]Local protests and riots caused an estimated $550 million in damages[15]and affected around 1,600 businesses.[16]

Rivalry

[edit]

Minneapolis and Saint Paul have competed since they were founded, resulting in some duplication of effort.[17]After Saint Paul completed its elaboratecathedralin 1915, Minneapolis followed up with the equally ornateBasilica of St. Maryin 1926. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the rivalry became so intense that an architect practicing in one city was often refused business in the other. The1890 United States Censuseven led to the two cities arresting and/or kidnapping each other's census takers, in an attempt to keep each city from outgrowing the other.[18][19][20]

The rivalry occasionally erupted into inter-city violence, as at a 1929 game between theMinneapolis Millersand theSt. Paul Saints,bothbaseballteams of theAmerican Association.[21]In the 1950s, both cities competed for amajor league baseballfranchise (which resulted in two rival stadiums being built), and there was a brief period in the mid-1960s when the two cities could not agree on a common calendar fordaylight saving time,resulting in a few weeks when people in Minneapolis were one hour "behind" those in Saint Paul.[22]

The cities' mutual antagonism was largely healed by the end of the 1960s, aided by the simultaneous arrival in 1961 of theMinnesota Twinsof theAmerican Leagueand theMinnesota Vikingsof theNational Football League,both of which identified themselves with the state as a whole (the former explicitly named for both Twin Cities) rather than either city (like the earlierMinneapolis Lakers). Since 1961, it has been common practice for any major sports team based in the Twin Cities to be named for Minnesota as a whole. In terms of development, the two cities remain distinct in their progress, with Minneapolis absorbing new and avant-garde architecture while Saint Paul continues to carefully integrate new buildings into the context of classical and Victorian styles.[17]

Geology

[edit]

Like much of Minnesota, the Twin Cities area was shaped by water and ice over millions of years. The area's land sits atop thick layers ofsandstoneandlimestonelaid down as seas encroached upon and receded from the region. Erosion caused natural caves to develop, which were expanded intomineswhen white settlers came to the area. DuringProhibition,at least onespeakeasywas built into these hidden spaces—eventually refurbished as Saint Paul'sWabasha Street Caves.

Lakes across the area were formed and altered by the movement ofglaciers.This left many bodies of water in the region, some with unusual shapes. For example,Lake Minnetonka,toward the western side of the Twin Cities, consists of a complex arrangement of channels and large bays. Elevations in the area range from 1,376 feet (419 m) above sea level in the northwest metro to 666 feet (203 m) at the edge of theMississippi Riverin the southeast.

Bald eagleinBurnsville

Climate

[edit]
August swimming at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve,Waite ParknearSt. Cloud

Owing to their northerly latitude and inland location, the Twin Cities experience the coldest climate of any major metropolitan area in the United States.[23]But due to their southern location in the state and theurban heat island,the Twin Cities are among Minnesota's warmest places.[24]The average annual temperature recorded at theMinneapolis–Saint Paul International Airportis 45.4 °F (7.4 °C); 3.5 °F (1.9 °C) colder thanWinona, Minnesota,and 8.8 °F (4.9 °C) warmer thanRoseau, Minnesota.[25]Monthly average daily high temperatures range from 21.9 °F (−5.6 °C) in January to 83.3 °F (28.5 °C) in July; the average daily minimum temperatures for those months are 4.3 °F (−15.4 °C) and 63.0 °F (17.2 °C) respectively.[26]

Viewing theSaint Paul Winter Carnivalparade in January.

Minimum temperatures of 0 °F (−18 °C) or lower are seen on an average of 29.7 days per year, and 76.2 days do not have a maximum temperature exceeding the freezing point. Temperatures above 90 °F (32 °C) occur an average of 15 times per year. Higher temperatures at or above 100 °F (38 °C) are recorded once every 4-5 years on average, and sometimes during a single summer.[27]The lowest temperature ever reported at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport was −34 °F (−37 °C) on January 22, 1936; the highest, 108 °F (42 °C), was reported on July 14 of the same year.[28]Early settlement records at Fort Snelling show temperatures as low as −42 °F (−41 °C). Recent records include −40 °F (−40 °C) at Vadnais Lake on February 2, 1996 (National Climatic Data Center)

Precipitationaverages 29.41 inches (74.7 cm) per year, and is most plentiful in June (4.34 inches (11.0 cm)) and least so in February (0.79 inches (2.0 cm)). The greatest one-day rainfall amount was 9.15 inches (23.2 cm), reported on July 23, 1987. The cities' record for lowest annual precipitation was set in 1910, when 11.54 inches (29.3 cm) fell throughout the year; coincidentally, the opposite record of 40.15 inches (1,020 mm) was set the next year.[29]At an annual average of 56.3 inches (1,430 mm), snowfall is generally abundant.[30]

The Twin Cities area takes the brunt of many types of extreme weather, including high-speed straight-line winds, tornadoes, flash floods, drought, heat, bitter cold, and blizzards. The costliest weather disaster in Twin Cities history was aderechoevent on May 15, 1998. Hail and wind damage exceeded $950 million, much of it in the Twin Cities.[31]Other memorable Twin Cities weather-related events include thetornado outbreakon May 6, 1965, theArmistice Day Blizzardon November 11, 1940, and theHalloween Blizzardof 1991. InJanuary 2019,Minnesota experienced its coldest temperatures since 1996, when a polar vortex dropped temperatures as low as −56 °F (−49 °C) inCotton, Minnesota,with wind-chill temperatures lower than −60 °F (−51 °C) in much of the state. These temperatures are colder than those found on the surface ofMars.(See:Department of Natural Resources - Cold Outbreak: January 27-31, 2019)

A normal growing season in the metro extends from late April or early May through the month of October.[32]The USDA places the area in the 4aplant hardiness zone.[33]

Communities

[edit]

Metropolitan Statistical Area

[edit]

TheMinneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area,or Twin Cities, includes 15 counties, of which 13 are in Minnesota and two in Wisconsin. The Minnesota portion accounts for almost two-thirds of Minnesota's population.

Note: Counties that areboldedare under jurisdiction of theMetropolitan Council.Counties that areitalicizedwere added to the metropolitan area when theOffice of Management and Budgetrevised its delineations ofmetropolitan statistical areasin 2013.[34][35]Sibley Countywas included in the metropolitan statistical area from 2013 to September 2018.[36]

Map of the 21 counties of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area as of 2018.
MSA counties under the Metropolitan Council
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA counties defined by the Census as "central"
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA counties defined by the Census as "outlying"
Counties included in the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area
Counties that are separate Micropolitan Statistical Areas
County Seat 2021 Estimate 2020 Census Change Area Density
Hennepin Minneapolis 1,267,416 1,281,565 −1.10% 607 sq mi (1,570 km2) 2,088/sq mi (806/km2)
Ramsey Saint Paul 543,257 552,352 −1.65% 170 sq mi (440 km2) 3,196/sq mi (1,234/km2)
Dakota Hastings 442,038 439,882 +0.49% 587 sq mi (1,520 km2) 753/sq mi (291/km2)
Anoka Anoka 367,018 363,887 +0.86% 446 sq mi (1,160 km2) 823/sq mi (318/km2)
Washington Stillwater 272,256 267,568 +1.75% 423 sq mi (1,100 km2) 644/sq mi (249/km2)
Scott Shakopee 153,268 150,928 +1.55% 365 sq mi (950 km2) 420/sq mi (162/km2)
Wright Buffalo 144,845 141,337 +2.48% 714 sq mi (1,850 km2) 203/sq mi (78/km2)
Carver Chaska 108,626 106,922 +1.59% 376 sq mi (970 km2) 289/sq mi (112/km2)
Sherburne Elk River 99,074 97,183 +1.95% 451 sq mi (1,170 km2) 220/sq mi (85/km2)
St. Croix, WI Hudson 95,044 93,536 +1.61% 736 sq mi (1,910 km2) 129/sq mi (50/km2)
Chisago Center City 57,469 56,621 +1.50% 442 sq mi (1,140 km2) 130/sq mi (50/km2)
Pierce, WI Ellsworth 42,587 42,212 +0.89% 592 sq mi (1,530 km2) 72/sq mi (28/km2)
Isanti Cambridge 41,906 41,135 +1.87% 452 sq mi (1,170 km2) 93/sq mi (36/km2)
Le Sueur Le Center 28,841 28,674 +0.58% 449 sq mi (1,160 km2) 64/sq mi (25/km2)
Mille Lacs Milaca 26,867 26,459 +1.54% 682 sq mi (1,770 km2) 39/sq mi (15/km2)
Total 3,690,512 3,690,261 +0.01% 8,093 sq mi (20,960 km2) 456/sq mi (176/km2)

Combined Statistical Area

[edit]

TheMinneapolis–St. Paul, MN–WI Combined Statistical Areais made up of 19 counties in Minnesota and two counties in Wisconsin. The statistical area includes twometropolitan areasand fourmicropolitan areas.As of the 2010 census, the CSA had a population of 3,682,928 (though a July 1, 2012 estimate placed it at 3,691,918). In 2013, the Owatonna Micropolitan Statistical Area was added.[37]

Statistical Area 2021 Estimate 2020 Census Change Area Density
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,690,512 3,690,261 +0.01% 8,093 sq mi (20,960 km2) 456/sq mi (176/km2)
St. Cloud, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area(StearnsandBentoncounties) 200,406 199,801 +0.30% 1,803 sq mi (4,670 km2) 111/sq mi (43/km2)
Faribault-Northfield, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area(Rice County) 67,262 67,097 +0.25% 516 sq mi (1,340 km2) 130/sq mi (50/km2)
Red Wing, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area(Goodhue County) 47,968 47,582 +0.81% 780 sq mi (2,000 km2) 61/sq mi (24/km2)
Owatonna, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area(Steele County) 37,349 37,406 −0.15% 432 sq mi (1,120 km2) 86/sq mi (33/km2)
Hutchinson, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area(McLeod County) 36,735 36,771 −0.10% 506 sq mi (1,310 km2) 73/sq mi (28/km2)
Total 4,080,232 4,078,788 +0.04% 12,130 sq mi (31,400 km2) 336/sq mi (130/km2)

Note: Owatonna MSA was not part of CSA in 2010.

Cities and suburbs

[edit]

There are approximately 218 incorporated municipalities in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. This includescensus-designated placesandvillages in Wisconsin,but excludes unincorporated towns in Wisconsin, known ascivil townshipsin other states. Population numbers are from the 2020 census.[38]

Principal cities

Places with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants

Places with 25,000 to 49,999 inhabitants

Places with 10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants

Places with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants

Culture

[edit]

Fine and performing arts

[edit]
Guthrie Theateron theMississippi RiverinMinneapolis

The Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan areafine artmuseums include theMinneapolis Institute of Art,theWalker Art Center,theFrederick R. Weisman Art Museum,Minnesota Museum of American ArtandThe Museum of Russian Art.Other museums includeAmerican Swedish Institute,Science Museum of Minnesota,Minnesota Children's Museum,Bell Museum(natural history and planetarium) andThe Bakken Museum(science and technology). TheMinnesota Orchestraand theSaint Paul Chamber Orchestraare full-time professionalmusical ensembles.TheGuthrie Theateris a world-class regional theater overlooking the Mississippi River. TheMinnesota Fringe Festivalis an annual celebration oftheatre,dance,improvisation,puppetry,kids' shows,visual art,and musicals.[39]

The Twin Cities is also the home ofMinnesota Public Radio (MPR),the nation's second-largest public radio station. It has both aclassical stationand a contemporary station,The Current,which plays music from regional and other contemporary artists. TheMPRprogramA Prairie Home Companion,hosted by Minnesota nativeGarrison Keillor,aired live for many years from theFitzgerald TheaterinSaint Paul.The show ended its run in 2016, with its successorLive from Herealso airing from the same venue. This radio program was the basis of the 2006 filmA Prairie Home Companion.

The Brave New Workshop Comedy Theateris a sketch and improvisational comedy theater in Minneapolis. It is the nation's oldest comedy theater.

The Currentand theWalker Art Centeralso host the annual music festivalRock the Garden,which features nationally recognized and local artists. The festival has been held annually since 2008 and has featured artists such asLizzo,Hippo Campus,Chance the Rapper,Bon Iver,The Flaming Lips,WilcoandSonic Youth.[40]

TheBasilica of Saint Maryin Minneapolis hosts the annualBasilica Block Party,another music festival, which has featured nationally recognized artists such asWeezer,Andy Grammer,Death Cab for CutieandPanic! at the Disco.The festival is used as a fundraiser for the restoration of the basilica.[41]The event draws about 25,000 people to the downtown area.

The Twin Cities area also has a number of venues where artists come to perform. Minneapolis is home toFirst Avenue.First Avenue is known for being the starting venue for many famous artists and bands from the area, includingPrince,The Replacements,Atmosphere,andManny Phesto.It became one of the most recognizable venues in Minnesota after the release of the Prince moviePurple Rain,in which it is featured.

Outdoors

[edit]
A Saint Paul Bouncing Team aerialist exhibition inSt. Paul

There are numerous lakes in the region, and some cities in the area have extensive park systems for recreation. Organized recreation includes theGreat River Energy bicycle festival,theTwin Cities Marathon,and the U.S.pond hockeychampionships. Some studies have shown that area residents take advantage of this, and are among the most physically fit in the country, but others have disputed that. Medicine is a major industry in the region and the southeasterly city ofRochester,as theUniversity of Minnesotahas joined other colleges and hospitals in doing significant research, and majormedical devicemanufacturers started in the region (the most prominent isMedtronic).[citation needed]Technical innovators have brought important advances in computing, including theCrayline ofsupercomputers.

Many Twin Cities residents own or share cabins and other properties along lakes and forested areas in central and northern Minnesota, and weekend trips "up North" happen in the warmer months.Ice fishingis a major winter pastime, although overambitious fishers sometimes find themselves in danger when they venture onto the ice too early or too late. Hunting, snowmobiling,ATVriding and other outdoor activities are also popular. This connection to the outdoors also brings a strong sense ofenvironmentalismto many Minnesotans.

In 2011 and 2012, theAmerican College of Sports Medicinenamed Minneapolis–Saint Paul the nation's healthiest metropolitan area.[42][43]

Sports

[edit]
The 1905Minneapolis Millersbaseball team

The Twin Cities is one of12 American metropolitan areaswith teams in all fourmajor professional sports—baseball (MLB), football (NFL), basketball (NBA) and ice hockey (NHL). Including Major League Soccer (MLS), it is one of 11 metro areas with five major professional sports teams. To avoid favoring either city, most teams based in the area use only the word "Minnesota" in their names, rather than "Minneapolis" or "St. Paul".

Minneapolis was the site of twoSuper BowlsSuper Bowl XXVIin 1992 andSuper Bowl LIIin 2018. It is the farthest north that a Super Bowl has ever been played. TheMinnesota Vikingshave played in four Super Bowls—IVin 1970,VIIIin 1974,IXin 1975 andXIin 1977.

TheWorld Serieshas been played in the Twin Cities three times—1965, 1987 and 1991—as have threeMajor League Baseball All-Star Games—1965, 1985 and 2014.NHLAll-Star games were hosted in 1972 and 2004,NBAAll-Star game in 1994,WNBAAll-Star game in 2018 andMLSAll-Star game in 2022.

TheStanley Cup Finalshave been played in the Twin Cities twice, in 1981 and 1991. TheNHL Stadium Serieshad a game in the Twin Cities in 2016, and theNHL Winter Classicwas played atTarget Fieldin 2022.

TheFinal FourMen's National College Athletics Association (NCAA) basketball tournament has been hosted by Minneapolis four times—1951, 1992, 2001 and 2019—and the Women's twice, in 1995 and 2022.

TheFrozen FourMen's NCAA hockey tournament has been hosted by the Twin Cities nine times—1958, 1966, 1989, 1991, 1994, 2002, 2011, 2018 and 2024.

Over 3,700 fans attend the opening bout of the 2007Minnesota RollerGirlsseason

Major golf tournaments hosted in the Twin Cities include:U.S. Open—1916, 1930, 1970, 1991;U.S. Women's Open—1966, 1977, 2008;PGA Championship—1932, 1954, 2002, 2009;Women's PGA Championship,2019;Walker Cup,1957;Solheim Cup,2002; and theRyder Cup,2016. The Ryder Cup is scheduled to return in 2028.

The 1998World Figure Skating Championshipswere held at theTarget Centerin Minneapolis.

The2017,2018and 2019 X Games were held in Minneapolis. The 2020 X Games were canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

The Twin Cities host three nationally competingRoller Derbyleagues: theMinnesota Roller Derbyof theWomen's Flat Track Derby AssociationDivision 1, theNorth Star Roller Derbyof WFTDA Division 2, and Minnesota Men's Roller Derby, a league of theMen's Roller Derby Association.MNRD and NSRD have four home teams each: the Dagger Dolls, Garda Belts, Rockits, and Atomic Bombshells of MNRD and the Banger Sisters, Delta Delta Di, Kilmores, and Violent Femmes of NSRD, as well as two traveling teams each. MMRD has three home teams: The Gentlemen's Club, Destruction Workers, and Thunderjacks, and two traveling teams.

The annualTwin Cities Marathonis held in the fall with a course running through Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Minneapolis was the birthplace ofRollerbladeand is a center forinline skating,as well as home to the most golfers per capita of any U.S. city.[44]Additionally,water skiinggot its start onLake Pepin,a lake southeast of the metropolitan area, in the Mississippi River about 50 miles (80 km) downstream from Saint Paul.[45]

Some other sports teams gained their names from being in Minnesota before relocating. TheLos Angeles Lakersget their name from once being based in Minneapolis, the City of Lakes. TheDallas Starsalso derived their name from their tenure as a Minnesota team, theMinnesota North Stars.

Professional sports teams in Minneapolis–Saint Paul

[edit]
Club Sport League Venue City Since Titles
Minnesota Twins Baseball American League,Major League Baseball Target Field Minneapolis 1961 1987,1991
St. Paul Saints Baseball International League,Minor League Baseball CHS Field St. Paul 1993 2019(AA)
1993, 1995, 1996, and 2004(NL)
Minnesota Vikings American football National Football League U.S. Bank Stadium Minneapolis 1961 1969(NotSuper Bowl)
Minnesota Vixen American football Women's Football Alliance Sea Foam Stadium St. Paul 1999
Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball National Basketball Association Target Center Minneapolis 1989
Minnesota Lynx Basketball Women's National Basketball Association Target Center Minneapolis 1999 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017
Minnesota Wild Ice hockey National Hockey League Xcel Energy Center St. Paul 2000
Minnesota Ice hockey Professional Women's Hockey League Xcel Energy Center St. Paul 2023 2024
Minnesota United FC Soccer Major League Soccer Allianz Field St. Paul 2015 2011(NASL)

The Twin Cities are also home of theUniversity of Minnesota Golden Gopherswho play in theBig TenConference.

Media

[edit]

Print

[edit]

The Twin Cities have two major daily newspapers: theStar Tribuneand theSaint Paul Pioneer Press.TheMinnesota Dailyserves theUniversity of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus and surrounding neighborhoods. There is one general-interest neighborhood weekly newspaper still in the cities: TheEast Side Review,devoted to the 90,000 residents in St. Paul's eastern third. Other weekly papers are devoted to specific audiences/demographics, including (until 2020)City Pages.

Television

[edit]
KAREtelevision broadcast,Minnesota State Fair

The region is the 15th-largest television market, according to Nielsen Media Research. Threeduopoliesexist in the Twin Cities:Twin Cities PBSoperatesKTCA and KTCI(channels 2.1 and 2.4),[a]Saint Paul-basedHubbard Broadcasting(founded byStanley E. Hubbard) ownsABCaffiliateKSTP-TV(channel 5) andindependent stationKSTC-TV(channel 5.2),[b]andFox Television StationsoperatesFoxowned-and-operated stationKMSP-TV(channel 9) andMyNetworkTVO&OWFTC(channel 9.2)[c]Diversified from radio, KSTP-TV was the first television station to operate in the region and the 17th to sign on in the U.S., initially reaching 3,000 sets when Hubbard signed on the station in April 1948.[46]

WCCO-TVbuilding inMinneapolis.

The only local television station in the area that operates its main studio in Minneapolis isCBSO&OWCCO-TV(channel 4), while Saint Paul is home to KSTP/KSTC, KTCA/KTCI, andCWaffiliateWUCW(channel 23, owned bySinclair Broadcast Group). The other major television stations are based in nearby suburban areas:NBCaffiliateKARE(channel 11, owned byTegna) operates a broadcasting complex inGolden Valley,while KMSP/WFTC operates from a facility inEden Prairie.

For much of the last two decades, WCCO and KARE have had the most popular evening newscasts in the area, while KSTP has struggled to maintain decent ratings on its news programs. Since becoming an independent station in 1979, after losing the ABC affiliation to KSTP in a three-station affiliation swap that resulted in NBC moving from KSTP to then-independent WTCN (now KARE), KMSP has carried a nightly prime time newscast (originally airing at 9:30 p.m. before moving to 9:00 p.m. upon trading time slots with the now-canceledIndependent Network Newsin 1982). It remained the top-rated newscast in the 9:00 hour long after it gained competition from then-Fox affiliate WFTC (which launched a standalone news department in April 2001, later absorbed into KMSP's existing news operation after Fox acquired both stations that year fromClear Channel TelevisionandUnited Television,respectively) and independent KSTC (which began airing a newscast produced by sister station KSTP in 2001).

Communities in the region have their ownpublic, educational, and government access(PEG)cable televisionchannels. One, the Metro Cable Network, is available on channel 6 on cable systems across the seven-county region.

Several television programs that originated in the Twin Cities have aired nationally on broadcast and cable networks. KTCA created the science programNewton's Appleand distributes a children's program today. A few unusual comedic shows also originated in the area. In the 1980s, KTMA (later KLGT and KMWB, now WUCW) created a number of low-budget shows, includingMystery Science Theater 3000,a satiricalB-movieshowcase that achievedcult classicstatus during its 1989–96 national cable run onComedy Central.The short-livedLet's Bowlstarted on KARE and later ran on KLGT andSt. Cloud-licensed KXLI-TV (channel 41, nowIonO&OKPXM-TV), before airing on Comedy Central from 2001 to 2002; it was a panel discussion featuring critical and humorous analysis of TV commercials. The advertising-focused panel discussion seriesMental Engineeringoriginated on the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) cable access channel in 1997 before being syndicated nationally to PBS member stations from 2001 to 2008.

From 1984 to 2002, Hubbard Broadcasting andViacomoperated CONUS Communications, asatellite news gatheringand news video-sharing service for local television stations throughout the nation. In 1989, the venture launchedAll News Channel(ANC), a syndicated television news service that operated from the company's St. Paul broadcast facility and used some on-air staff previously employed by KSTP. Similar in format to then-competitor CNN Headline News (nowHLN), ANC produced rolling half-hour national newscasts that were syndicated to local stations (most of which, as KSTP did throughout its existence, aired them as overnight filler programming); Hubbard shut down most of CONUS's operations and ANC in 2002, citing the dominance of network-run affiliate wire services (such asCNN Newsource), but it maintains a digital archive of its news library.[47]

In 1994, Hubbard launchedUnited States Satellite Broadcasting(USSB), asatellite televisionprovider offering premium channels fromHome Box Office, Inc.andShowtime Networks,pay-per-view movies and events, a limited selection of basic cable channels (mainly those in which Viacom held full or partial ownership interest, such asMTV,LifetimeandNickelodeon), and All News Channel. Founded in 1981 by then-Hubbard PresidentStanley S. Hubbard,USSB and competitorDirecTVused theDigital Satellite System(DSS) infrastructure, allowing customers to optionally subscribe to both services. Hubbard sold USSB's assets to then-DirecTV parentHughes Electronicsin 1999, leading the latter provider to add USSB's remaining channels. (Viacom moved its basic channels over to DirecTV the previous year.)[48][49]

Radio

[edit]

The Twin Cities radio market was ranked 15th by Nielsen in 2018.[50][51]In November 2018, the area's top five morning radio shows were all FM stations:KSTP(94.5),KFXN(100.3),KQQL(107.9),KDWB(101.3), andKXXR(93.7).[52]Three of those stations are owned by iHeartRadio. Most stations broadcast on air and online, as livestreams from their websites.

Minnesota Public RadioinSt. Paul

In addition to owning KSTP television, Hubbard Broadcasting also operates two radio stations that share call letters (which reference their sharedlicensed city,St. Paul) with its co-owned television outlet:KSTP(1500 AM) maintains a sports radio format as anESPN Radioaffiliate, and KSTP-FM maintains apop musicformat. In 1985, Hubbard—valued at $400 million—was one of the nation's larger corporate media companies; in 2005, valued at $1.2 billion, Hubbard was a fairly small major-market media operation.[citation needed]

The Twin Cities have a mix of commercial and non-commercial radio stations. The market is dominated byiHeartMedia,which operates seven stations (includingcontemporary hitsoutlet KDWB,sports radiooutlet KFXN,classic hitsoutlet KQQL, and news/talk stationKTLK). Two small, independent stations are award winners—KUOM(770 AM; relayed in St. Paul on 100.7 FM and in Minneapolis on 104.5 FM), operated by theUniversity of Minnesota,andcommunity radiooutletKFAI(90.3) inCedar–Riverside.[53]

Minnesota Public Radio(MPR)—a regional public radio network that transmits on 46 affiliate stations across the state—broadcasts on three stations in the area, each with distinct programming formats:KNOW(91.1 FM) serves as the flagship station of MPR's news and information service, MPR News, featuring locally produced andNPR-distributed news and talk programs;KSJN(91.5 FM) serves as the flagship of MPR'sclassical musicservice, "YourClassical MPR"; andNorthfield-licensedKCMP(89.3 FM) maintains anadult album alternativeformat branded as "The Current". (In addition to being relayed on MPR stations inDuluthandRochester,KCMP's "Current" programming is also carried in the Los Angeles market on anHDsubchannel of educational FM stationKPCC.) MPR was first nationally known for the variety showA Prairie Home Companion,which ceased production in 2016.[54]Doing business asAmerican Public Media,the company is the second-largest producer of NPR content, after National Public Radio (of which MPR is an affiliate).

Independent media

[edit]

The Twin Cities is home to many independent media organizations, includingThe UpTakeandMinnPost.

Demographics

[edit]

Population

[edit]
MSA Historical Population
CensusPop.Note
18504,491
186077,5651,627.1%
1870167,674116.2%
1880284,76669.8%
1890540,23289.7%
1900649,73520.3%
1910808,38824.4%
1920921,03113.9%
19301,069,84516.2%
19401,162,3618.6%
19501,346,28515.8%
19601,697,40326.1%
19702,079,82622.5%
19802,255,5028.4%
19902,595,79915.1%
20003,031,91816.8%
20103,346,85910.4%
20203,690,26110.3%
2022 (est.)3,693,729[55]0.1%
Note: This is the historical population of the counties
currently making up the metropolitan area, not the size
of the metropolitan area at the time. U.S. Decennial Census[56]
1790–1960[57]1900–1990[58]
1990–2000[59]2010–2020
CSA Historical Population
CensusPop.Note
18504,909
1860100,5031,947.3%
1870227,182126.0%
1880374,20864.7%
1890651,16074.0%
1900780,92319.9%
1910943,97520.9%
19201,070,39513.4%
19301,228,83514.8%
19401,330,7718.3%
19501,523,42814.5%
19601,891,45924.2%
19702,300,11521.6%
19802,503,3438.8%
19902,866,67814.5%
20003,335,00016.3%
20103,682,92810.4%
20204,078,78810.7%
2022 (est.)4,080,232[55]0.0%
Note: This is the historical population of the counties
currently making up the CSA, not the size
of the metropolitan area at the time. U.S. Decennial Census[56]
1790–1960[57]1900–1990[58]
1990–2000[59]2010–2020

Place of birth

[edit]

About 93% of the metropolitan area's population is native to the United States, including 0.6% born in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, or abroad to American parents. The rest of the population is foreign-born.

The highest percentages of immigrants came from Asia (38.2%), Latin America (25.4%), and Africa (20.1%); smaller percentages of newcomers came from Europe (13.1%), other parts of North America (3.0%), and Oceania (0.2%).[citation needed]

Religion

[edit]
Guardian Angels Catholic Church inChaska

Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a major center for religion in the state, especiallyChristianity.The state headquarters of five major Christian churches are there: theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis,theEpiscopal Diocese of Minnesota,thePresbyterianSynod of Lakes and Prairies, andthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(LDS Church). The Presbyterian and LDS churches both havemissionsin Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Bloomington, as does the Orthodox Church in America.

The headquarters of the formerAmerican Lutheran Church (ALC),Evangelical Lutheran Church,Lutheran Free Churchand theAugustana Evangelical Lutheran Churchwere in Minneapolis; the headquarters ofAugsburg Fortresspublishing house still is. TheMinneapolis Area Synodand theSaint Paul Area Synodare the largest and third-largest synods of theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America(ELCA), respectively.

TheEvangelical Free Church of Americais headquartered in Bloomington, and theAssociation of Free Lutheran Congregationsis headquartered in Plymouth, along with its seminary and a Bible School.

The Twin Cities are home to aJewishpopulation of approximately 64,800, with about 31% of Jewish households in Minneapolis suburbs, 24% in Minneapolis, 16% in St. Paul, 14% in the St. Paul suburbs, and 15% in outer suburbs.[60]There is also a Hindu temple in the Twin Cities suburb ofMaple Grove.The Twin Cities' soleSikhgurdwarais in Bloomington.[61]A recent influx of immigrants fromLaosandNorthern Africahas brought many more religions to the area. There are severalIslamicMasjidsin the area. There is a temple for the religion ofEckankarin the suburb ofChanhassenknown as the Temple of Eck. In addition, manyHmongandTibetanBuddhistpeoples live in Saint Paul; a Hmong Buddhist temple opened in suburban Roseville in 1995. The LDSSt. Paul Minnesota Templeopened in Oakdale, a suburb east of Saint Paul, in 2000. There are severalUnitarian Universalistcommunities, such as theFirst Unitarian Society of Minneapolis,as well as severalPaganandBuddhistgroups. Minneapolis–Saint Paul has been calledPaganistandue to the large numbers of Pagans living there.[62]An estimated 20,000 Pagans live in the area.[63]

Minneapolis is where theBilly Graham Evangelistic Associationstarted and was its home for more than 50 years.

Politics

[edit]

The2008 Republican National Conventionwas held at theXcel Energy Centerin Saint Paul. Minneapolis and Saint Paul had submitted combined bids to host the2008 Democratic National Conventionand the Republican National Convention. Minneapolis hosted the1892 Republican National Convention.

Presidential elections results in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area[64]
Year Democratic Republican Third parties
2020 64.7%1,151,270 30.7%546,632 4.6%82,186
2016 55.3%910,105 35.8%589,018 8.9%146,155
2012 56.9%934,437 40.8%670,433 2.3%37,955
2008 58.0%927,825 40.3%644,931 1.7%27,725
2004 54.6%842,339 44.3%683,336 1.2%18,250
2000 51.0%679,125 42.5%566,078 6.5%86,612
1996 53.5%631,387 33.6%396,163 12.9%152,329
1992 45.9%583,255 30.5%387,262 23.6%299,436
1988 54.8%611,367 44.2%493,864 1.0%10,944
1984 52.2%558,158 47.2%504,867 0.6%6,887
1980 49.1%494,701 38.7%389,211 12.2%123,090
1976 55.1%527,428 41.8%399,846 3.0%29,089
1972 47.3%398,544 50.4%424,178 2.3%19,122

Like most major metropolitan areas, the Twin Cities is a stronghold for theDemocratic Party,known in Minnesota as theDemocratic-Farmer-Labor Party.At the state level, DFLers in theMinnesota legislaturehave increasingly relied on the Twin Cities to build majorities. Outside of the staunchly liberal urban core, the suburbs of the Twin Cities have been historically competitive for both the DFL and the Republicans.[65]

Economy

[edit]

The Minneapolis–Saint Paul area is home to 24Fortune 1000headquarters. The 2022 rankings are:

MSP
Rank
Company City Sector Fortune
Rank
1 United Health Group Minnetonka Healthcare 5
2 Target Minneapolis Retailing 32
3 Best Buy Richfield Retailing 68
4 CHS Inver Grove Heights Agricultural coop 95
5 3M Maplewood Industrial 102
6 U S Bancorp Minneapolis Banking 150
7 C H Robinson Eden Prairie Logistics 154
8 General Mills Golden Valley Food 201
9 Land O'Lakes Arden Hills Agricultural coop 232
10 Ameriprise Financial Minneapolis Financial 277
11 Xcel Energy Minneapolis Energy 278
12 Ecolab St. Paul Industrial 293
13 Thrivent Financial Minneapolis Financial 351
14 Polaris Medina Recreational equipment 419
15 Securian Financial Group St. Paul Financial 464
16 Patterson Companies Mendota Heights Dental / Veterinary products 429
17 Bright Health Group Minneapolis Healthcare 688
18 Toro Bloomington Lawn care equipment 697
19 APi Group New Brighton Construction 701
20 Winnebago Industries Eden Prairie Recreational vehicles 737
21 H.B. Fuller Vadnais Heights Adhesives 787
22 Donaldson Company Bloomington Filtration 861
23 Vista Outdoor Anoka Recreational equipment 975
24 Sleep Number Minneapolis Bedding 982

Private companies headquartered in the Twin Cities area includeCargill,the country's largest private company,Carlson,Radisson Hotel Group,Holiday Stationstores,andAndersen.Foreign companies with U.S. headquarters in the Twin Cities includeAimia,Allianz Life,Canadian Pacific,Coloplast,Medtronic,Pearson VUEandPentair.

The Twin Cities' economy is the nation's 13th-largest[66]and ranks second in theMidwestafter Chicago. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul area is also North America's second-largest medical device manufacturing center[67]and the fourth-largest U.S. banking center, based on total assets of banks headquartered in the area, after New York, San Francisco, andCharlotte.[68]

TheFederal Reserve Bank of Minneapoliscovers the 9th District of theFederal Reserve System,which is made up of Minnesota,Montana,NorthandSouth Dakota,northwesternWisconsin,and theUpper PeninsulaofMichigan.Its geographical territory is the third-largest of the 12 Federal Reserve banks.

Education

[edit]

Colleges and universities

[edit]

Libraries

[edit]

Libraries, with numbers of branches

[edit]

Infrastructure

[edit]

Buildings and structures

[edit]
The tallest buildings inMinneapolisare, left to right, theIDS Center,Capella Towerand theWells Fargo Center.

The 11 tallest buildings and 16 of the 17 tallest buildings in the area are indowntown Minneapolis.There is some dispute over which building is the tallest—most Minnesotans think of theIDS Centerif asked, but most sources seem to agree thatCapella Toweris slightly taller. In early 2005, it was found that theIDS Centeris taller by a 16-foot (5 m) washroom garage on top, bringing its height to 792 feet (241 m).Capella Towerand theWells Fargo Centerdiffer in height by a foot or two. The tallest buildingin St. PaulisWells Fargo Place,at 471 feet (144 m).

Buildings have gone up and been torn down rapidly across the region. Some city blocks have been demolished six or seven times since the mid-19th century.[69]No single architectural style dominates the region. The cities have a mishmash of different designs, although structures from a few eras stand out. There were once many stone buildings in theRichardsonian Romanesquestyle (or at least Romanesque-inspired variants).Minneapolis City Hallis one prominent example of this, though buildings of all types—including personal residences such as theJames J. Hill House—were similarly designed.[70]A few decades later,Art Decobrought several structures that survive today, includingSt. Paul City Hall,theFoshay Tower,and theMinneapolis Post Office.The style of buildings in the two cities varies greatly. In Minneapolis, the trend has been toward sleek lines and modern glass facades, while Saint Paul tends to follow a more traditional style to better accompany its older structures.

Walker Art CenteronHennepin AvenueinMinneapolis

Saint Paul and especially Minneapolis underwent massiveurban renewalprojects in the post-World War IIera, so a vast number of buildings are now lost to history. Some of the larger and harder to demolish structures have survived.[69]In fact, the area might be signified more by bridges than buildings. A series ofreinforced concretearchspans crossing the Mississippi River were built in the 1920s and 1930s. They still carry daily traffic. A number have undergone major repair work, but retain the original design. Several are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places,including the10th Avenue Bridge,Intercity Bridge(Ford Parkway),Robert Street Bridge,and the longest, the 4,119 ft (1,255 m)Mendota Bridge.The area is also noted for having the first known permanent crossing of the Mississippi. That structure is long gone, but a series ofHennepin Avenue Bridgeshave since been built at the site. Both downtowns have extensive networks of enclosed pedestrian bridges known asskyways.

Several prominent Minneapolis buildings helped modernize the city. These include theWalker Art Center,Central Public Library,Weisman Art Museumand theGuthrie Theater.Opening in April 2005, the new Walker Art Center, nearly double its former size, includes increased indoor and outdoor facilities. The Walker is recognized internationally as a singular model of a multidisciplinary arts organization and a national leader for its innovative approaches to audience engagement. The Guthrie received a large amount of media coverage for its opening in June 2006.[citation needed]It was designed byJean Nouveland is a 285,000 square feet (26,500 m2) facility that houses three theaters: the theater's signature thrust stage, seating 1,100; a 700-seat proscenium stage; and a black-box studio with flexible seating. In 2002, theNational Trust for Historic Preservationput the old Guthrie building on its list of the most endangered historic properties in the U.S. in response to plans the Walker announced to expand on the land occupied by the theater. The original Guthrie building was torn down in 2006.[citation needed]

Healthcare

[edit]

Hospitals with Numbers of Beds

[edit]

Trauma Centers-Level I *; Level II **

Allina Health

Children's Minnesota- 381

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare

HealthPartners

  • Lakeview Hospital - Stillwater - 90
  • Methodist Hospital - St. Louis Park - 361
  • Regions Hospital- St. Paul - 452 *
  • St. Francis Regional Medical Center - Shakopee - 89

Hennepin Healthcare

M Health Fairview

North Memorial Health

Ridgeview Health

  • Ridgeview Medical Center - Waconia - 124

Veterans Administration Health Care

Transportation

[edit]

Roads and highways

[edit]
TheMendota Bridgeover theMinnesota RiverbetweenFort SnellingandMendota

In the 20th century, the Twin Cities area expanded outward significantly. Automobiles made it possible for suburbs to grow greatly. The area now has a number of freeways, and manytraffic camerasandramp metersto monitor and managetraffic congestion.There is some use of HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) express lanes, which is becoming more common. To use an express lane, a driver must have aMnPASStransponder or at least one passenger. MnPASS rates are determined by the amount of traffic on the road and/or the time of day. During non-peak times, the MnPASS express lanes, except those onInterstate 394(I-394) betweenMinnesota Highway 100(MN 100) andI-94,are open to all traffic.

I-94 comes into the area from the east and heads northwest from Minneapolis. Two spur routes form theI-494/I-694loop, and I-394 continues west when I-94 turns north.I-35splits inBurnsvillein the southern part of the region, bringingI-35Einto Saint Paul andI-35Winto Minneapolis. They rejoin to the north inColumbus(just south ofForest Lake) and continue to the highway's terminus inDuluth.This is one of only two examples of an interstate highway splitting into branches and then rejoining; the other is inDallas–Fort Worth,where I-35 also splits into east and west branches.

On August 1, 2007, much of theI-35W Mississippi River bridgenear downtown Minneapolis collapsed into theMississippi Riveraround 6:05pmCDT.[71][72]Areplacement bridgeopened on September 18, 2008.

Interstates
U.S. Highways
Major state highways

Air travel

[edit]

The mainairportin the region isMinneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport(MSP), a major hub forDelta Air Lines.The airport is also the main hub and operating base forSun Country Airlines.There are six smaller (relief) airports in the area owned and operated by theMetropolitan Airports Commission(the same agency operates MSP). Some people commute by air to the Twin Cities from northern Minnesota.

Relief airports in the metropolitan area are:

Public transit

[edit]
Bicycle rack on theMETRO Blue LineLRT
Metro Transitstorefront,Minneapolis

Metro Transit,by far the area's biggest bus service provider, owes its existence to theold streetcarlines in the area. Metro Transit provides about 95% of thepublic transitrides in the region, with over 900 buses, while some suburbs have other bus services. TheUniversity of Minnesota, Twin Citiesoperates a free bus system between its campuses. This system includes the Campus Connectorbus rapid transitline, which travels between the Minneapolis and Saint Paul campuses by a dedicated bus line and throughout the two campuses on normal access roads. TheMETRO Blue LineLRT (light rail) began operations in June 2004, connecting downtown Minneapolis,Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airportand theMall of Americain Bloomington. It was followed by theMETRO Red LineBRT (bus rapid transitway) in 2013 connecting the Mall of America withLakevillealongCedar Avenuethrough the southern suburbs. TheMETRO Green LineLRT connecting downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota campus and downtown Saint Paul alongUniversity Avenueopened in 2014.[73]Metro Transit operates all three lines. TheNorthstar Linecommuter railline connecting Minneapolis withBig Lakeopened in 2009.

The METRO system consists of six separate projects. There are twolight raillines: the Blue Line, which runs fromTarget Fieldin downtownMinneapolispastMinneapolis-St Paul International Airportto theMall of America;and the Green Line, which runs fromTarget Fieldpast theUniversity of MinnesotatoUnion Depotin downtownSaint Paul.TheBRTRed Line serves as an extension of the Blue Line across theMinnesota River,where it connects with southern suburbs at four different stations. The BRT Orange Line connects downtown Minneapolis with Burnsville along I-35W. The arterial BRT A and C lines serve as upgrades to existing local bus routes and connect with the Blue and Green lines at certain shared stations.

METRO

A variety of rail services are being pondered by state and local governments, including neighborhood streetcar systems, intercity light rail service, andcommuter railoptions toexurbanregions. Minnesota is one of several Midwestern states consideringhigh-speed railservice, using Chicago as a regional hub.[74]

The Minneapolis–Saint Paul area has been criticized for inadequate public transportation.[75]Its public transportation system is less robust than those of many other cities its size. As the metro area has grown, the roads and highways have been updated and widened, but traffic volume is growing faster than the projects needed to widen them, and public transportation has not expanded commensurate with the population. Minneapolis–Saint Paul is ranked the fifth-worst for congestion growth of similar-sized U.S. metro areas.[75][dead link]Additional lines and spurs are needed to upgrade public transportation in the Twin Cities.[76]Construction is underway forGreen Line extensionconnecting downtown Minneapolis to the southwest suburb ofEden Prairie.A northwest LRT (Blue Line extension) alongBottineau Boulevardis being planned from downtown Minneapolis toBrooklyn Park.TheMETRO Orange LineBRT will eventually be extended to Lakeville. The METRO Gold Line BRT is planned to connect downtown Saint Paul to the eastern suburbs within the next few years.

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[edit]
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Notes

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  1. ^KTCI formerly transmitted on UHF channel 17 from its May 1965 sign-on until February 2009, when both stations unified their respective digital channels as virtual subchannels of KTCA (mapped to 2.x, corresponding to the latter's existing virtual channel and former analog VHF allocation), while continuing to operate on separate physical channels (16 and 34, respectively).
  2. ^KSTC formerly transmitted on UHF channel 45 from its June 1994 sign-on (as KVBM) until October 2011, when both stations unified their respective digital channels as virtual subchannels of KSTP (mapped to 5.x, corresponding to the latter's existing virtual channel and former analog VHF allocation), while continuing to operate on separate physical channels (45 and 30, respectively).
  3. ^WFTC formerly transmitted on UHF channel 29 from its October 1982 sign-on (as WFBT) until June 2014, when both stations unified their respective digital channels as virtual subchannels of KMSP (mapped to 9.x, corresponding to the latter's existing virtual channel and former analog VHF allocation), while continuing to operate on separate physical channels (29 and 9, respectively).
[edit]

44°57′N93°12′W/ 44.950°N 93.200°W/44.950; -93.200