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Minneapolis, Minnesota

"Minneapolis" redirects here. There is also Minneapolis, Kansas.


Minneapolis is the county seat of Hennepin County, Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 382,618 making it the largest city in Minnesota. It is in the southeast part of the state, adjoining the second-largest city and state capital, Saint Paul. The two cities on the Mississippi River together are known as the Twin Cities. Minneapolis takes its name from the Dakota word for water ('minne') and the Greek word for city ('polis'), and is sometimes called the "City of Lakes".

Minneapolis grew up around the Falls of Saint Anthony, which are the highest falls on the Mississippi River and were the end of the commercially navigable section of the river until locks were installed in the 1960s. Father Louis Hennepin[?] was the first European to explore the area, giving the falls their name, as well as lending his name to the county in which Minneapolis is located. The nearby Fort Snelling spurred the growth of the villages of Minneapolis and Saint Anthony around the falls in the 1840s. Minneapolis became a city in 1867, and merged with Saint Anthony in 1872.

Following an initial burst of activity in the lumber industry, the city's economy developed around the processing of grain from the Great Plains, which is reflected by the presence of companies such as General Mills and Pillsbury[?] in the city. In its heyday, it was known as the "milling capital of the world." More recently the city has become notable for its medical and financial industries, as well as the largest shopping mall in the United States, the Mall of America (actually located in Bloomington, a suburb south of Minneapolis). Minneapolis is the headquarters of Honeywell International Inc.

Along with St. Paul, Minneapolis claims to have the highest per capita attendance at theater and arts events outside of New York City, perhaps boosted by its famously harsh winters. A system of "skyways" (small, fully enclosed pedestrian bridges) links buildings in the downtown region, providing a way to travel around the city without being exposed to the cold of winter or the heat of summer.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 151.3 km² (58.4 mi²). 142.2 km² (54.9 mi²) of it is land and 9.1 km² (3.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.01% water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 382,618 people, 162,352 households, and 73,870 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,691.4/km² (6,970.3/mi²). There are 168,606 housing units at an average density of 1,186.0/km² (3,071.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 65.13% White, 17.99% African American, 2.19% Native American, 6.13% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 4.13% from other races, and 4.36% from two or more races. 7.63% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 162,352 households out of which 22.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.0% are married couples living together, 12.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 54.5% are non-families. 40.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.25 and the average family size is 3.15.

In the city the population is spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 14.4% from 18 to 24, 36.6% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $37,974, and the median income for a family is $48,602. Males have a median income of $35,216 versus $30,663 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,685. 16.9% of the population and 11.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 24.5% are under the age of 18 and 10.9% are 65 or older.

See:Mayors of Minneapolis, Minnesota External Links and References



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