Editing Minneapolis–Saint Paul

{{Short description|Metropolitan area in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Redirect|Twin Cities}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates| date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Minneapolis–Saint Paul
 | other_name               = {{ubl|Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WI|Metropolitan area}}
 | settlement_type          = [[Metropolitan area]]
 | image_skyline            = {{multiple image
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   | perrow                 = 1
   | image1                 = 2008-0712-MPLS-pan00-mp-edit.JPG
   | image2                 = Saint Paul skyline, West Side (cropped).jpg
 }}
 | imagesize                = 280px
 | image_caption            = [[Minneapolis]] (top) and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]] (bottom)
 | image_map                = Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metro Area.svg
 | mapsize                  = 
 | map_caption              = Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area ([[Metropolitan Council (Minnesota)|Met Council]] counties in red)
 | map_caption1             = 
 | pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
 | pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
 | pushpin_mapsize          = 
 | pushpin_map_caption      = 
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|States]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]] and [[Wisconsin]]<!-- Please do not delete the Wisconsin part, while the two cities may not be located in Wisconsin, two counties in Wisconsin are part of the larger metropolitan area -->
 | established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
 | established_date         = 
 | parts_type               = Principal cities
 | parts_style              = para
 | p1                       = [[Minneapolis]]
 | p2                       = [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]]
 | unit_pref                = US
 | area_footnotes           = 
 | area_magnitude           = 
 | area_total_km2           = <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
 | area_land_km2            = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
 | area_water_km2           = 
 | area_urban_km2           = 
 | area_urban_sq_mi         = 1021.8
 | area_metro_km2           = 
 | area_metro_sq_mi         = 8120
 | elevation_footnotes      = 
 | elevation_min_m          = 
 | elevation_min_ft         = 660
 | population_total         = 
 | population_as_of         = 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ua/ua_list_all.txt |title=Census Urban Area List |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 26, 2021}}</ref>
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_density_urban_sq_mi  = 2,594.3
 | population_urban         = 2,650,890 ([[List of United States urban areas|16th]])
 | population_blank1_title  = [[Metropolitan Statistical Area|MSA]]
 | population_blank1        = 3,690,261 ([[Metropolitan statistical area#United States|16th]])
 | population_blank2_title  = [[Combined statistical area|CSA]]
 | population_blank2        = 4,078,788 ([[List of combined statistical areas|16th]])
 | population_note          = {{ubl|MSA/CSA: 2020|Urban: 2018}}
 | demographics_type2       = GDP
 | demographics2_footnotes  = <ref>{{Cite web|title= Total Gross Domestic Product for Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (MSA)|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP33460|work=[[Federal Reserve Economic Data]] |publisher=[[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]]}}</ref>
 | demographics2_title1     = MSA
 | demographics2_info1      = $323.973 billion (2022)
 | timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]]
 | utc_offset               = &minus;6
 | timezone_DST             = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CDT]]
 | utc_offset_DST           = &minus;5
 | elevation_max_ft         = 1376
 | official_name            = 
 | area_code                = [[area code 320|320]], [[area code 507|507]], [[area code 612|612]], [[area code 651|651]], [[area code 715|715/534]], [[area code 763|763]], [[area code 952|952]]
}}

'''Minneapolis–Saint Paul''' is a [[metropolitan area]] in the [[Upper Midwest|Upper Midwestern United States]] centered around the [[confluence]] of the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]], [[Minnesota River|Minnesota]], and [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota)|St. Croix]] rivers in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. It is commonly known as the '''Twin Cities''' after the area's two largest cities, [[Minneapolis]] and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]].

Minneapolis sits mostly on the west side of the [[Mississippi River]] on lake-covered terrain. Although most of the city is residential neighborhoods, it has a business-dominated [[Central, Minneapolis|downtown]] area with some historic industrial areas, the [[Mill District, Minneapolis|Mill District]] and the [[North Loop, Minneapolis|North Loop]] area. Saint Paul, which is 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 the [[Ojibwe]] and [[Dakota people|Dakota]] people, the two cities were settled by various Europeans. Minneapolis was strongly influenced by early [[Scandinavia]]n and [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] settlers, while Saint Paul was settled predominantly by the [[French Canadian|French]], the [[Irish American|Irish]], and [[German American|German]] [[Catholic Church|Catholics]]. Both urban areas are home to new immigrant communities, including [[Mexicans]], [[Somalis]], [[Hmong people|Hmong]], [[Indian people|Indians]], [[Ethiopians]] (particularly [[Oromo people|Oromo]]), [[Vietnamese people|Vietnamese]], [[Cameroon]]ians, and [[Liberia]]ns.

"Twin Cities" is sometimes used to refer to the seven-county region governed by the [[Metropolitan Council (Minnesota)|Metropolitan Council]] regional governmental agency and planning organization. The [[Office of Management and Budget|United States Office of Management and Budget]] officially designates 15 counties as the "Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MN–[[Wisconsin|WI]] Metropolitan Statistical Area". It is the [[List of metropolitan statistical areas|16th-largest metropolitan statistical area]] in the U.S. and third-largest metropolitan area in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]], with a population of 3,690,261 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The larger 21-county Minneapolis–St. Paul MN–WI [[Combined Statistical Area]], the nation's 16th-largest combined statistical area, had a population of 4,078,788 at the 2020 census.

==History==
{{See also|History of Minnesota|History of Wisconsin}}
[[File:Stillwater-2004-01-02.jpg|thumb|[[St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)|St. Croix River]] in [[Stillwater, Minnesota|Stillwater]]]]
[[File:Stpaul001.jpg|thumb|[[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]] with barges on the [[Mississippi River]], the [[Minnesota State Capitol|Capitol dome]], and [[Minneapolis]]'s skyline in the far background (right of [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]]). In the lower right is a typical 19th century home in [[Indian Mounds Park (Saint Paul, Minnesota)|Indian Mounds Park]].]]

=== European settlement ===
The first European settlement in the region was near what is now the town of [[Stillwater, Minnesota]], about {{convert|20|mi|km|-1}} from downtown Saint Paul and on the western bank of the [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)|St. Croix River]], which forms the border of central Minnesota and Wisconsin. Another settlement that fueled early interest in the area was the outpost at [[Fort Snelling, Minnesota|Fort Snelling]], which was constructed from 1820 to 1825 at the [[confluence]] of the [[Minnesota River]] and the [[Mississippi River]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling/learn/military-history/expansionist-era |title=The Expansionist Era (1805–1858) |website=Minnesota Historical Society |access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref>

The Fort Snelling military reservation bordered both sides of the river up to [[Saint 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 Colonel [[John 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=A History of Minneapolis |website=Minneapolis Public Library |year=2001 |url=http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/history/eh4.asp |access-date=2 May 2019 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104133936/http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/history/eh4.asp |archive-date=4 January 2009}}</ref> On the eastern side of the Mississippi, a few villages such as Pig's Eye and Lambert's Landing grew to become Saint Paul.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/blog/an-early-history-of-saint-paul/ |title=An Early History |website=Visit Saint Paul |access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
Natural geography played a role in the two cities' settlement and development. The [[Mississippi River Valley]] in 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, {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} downstream from [[Saint 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 the [[Mill City Museum]], housed in the former [[Washburn "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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Popik|first=Barry|title=Barry Popik|url=https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/first_city_of_the_west_minneapolis_nickname#:~:text=It%E2%80%99s%20often%20said%20of%20these%20Twin%20Cities%20that,%E2%80%9CThe%20Northwest%20begins%20at%20St.%20Paul%20and%20Minneapolis.|access-date=2020-08-03|website=www.barrypopik.com|language=en}}</ref>

=== Farming ===
[[File:Ford lock and dam.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lock and Dam No. 1, Mississippi River|Lock and Dam No. 1]] on the [[Mississippi River]] upstream from the [[Minnesota River]]]]
The state's oldest farms are in [[Washington County, Minnesota|Washington County]]. The county borders the [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota)|St. Croix River]] and [[Wisconsin]] on 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.<ref>{{cite book |title=Afton Remembered |first=Edwin G. |last=Robb |year=1996 |publisher=Afton Historical Society Press |isbn=978-0-9639338-7-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iuRhAAAACAAJ }}</ref>

=== Grand Excursion ===
{{See also|Grand Excursion}}
The [[Grand Excursion]], a trip into the Upper Midwest sponsored by the [[Rock Island Railroad]], brought more than a thousand curious travelers into the area by rail and steamboat in 1854. In 1855, [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]] published ''[[The Song of Hiawatha]]'', an [[epic poem]] based on the [[Ojibwe]] legends of [[Hiawatha]]. A number of natural area landmarks appear in the story, including [[Lake Minnetonka]] and [[Minnehaha Falls]]. Tourists inspired by the coverage of the Grand Excursion in eastern newspapers and those who read ''The Song of Hiawatha'' flocked to the area in the following decades.

=== Rail transport ===
At one time, the region had numerous passenger rail services, including both interurban [[streetcar]] systems 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 the [[head of navigation]] on the river, until a [[Lock and Dam No. 1, Mississippi River|lock and dam facility]] was added upriver in Minneapolis.

Passenger travel hit its peak in 1888, with nearly eight million traversing to and from [[Saint Paul Union Depot]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} 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 earliest [[streamliner]]s ran from [[Chicago]] to Minneapolis/Saint Paul and eventually served distant points in the [[Pacific Northwest]]. Today, this interstate service is served by [[Amtrak]]'s [[King Street Station|Seattle]]/[[Portland Union Station|Portland]]-to-[[Chicago Union Station|Chicago]] ''[[Empire Builder]]'' route, running once daily in each direction, and supplemented by the {{lnl|Amtrak|Borealis}} route to Chicago. The Empire Builder is named after [[James J. Hill]], a railroad tycoon who settled on [[Summit Avenue (St. Paul)|Summit Avenue]] in Saint Paul in what is now known as the [[James J. Hill House]].

=== Socioeconomic history ===
Like many Northern cities that grew up with the [[Industrial 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 the [[Demographics of Minneapolis|central city areas]], [[white flight]] to suburbs,<ref>{{cite book |chapter=It Couldn't Happen Here... |title=Metropolitics : a regional agenda for community and stability | first=Myron Jr. |last=Orfield |isbn=0-8157-6640-8 |location=Washington DC |publisher=Brookings Institution |year=1997 |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/metropoliticsreg00orfi/page/n20 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/metropoliticsreg00orfi }}</ref> and, in the summer of 1967, [[race riots]] on Minneapolis's North Side.<ref>{{cite news |last=Neset |first=Ray |title=Plymouth Avenue 40 Years Later |date=July 20, 2007 |url=http://mplsmirror.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=1 |url-status = usurped|newspaper=Minneapolis Mirror |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109122142/http://mplsmirror.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=1 |archive-date=9 January 2009 |access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref> But by the 1980s and 1990s, Minneapolis and Saint Paul were often cited as former [[Rust Belt]] cities that had made successful transitions to service, high-technology, finance, and information economies.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=A Tale of Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul |last1=Abercrombie |first1=Thomas J. |last2=Griffiths |first2=Annie |magazine=National Geographic |date=November 1980 |volume=156 |number=5 |pages=664–691 }}</ref>

In May and June 2020, the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area became a focus of international attention after [[Minneapolis Police Department|MPD]] officer [[Derek Chauvin]] murdered [[George Floyd]] by kneeling on his neck for almost ten minutes. The murder sparked [[George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul|local]], [[List of George Floyd protests in the United States|nationwide]] and [[List of George Floyd protests outside the United States|international protests]] against racism and police brutality, bringing considerable attention to the MPD.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Scheiber|first1=Noam|last2=Stockman|first2=Farah|last3=Goodman|first3=J. David|date=2020-06-06|title=How Police Unions Became Such Powerful Opponents to Reform Efforts|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/06/us/police-unions-minneapolis-kroll.html|access-date=2020-06-07|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Minneapolis–Saint Paul was the site of the second-costliest act of civil disobedience in U.S. history, after the [[1992 Los Angeles riots|1992 Los Angeles Riots]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=St. Paul rebuilding efforts inch along after civil unrest|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/08/14/st-paul-rebuilding-efforts-inch-along-after-may-civil-unrest|access-date=2021-12-10|website=MPR News|date=August 14, 2020 }}</ref> Local protests and riots caused an estimated $550 million in damages<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tribune|first=Neal St Anthony Star|title=Minneapolis Foundation raising $20 million for riot-hurt small businesses|url=https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-foundation-raising-20-million-to-rebuild-small-businesses-hurt-in-2020-riots/600058520/|access-date=2021-11-29|website=Star Tribune|date=May 18, 2021 }}</ref> and affected around 1,600 businesses.<ref>{{Cite web|title=St. Paul rebuilding efforts inch along after civil unrest|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/08/14/st-paul-rebuilding-efforts-inch-along-after-may-civil-unrest|access-date=2021-11-29|website=MPR News|date=August 14, 2020 }}</ref>

===Rivalry===
Minneapolis and Saint Paul have competed since they were founded, resulting in some duplication of effort.<ref name="OAH">{{cite web|url=http://www.oah.org/pubs/nl/2007feb/wingerd.html |title=Separated at Birth: The Sibling Rivalry of Minneapolis and St. Paul |first=Mary Lethert|last=Wingerd |date=February 2007 |publisher=Organization of American Historians |work=OAH Newsletter |issue=35 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707020313/http://www.oah.org/pubs/nl/2007feb/wingerd.html |archive-date=July 7, 2012 }}</ref> After Saint Paul completed its elaborate [[Cathedral of Saint Paul (Minnesota)|cathedral]] in 1915, Minneapolis followed up with the equally ornate [[Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis|Basilica of St. Mary]] in 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. The [[1890 United States census]] even 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.<ref name="Cen1">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1890/06/21/archives/censusbred-bitterness-st-paul-and-minneapolis-have-locked-horns.html|title=Census-Bred Bitterness; St. Paul and Minneapolis Have Locked Horns |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 21, 1890 }}</ref><ref name="Cen2">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1890/06/22/archives/they-want-hays-scalp-st-paul-residents-are-going-to-descend-upon.html|title=They Want Hay's Scalp.; St. Paul Residents Are Going to Descend Upon Washington |date=June 22, 1890 |newspaper=New York Times.}}</ref><ref name="Cen3">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1890/07/23/archives/fighting-over-the-census-st-paul-jealous-of-minneapolis-and-charges.html|title=Fighting over the Census; St. Paul Jealous of Minneapolis and Charges Fraud |date=July 23, 1890|newspaper=The New York Times.}}</ref>

The rivalry occasionally erupted into inter-city violence, as at a 1929 game between the [[Minneapolis Millers]] and the [[St. Paul Saints]], both [[baseball]] teams of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thornley |first1=Stew |title=Baseball in Minnesota: The Definitive History |date=2006 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |isbn=978-0-87351-551-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D0u6nMN6iwoC&dq=Sammy+Bohne+Doesn%E2%80%99t+Play%2C+But+Gets+More+Hits+Than+Those+Who+Do&pg=PA63 |access-date=October 18, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> In the 1950s, both cities competed for a [[major league baseball]] franchise (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 for [[daylight saving time]], resulting in a few weeks when people in Minneapolis were one hour "behind" those in Saint Paul.<ref>{{cite news |title=May 10, 1965: Minneapolis falls an hour behind St. Paul |url=http://www.startribune.com/may-10-1965-minneapolis-falls-an-hour-behind-st-paul/371419821/ |newspaper=Star Tribune}}</ref>

The cities' mutual antagonism was largely healed by the end of the 1960s, aided by the simultaneous arrival in 1961 of the [[Minnesota Twins]] of the [[American League]] and the [[Minnesota Vikings]] of the [[National 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 earlier [[Minneapolis 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.<ref name="OAH" />

==Geology==
{{See also|Geology of Minnesota}}

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 of [[sandstone]] and [[limestone]] laid down as seas encroached upon and receded from the region. Erosion caused natural caves to develop, which were expanded into [[mining|mine]]s when white settlers came to the area. During [[Prohibition]], at least one [[speakeasy]] was built into these hidden spaces—eventually refurbished as Saint Paul's [[Wabasha Street Caves]].

Lakes across the area were formed and altered by the movement of [[glacier]]s. 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 {{convert|1376|ft|m|0}} above sea level in the northwest metro to {{convert|666|ft|m|0}} at the edge of the [[Mississippi River]] in the southeast.

[[File:Bald Eagle-Burnsville-2006-01-15.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bald eagle]] in [[Burnsville, Minnesota|Burnsville]]]]

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of the Twin Cities}}
{{update|section|2=2014|date=January 2023}}<!-- Climate change and the passage of time generally has made a lot of this section outdated. For example, the area has certainly had multiple days with temps over 100 °F since 2014.-->
[[File:Quarry Park-20060819.jpg|thumb|left|August swimming at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, [[Waite Park, Minnesota|Waite Park]] near [[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. 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.<ref>{{cite web | title = Minneapolis Minnesota | publisher = TrekkerTime.com | url = http://trekkertime.com/index.php/Site/MinneapolisMinnesota | access-date = 2007-05-07 }}</ref> But due to their southern location in the state and the [[urban heat island]], the Twin Cities are among Minnesota's warmest places.<ref>{{cite web | title = History of the NWS in the Twin Cities | publisher = [[National Weather Service]] | date = November 9, 2005 | url = http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/history/chanhassen.php | access-date = 2007-05-07 }}</ref> The average annual temperature recorded at the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport]] is {{convert|45.4|°F}}; {{convert|3.5|F-change}} colder than [[Winona, Minnesota]], and {{convert|8.8|F-change}} warmer than [[Roseau, Minnesota]].<ref name=almanac>{{cite book | last = Seeley | first = Mark W. | title = Minnesota Weather Almanac | publisher = [[Minnesota Historical Society]] press | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-87351-554-4 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/minnesotaweather0000seel }}</ref> Monthly average daily high temperatures range from {{convert|21.9|°F}} in January to {{convert|83.3|°F}} in July; the average daily minimum temperatures for those months are {{convert|4.3|°F}} and {{convert|63.0|°F}} respectively.<ref>{{cite web | title = Climatography of MSP | publisher = [[National Climatic Data Center]] | date = 1971–2000 | url = http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/climatenormals/climatenormals.pl | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120709213708/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/climatenormals/climatenormals.pl |url-status = dead| archive-date = 2012-07-09 }}</ref>

[[File:Saint Paul-2007-01-27.jpg|thumb|Viewing the [[Saint Paul Winter Carnival]] parade in January.]]
Minimum temperatures of {{convert|0|°F}} 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 {{convert|90|°F}} occur an average of 15 times per year. Higher temperatures at or above {{convert|100|°F}} are recorded once every 4–5 years on average, and sometimes during a single summer.<ref>{{cite web |title= A History of 100 Degrees in the Twin Cities  |publisher = Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journal/100degreesmsp.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607030448/http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journal/100degreesmsp.html |archive-date=2024-06-07}}</ref> The lowest temperature ever reported at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport was {{convert|-34|°F}} on January 22, 1936; the highest, {{convert|108|°F}}, was reported on July 14 of the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midwest/historical/temp/mn/215435_tsum.html |title=Temperature Summary – 215435 MINNEAPOLIS WSFO AP, MN |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522210716/http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midwest/historical/temp/mn/215435_tsum.html |archive-date=2014-05-22 }}</ref> Early settlement records at Fort Snelling show temperatures as low as {{convert|-42|°F}}. Recent records include {{convert|-40|°F}} at Vadnais Lake on February 2, 1996 (National Climatic Data Center).

[[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] averages {{convert|29.41|in|mm}} per year, and is most plentiful in June ({{convert|4.34|in|mm}}) and least so in February ({{convert|0.79|in|mm}}). The greatest one-day rainfall amount was {{convert|9.15|in|mm}}, reported on July 23, 1987. The cities' record for lowest annual precipitation was set in 1910, when {{convert|11.54|in|mm}} fell throughout the year; coincidentally, the opposite record of {{convert|40.15|in|mm}} was set the next year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midwest/historical/precip/mn/215435_psum.html |title=Precipitation Summary – 215435 MINNEAPOLIS WSFO AP, MN |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519164424/http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midwest/historical/precip/mn/215435_psum.html |archive-date=2014-05-19 }}</ref> At an annual average of {{convert|56.3|in|cm}}, snowfall is generally abundant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midwest/historical/snow/mn/215435_ssum.html |title=Snowfall Summary – 215435 MINNEAPOLIS WSFO AP, MN |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419172700/http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midwest/historical/snow/mn/215435_ssum.html |archive-date=2014-04-19 }}</ref>

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 a [[derecho]] event on May 15, 1998. Hail and wind damage exceeded $950 million, much of it in the Twin Cities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Scott |first=Woelm |title=Top 10 Minnesota Severe Weather Events 1990–1999 |publisher=Metro Skywarn |date=June 30, 2006 |url=http://www.skywarn.ampr.org/mn_top10.html |access-date=2007-05-07 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328054606/http://www.skywarn.ampr.org/mn_top10.html |archive-date=March 28, 2007 }}</ref> Other memorable Twin Cities weather-related events include the [[1965 Twin Cities tornado outbreak|tornado outbreak]] on May 6, 1965, the [[Armistice Day Blizzard]] on November 11, 1940, and the [[Halloween Blizzard]] of 1991. In [[January–February 2019 North American cold wave|January 2019]], Minnesota experienced its coldest temperatures since 1996, when a polar vortex dropped temperatures as low as {{convert|-56|°F}} in [[Cotton, Minnesota]], with wind-chill temperatures lower than {{convert|-60|°F}} in much of the state. These temperatures are colder than those found on the surface of [[Mars]]. (See: [https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journal/cold-outbreak-january-27-31-2019.html 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midwest/historical/grow/mn/215435_gsum.html |title=Growing Season Summary – 215435 MINNEAPOLIS WSFO AP, MN |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709204101/http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midwest/historical/grow/mn/215435_gsum.html |archive-date=2013-07-09 }}</ref> The USDA places the area in the 4a [[plant hardiness zone]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-nm1.html|title=USNA – USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map:North-Midwest US|access-date=2014-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629140038/http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-nm1.html|archive-date=2014-06-29|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Communities==

===Metropolitan Statistical Area===

The '''Minneapolis–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 are '''bolded''' are under jurisdiction of the [[Metropolitan Council (Minnesota)|Metropolitan Council]]. Counties that are ''italicized'' were added to the metropolitan area when the [[Office of Management and Budget]] revised its delineations of [[metropolitan statistical area]]s in 2013.<ref name="MSA-2008">{{cite web|title=Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses|url=http://www.obamawhitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/fy2009/09-01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103827/http://www.obamawhitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/fy2009/09-01.pdf |archive-date=2017-02-06 |url-status=live|date=November 20, 2008|access-date=March 8, 2015|publisher=Office of Management and Budget}}</ref><ref name="MSA-2013">{{cite web|title=Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas|url=http://www.obamawhitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b-13-01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103829/http://www.obamawhitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b-13-01.pdf |archive-date=2017-02-06 |url-status=live|date=February 28, 2013|access-date=March 8, 2015|publisher=Office of Management and Budget}}</ref> [[Sibley County, Minnesota|Sibley County]] was included in the metropolitan statistical area from 2013 to September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Delineation Files|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/demo/metro-micro/delineation-files.html|access-date=2021-01-27|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=EN-US}}</ref>

[[File:Minneapolis-St. Paul-St. Cloud Combined Statistical Area.svg|thumb|Map of the 21 counties of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area as of 2018.
{{legend|red|MSA counties under the Metropolitan Council}}{{Legend|orange|Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA counties defined by the Census as "central"}}{{legend|green|Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA counties defined by the Census as "outlying"}}
{{legend|purple|Counties included in the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area}}
{{legend|blue|Counties that are separate Micropolitan Statistical Areas}}
|234x234px]]

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!County
!Seat
!2021 estimate
!2020 census
!Change
!Area
!Density
|-
|'''[[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin]]'''
|[[Minneapolis]]
| {{change|invert=on|1267416|1281565}}
|{{convert|607|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|1267416|607|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|'''[[Ramsey County, Minnesota|Ramsey]]'''
|[[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]]
| {{change|invert=on|543257|552352}}
|{{convert|170|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|543257|170|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|'''[[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]]'''
|[[Hastings, Minnesota|Hastings]]
| {{change|invert=on|442038|439882}}
|{{convert|587|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|442038|587|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|'''[[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka]]'''
|[[Anoka, Minnesota|Anoka]]
| {{change|invert=on|367018|363887}}
|{{convert|446|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|367018|446|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|'''[[Washington County, Minnesota|Washington]]'''
|[[Stillwater, Minnesota|Stillwater]]
| {{change|invert=on|272256|267568}}
|{{convert|423|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|272256|423|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|'''[[Scott County, Minnesota|Scott]]'''
|[[Shakopee, Minnesota|Shakopee]]
| {{change|invert=on|153268|150928}}
|{{convert|365|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|153268|365|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Wright County, Minnesota|Wright]]
|[[Buffalo, Minnesota|Buffalo]]
| {{change|invert=on|144845|141337}}
|{{convert|714|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|144845|714|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|'''[[Carver County, Minnesota|Carver]]'''
|[[Chaska, Minnesota|Chaska]]
| {{change|invert=on|108626|106922}}
|{{convert|376|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|108626|376|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Sherburne County, Minnesota|Sherburne]]
|[[Elk River, Minnesota|Elk River]]
| {{change|invert=on|99074|97183}}
|{{convert|451|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|99074|451|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[St. Croix County, Wisconsin|St. Croix, WI]]
|[[Hudson, Wisconsin|Hudson]]
| {{change|invert=on|95044|93536}}
|{{convert|736|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|95044|736|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Chisago County, Minnesota|Chisago]]
|[[Center City, Minnesota|Center City]]
| {{change|invert=on|57469|56621}}
|{{convert|442|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|57469|442|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Pierce County, Wisconsin|Pierce, WI]]
|[[Ellsworth, Wisconsin|Ellsworth]]
| {{change|invert=on|42587|42212}}
|{{convert|592|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|42587|592|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Isanti County, Minnesota|Isanti]]
|[[Cambridge, Minnesota|Cambridge]]
| {{change|invert=on|41906|41135}}
|{{convert|452|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|41906|452|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|''[[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Sueur]]''
|[[Le Center, Minnesota|Le Center]]
| {{change|invert=on|28841|28674}}
|{{convert|449|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|28841|449|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|''[[Mille Lacs County, Minnesota|Mille Lacs]]''
|[[Milaca, Minnesota|Milaca]]
| {{change|invert=on|26867|26459}}
|{{convert|682|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|26867|682|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|- class=sortbottom style="background:#fbfbbb"
|'''Total'''
|
| {{change|invert=on|3690512|3690261|bgcolour=#fbfbbb}}
|{{convert|8093|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|3690512|8093|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|}

===Combined Statistical Area===

The '''Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN–WI Combined Statistical Area''' is made up of 19 counties in Minnesota and two counties in Wisconsin. The statistical area includes two [[United States metropolitan area|metropolitan areas]] and four [[United States micropolitan area|micropolitan 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.<ref name=PopEstCSA>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-02.csv |title=Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |format=[[comma-separated values|CSV]] |work=2012 Population Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division |date=March 2013 |access-date=April 19, 2013 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517083619/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-02.csv |archive-date=May 17, 2013 }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Statistical Area
!2021 Estimate
!2020 Census
!Change
!Area
!Density
|-
|Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
|{{change|invert=on|3690512|3690261}}
|{{convert|8093|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|3690512|8093|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[St. Cloud, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area]] ([[Stearns County, Minnesota|Stearns]] and [[Benton County, Minnesota|Benton]] counties)
| {{change|invert=on|200406|199801}}
|{{convert|1803|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|200406|1803|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Faribault-Northfield, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area]] ([[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice County]])
| {{change|invert=on|67262|67097}}
|{{convert|516|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|67262|516|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Red Wing, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area]] ([[Goodhue County, Minnesota|Goodhue County]])
| {{change|invert=on|47968|47582}}
|{{convert|780|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|47968|780|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Owatonna, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area]] ([[Steele County, Minnesota|Steele County]])
| {{change|invert=on|37349|37406}}
|{{convert|432|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|37349|432|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|[[Hutchinson, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area]] ([[McLeod County, Minnesota|McLeod County]])
| {{change|invert=on|36735|36771}}
|{{convert|506|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|36735|506|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|-
|- class=sortbottom style="background:#fbfbbb"
|'''Total'''
| {{change|invert=on|4080232|4078788|bgcolour=#fbfbbb}}
|{{convert|12130|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|{{Pop density|4080232|12130|sqmi|km2|prec=0}}
|}

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

===Cities and suburbs===
There are approximately 218 incorporated municipalities in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. This includes [[census-designated place]]s and [[List of villages in Wisconsin|villages in Wisconsin]], but excludes unincorporated towns in Wisconsin, known as [[civil townships]] in other states. Population numbers are from the 2020 census.<ref>2020 U.S.Census</ref>

'''Principal cities''' 
* [[Minneapolis]] (429,954)
* [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]] (311,527)

'''Places with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants'''
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]] (89,987)
* [[Brooklyn Park, Minnesota|Brooklyn Park]] (86,478)
* [[Plymouth, Minnesota|Plymouth]] (81,026)
* [[Woodbury, Minnesota|Woodbury]] (75,102)
* [[Maple Grove, Minnesota|Maple Grove]] (70,253)
* [[Blaine, Minnesota|Blaine]] (70,222)
* [[Lakeville, Minnesota|Lakeville]] (69,490)
* [[Eagan, Minnesota|Eagan]] (68,855)
* [[Burnsville, Minnesota|Burnsville]] (64,317)
* [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]] (64,198)
* [[Coon Rapids, Minnesota|Coon Rapids]] (63,599)
* [[Apple Valley, Minnesota|Apple Valley]] (56,374)
* [[Minnetonka, Minnesota|Minnetonka]] (53,781)
* [[Edina, Minnesota|Edina]] (53,494)
* [[St. Louis Park, Minnesota|St. Louis Park]] (50,010)
{{div col end}}

'''Places with 25,000 to 49,999 inhabitants'''
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Shakopee, Minnesota|Shakopee]] (43,698)
* [[Maplewood, Minnesota|Maplewood]] (42,088)
* [[Cottage Grove, Minnesota|Cottage Grove]] (38,839)
* [[Richfield, Minnesota|Richfield]] (36,994)
* [[Roseville, Minnesota|Roseville]] (36,254)
* [[Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota|Inver Grove Heights]] (35,801)
* [[Brooklyn Center, Minnesota|Brooklyn Center]] (33,782)
* [[Andover, Minnesota|Andover]] (32,601)
* [[Savage, Minnesota|Savage]] (32,465)
* [[Fridley, Minnesota|Fridley]] (29,590)
* [[Oakdale, Minnesota|Oakdale]] (28,303)
* [[Chaska, Minnesota|Chaska]] (27,810)
* [[Ramsey, Minnesota|Ramsey]] (27,646)
* [[Prior Lake, Minnesota|Prior Lake]] (27,617)
* [[Shoreview, Minnesota|Shoreview]] (26,921)
* [[Chanhassen, Minnesota|Chanhassen]] (25,947)
* [[Elk River, Minnesota|Elk River]] (25,835)
* [[Rosemount, Minnesota|Rosemount]] (25,650)

{{div col end}}

'''Places with 10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants'''
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}

* [[White Bear Lake, Minnesota|White Bear Lake]] (24,883)
* [[Champlin, Minnesota|Champlin]] (23,919)
* [[Farmington, Minnesota|Farmington]] (23,632)
* [[New Brighton, Minnesota|New Brighton]] (23,454)
* [[Crystal, Minnesota|Crystal]] (23,330)
* [[Golden Valley, Minnesota|Golden Valley]] (22,552)
* [[Hastings, Minnesota|Hastings]] (22,154)
* [[New Hope, Minnesota|New Hope]] (21,986)
* [[Columbia Heights, Minnesota|Columbia Heights]] (21,973)
* [[Lino Lakes, Minnesota|Lino Lakes]] (21,399)
* [[South St. Paul, Minnesota|South St. Paul]] (20,759)
* [[West St. Paul, Minnesota|West St. Paul]] (20,615)
* [[Forest Lake, Minnesota|Forest Lake]] (20,611)
* [[Otsego, Minnesota|Otsego]] (19,956)
* [[Stillwater, Minnesota|Stillwater]] (19,394)
* [[Hopkins, Minnesota|Hopkins]] (19,079)
* [[St. Michael, Minnesota|St. Michael]] (18,235)
* [[Anoka, Minnesota|Anoka]] (17,921)
* [[Ham Lake, Minnesota|Ham Lake]] (16,464)
* [[River Falls, Wisconsin]] (16,182)
* [[Buffalo, Minnesota|Buffalo]] (16,168)
* [[Hugo, Minnesota|Hugo]] (15,766)
* [[Hudson, Wisconsin]] (14,755)
* [[Robbinsdale, Minnesota|Robbinsdale]] (14,646)
* [[Monticello, Minnesota|Monticello]] (14,455)
* [[Rogers, Minnesota|Rogers]] (13,295)
* [[Mounds View, Minnesota|Mounds View]] (13,249)
* [[Waconia, Minnesota|Waconia]] (13,033)
* [[Vadnais Heights, Minnesota|Vadnais Heights]] (12,912)
* [[North St. Paul, Minnesota|North St. Paul]] (12,364)
* [[East Bethel, Minnesota|East Bethel]] (11,786)
* [[Mendota Heights, Minnesota|Mendota Heights]] (11,744)
* [[Big Lake, Minnesota|Big Lake]] (11,686)
* [[Lake Elmo, Minnesota|Lake Elmo]] (11,335)
* [[Little Canada, Minnesota|Little Canada]] (10,819)
* [[North Branch, Minnesota|North Branch]] (10,787)
* [[Victoria, Minnesota|Victoria]] (10,546)
{{div col end}}

'''Places with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants''' {{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Arden Hills, Minnesota|Arden Hills]] (9,939)
* [[Cambridge, Minnesota|Cambridge]] (9,611)
* [[Mound, Minnesota|Mound]] (9,398)
* [[St. Anthony, Minnesota|St. Anthony]] (9,257)
* [[Oak Grove, Minnesota|Oak Grove]] (8,929)
* [[Orono, Minnesota|Orono]] (8,315)
* [[Minnetrista, Minnesota|Minnetrista]] (8,262)
* [[New Prague, Minnesota|New Prague]] (8,162)
* [[Saint Francis, Minnesota|Saint Francis]] (8,142)
* [[Mahtomedi, Minnesota|Mahtomedi]] (8,138)
* [[Wyoming, Minnesota|Wyoming]] (8,032)
* [[Albertville, Minnesota|Albertville]] (7,896)
* [[Shorewood, Minnesota|Shorewood]] (7,783)
* [[Belle Plaine, Minnesota|Belle Plaine]] (7,395)
* [[Dayton, Minnesota|Dayton]] (7,262)
* [[Spring Lake Park, Minnesota|Spring Lake Park]] (7,188)
* [[Medina, Minnesota|Medina]] (6,837)
* [[Isanti, Minnesota|Isanti]] (6,804)
* [[Jordan, Minnesota|Jordan]] (6,656)
* [[Delano, Minnesota|Delano]] (6,484)
* [[Zimmerman, Minnesota|Zimmerman]] (6,189)
* [[Corcoran, Minnesota|Corcoran]] (6,185)
* [[Carver, Minnesota|Carver]] (5,839)
* [[Chisago City, Minnesota|Chisago City]] (5,558)
* [[Saint Paul Park, Minnesota|Saint Paul Park]] (5,544)
* [[Falcon Heights, Minnesota|Falcon Heights]] (5,369)
* [[North Oaks, Minnesota|North Oaks]] (5,272)
* [[Circle Pines, Minnesota|Circle Pines]] (5,025)
* [[Lindstrom, Minnesota|Lindstrom]] (4,888)
* [[Becker, Minnesota|Becker]] (4,877)
* [[Oak Park Heights, Minnesota|Oak Park Heights]] (4,849)
* [[Elko New Market, Minnesota|Elko New Market]] (4,846)
* [[Princeton, Minnesota|Princeton]] (4,819)
* [[Lonsdale, Minnesota|Lonsdale]] (4,686)
* [[Watertown, Minnesota|Watertown]] (4,659)
* [[Nowthen, Minnesota|Nowthen]] (4,536)
* [[Rockford, Minnesota|Rockford]] (4,500)
* [[Wayzata, Minnesota|Wayzata]] (4,434)
* [[Prescott, Wisconsin]] (4,258)
* [[Le Sueur, Minnesota|Le Sueur]] (4,213)
* [[Columbus, Minnesota|Columbus]] (4,159)
* [[Bayport, Minnesota|Bayport]] (4,024)
* [[Scandia, Minnesota|Scandia]] (3,984)
* [[Grant, Minnesota|Grant]] (3,966)
* [[Deephaven, Minnesota|Deephaven]] (3,899)
* [[Centerville, Minnesota|Centerville]] (3,896)
* [[Norwood Young America, Minnesota|Norwood Young America]] (3,863)
* [[Newport, Minnesota|Newport]] (3,797)
* [[Montrose, Minnesota|Montrose]] (3,775)
* [[Independence, Minnesota|Independence]] (3,755)
* [[Hanover, Minnesota|Hanover]] (3,548)
* [[Annandale, Minnesota|Annandale]] (3,330)
* [[Montgomery, Minnesota|Montgomery]] (3,249)
* [[Rush City, Minnesota|Rush City]] (3,072)
* [[Afton, Minnesota|Afton]] (2,955)
* [[Greenfield, Minnesota|Greenfield]] (2,923)
* [[Milaca, Minnesota|Milaca]] (2,901)
* [[Cokato, Minnesota|Cokato]] (2,799)
* [[Osseo, Minnesota|Osseo]] (2,688)
* [[Le Center, Minnesota|Le Center]] (2,517)
* [[Mayer, Minnesota|Mayer]] (2,453)
* [[Excelsior, Minnesota|Excelsior]] (2,355)
* [[St. Bonifacius, Minnesota|St. Bonifacius]] (2,307)
* [[Lauderdale, Minnesota|Lauderdale]] (2,271)
* [[Lexington, Minnesota|Lexington]] (2,248)
* [[Maple Lake, Minnesota|Maple Lake]] (2,159)
* [[Howard Lake, Minnesota|Howard Lake]] (2,071)
* [[Cologne, Minnesota|Cologne]] (2,047)
* [[Clearwater, Minnesota|Clearwater]] (1,855)
* [[Waterville, Minnesota|Waterville]] (1,849)
* [[Braham, Minnesota|Braham]] (1,820)
* [[Maple Plain, Minnesota|Maple Plain]] (1,743)
* [[Long Lake, Minnesota|Long Lake]] (1,741)
* [[Spring Park, Minnesota|Spring Park]] (1,734)
* [[Lakeland, Minnesota|Lakeland]] (1,710)
* [[Stacy, Minnesota|Stacy]] (1,470)
* [[Tonka Bay, Minnesota|Tonka Bay]] (1,442)
* [[Waverly, Minnesota|Waverly]] (1,410)
* [[Dellwood, Minnesota|Dellwood]] (1,171)
* [[Shafer, Minnesota|Shafer]] (1,142)
* [[Harris, Minnesota|Harris]] (1,111)
* [[Taylors Falls, Minnesota|Taylors Falls]] (1,055)
* [[Lake St. Croix Beach, Minnesota|Lake St. Croix Beach]] (1,043)
* [[Vineland, Minnesota|Vineland]] (1,001)
* [[Hilltop, Minnesota|Hilltop]] (958)
* [[Onamia, Minnesota|Onamia]] (878)
* [[Birchwood Village, Minnesota|Birchwood Village]] (863)
* [[Landfall, Minnesota|Landfall]] (843)
* [[Lilydale, Minnesota|Lilydale]] (809)
* [[Loretto, Minnesota|Loretto]] (762)
* [[Isle, Minnesota|Isle]] (751)
* [[Greenwood, Minnesota|Greenwood]] (726)
* [[Kasota, Minnesota|Kasota]] (718)
* [[Cleveland, Minnesota|Cleveland]] (700)
* [[Hampton, Minnesota|Hampton]] (687)
* [[Center City, Minnesota|Center City]] (672)
* [[Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota|Marine on St. Croix]] (664)
* [[Elysian, Minnesota|Elysian]] (650)
* [[Clear Lake, Minnesota|Clear Lake]] (573)
* [[Gem Lake, Minnesota|Gem Lake]] (567)
* [[Hamburg, Minnesota|Hamburg]] (566)
* [[Foreston, Minnesota|Foreston]] (559)
* [[Minnetonka Beach, Minnesota|Minnetonka Beach]] (546)
* [[Sunfish Lake, Minnesota|Sunfish Lake]] (522)
* [[Willernie, Minnesota|Willernie]] (515)
* [[Bethel, Minnesota|Bethel]] (476)
* [[Randolph, Minnesota|Randolph]] (466)
* [[New Germany, Minnesota|New Germany]] (464)
* [[Vermillion, Minnesota|Vermillion]] (441)
* [[Woodland, Minnesota|Woodland]] (439)
* [[Pine Springs, Minnesota|Pine Springs]] (377)
* [[Lakeland Shores, Minnesota|Lakeland Shores]] (339)
* [[Medicine Lake, Minnesota|Medicine Lake]] (337)
* [[St. Marys Point, Minnesota|St. Marys Point]] (321)
* [[Wahkon, Minnesota|Wahkon]] (256)
* [[Pease, Minnesota|Pease]] (248)
* [[South Haven, Minnesota|South Haven]] (192)
* [[Mendota, Minnesota|Mendota]] (157)
* [[Kilkenny, Minnesota|Kilkenny]] (148)
* [[Coates, Minnesota|Coates]] (147)
* [[Miesville, Minnesota|Miesville]] (138)
* [[Heidelberg, Minnesota|Heidelberg]] (137)
* [[Bock, Minnesota|Bock]] (104)
* [[New Trier, Minnesota|New Trier]] (86)

{{div col end}}

==Culture==
{{See also|Culture of Minnesota}}

===Fine and performing arts===

[[File:Guthrie-North.jpg|thumb|right|[[Guthrie Theater]] on the [[Mississippi River]] in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]]]]
The Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area [[fine art]] museums include the [[Minneapolis Institute of Art]], the [[Walker Art Center]], the [[Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum]], [[Minnesota Museum of American Art]] and [[The Museum of Russian Art]]. Other museums include [[American Swedish Institute]], [[Science Museum of Minnesota]], [[Minnesota Children's Museum]], [[Bell Museum of Natural History|Bell Museum]] (natural history and planetarium) and [[The Bakken|The Bakken Museum]] (science and technology). The [[Minnesota Orchestra]] and the [[Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra]] are full-time professional [[musical ensemble]]s. The [[Guthrie Theater]] is a world-class regional theater overlooking the Mississippi River. The [[Minnesota Fringe Festival]] is an annual celebration of [[theatre]], [[dance]], [[improvisation]], [[puppetry]], kids' shows, [[visual art]], and musicals.<ref>{{cite web| title = How to fringe | publisher = Minnesota Fringe Festival | url = http://www.fringefestival.org/new.cfm| access-date = 2006-11-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061114023612/http://www.fringefestival.org/new.cfm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-11-14}}</ref>

The Twin Cities is also the home of [[Minnesota Public Radio|Minnesota Public Radio (MPR)]], the nation's second-largest public radio station. It has both a [[KSJN|classical station]] and a contemporary station, [[KCMP|The Current]], which plays music from regional and other contemporary artists. The [[Minnesota Public Radio|MPR]] program ''[[A Prairie Home Companion]]'', hosted by Minnesota native [[Garrison Keillor]], aired live for many years from the [[Fitzgerald Theater]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]]. The show ended its run in 2016, with its successor ''[[Live from Here]]'' also airing from the same venue. This radio program was the basis of the 2006 film [[A Prairie Home Companion (film)|''A Prairie Home Companion'']].

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

[[KCMP|The Current]] and the [[Walker Art Center]] host the annual music festival [[Rock the Garden]], which features nationally recognized and local artists. The festival has been held annually since 2008 and has featured artists such as [[Lizzo]], [[Hippo Campus]], [[Chance the Rapper]], [[Bon Iver]], [[The Flaming Lips]], [[Wilco]] and [[Sonic Youth]].<ref>{{cite web| title =Rock the Garden| url = https://rockthegardenfestival.com/ |website=rockthegardenfestival.com |url-status=unfit |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221208221307/http://www.rockthegardenfestival.com/ |archive-date= Dec 8, 2022 }}</ref>

The [[Basilica of Saint Mary (Minneapolis)|Basilica of Saint Mary]] in Minneapolis hosts the annual [[Basilica Block Party]], another music festival, which has featured nationally recognized artists such as [[Weezer]], [[Andy Grammer]], [[Death Cab for Cutie]] and [[Panic! at the Disco]]. The festival is used as a fundraiser for the restoration of the basilica.<ref>{{cite web| title =Basilica Block Party to rise again: Here's the '18 lineup| url = http://www.citypages.com/music/basilica-block-party-to-rise-again-heres-the-18-lineup/478853043 |date=April 5, 2018 |first1=Jay |last1=Boller |website=City Pages |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029222140/http://www.citypages.com/music/basilica-block-party-to-rise-again-heres-the-18-lineup/478853043 |archive-date= Oct 29, 2020 }}</ref> The event draws about 25,000 people to the downtown area.

The Twin Cities area has a number of venues where artists come to perform. Minneapolis is home to [[First Avenue (nightclub)|First Avenue]]. First Avenue is known for being the starting venue for many famous artists and bands from the area, including [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[The Replacements (band)|The Replacements]], [[Atmosphere (music group)|Atmosphere]], and [[Manny Phesto]]. It became one of the most recognizable venues in Minnesota after the release of the Prince movie [[Purple Rain (film)|Purple Rain]], in which it is featured.

===Outdoors===

[[File:Bounce-Saint Paul-2006-05-11.jpg|thumb|left|A Saint Paul Bouncing Team aerialist exhibition in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]]]]
There are numerous lakes in the region, and some cities in the area have extensive park systems for recreation. Organized recreation includes the [[Great River Energy bicycle festival]], the [[Twin Cities Marathon]], and the U.S. [[pond hockey]] championships. 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 of [[Rochester, Minnesota|Rochester]], as the [[University of Minnesota]] has joined other colleges and hospitals in doing significant research, and major [[medical device]] manufacturers started in the region (the most prominent is [[Medtronic]]).{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}} Technical innovators have brought important advances in computing, including the [[Cray]] line of [[supercomputers]].

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 fishing]] is 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, [[All-terrain vehicle|ATV]] riding and other outdoor activities are also popular. This connection to the outdoors also brings a strong sense of [[environmentalism]] to many Minnesotans.

In 2011 and 2012, the [[American College of Sports Medicine]] named Minneapolis–Saint Paul the nation's healthiest metropolitan area.<ref>{{cite web|title=ACSM American Fitness Index™ Health and Community Fitness Status of the 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas |url=http://www.americanfitnessindex.org/docs/reports/2011_afi_report_final.pdf|year=2011|publisher=American College of Sports Medicine|access-date=May 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908154409/http://www.americanfitnessindex.org/docs/reports/2011_afi_report_final.pdf|archive-date=September 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanfitnessindex.org/docs/reports/2012_afi_report_final.pdf|publisher=American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) American Fitness Index|year=2012|title=Health and Community Fitness Status of the 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas|access-date=June 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903122215/http://www.americanfitnessindex.org/docs/reports/2012_afi_report_final.pdf|archive-date=September 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Sports===

{{Main|Sports in Minneapolis–Saint Paul|Sports in Minnesota}}
[[File:Minneapolis Millers 1905.jpg|thumb|right|300px|upright=2|The 1905 [[Minneapolis Millers]] baseball team]]

The Twin Cities is one of [[U.S. cities with teams from four major league sports|12 American metropolitan areas]] with teams in all four [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major 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 two [[Super Bowl]]s—[[Super Bowl XXVI]] in 1992 and [[Super Bowl LII]] in 2018. It is the farthest north that a Super Bowl has ever been played. The [[Minnesota Vikings]] have played in four Super Bowls—[[Super Bowl IV|IV]] in 1970, [[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]] in 1974, [[Super Bowl IX|IX]] in 1975 and [[Super Bowl XI|XI]] in 1977.

The [[World Series]] has been played in the Twin Cities three times—1965, 1987 and 1991—as have three [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]]s—1965, 1985 and 2014. [[National Hockey League|NHL]] All-Star games were hosted in 1972 and 2004, [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] All-Star game in 1994, [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]] All-Star game in 2018 and [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] All-Star game in 2022.

The [[Stanley Cup Finals]] have been played in the Twin Cities twice, in 1981 and 1991. The [[NHL Stadium Series]] had a game in the Twin Cities in 2016, and the [[NHL Winter Classic]] was played at [[Target Field]] in 2022.

The [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|Final Four]] Men'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.

The [[NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament|Frozen Four]] Men's NCAA hockey tournament has been hosted by the Twin Cities nine times—1958, 1966, 1989, 1991, 1994, 2002, 2011, 2018 and 2024.

[[File:Mnrg0301 195840.jpg|thumb|left|Over 3,700 fans attend the opening bout of the 2007 [[Minnesota RollerGirls]] season]]

Major golf tournaments hosted in the Twin Cities include: [[U.S. Open (golf)|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 the [[Ryder Cup]], 2016. The Ryder Cup is scheduled to return in 2028.

The 1998 [[World Figure Skating Championships]] were held at the [[Target Center]] in Minneapolis.

The [[X Games Minneapolis 2017|2017]], [[X Games Minneapolis 2018|2018]] and 2019 X Games were held in Minneapolis. The 2020 X Games were canceled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

The Twin Cities host three nationally competing [[Roller Derby]] leagues: the [[Minnesota Roller Derby]] of the [[Women's Flat Track Derby Association]] Division 1, the [[North Star Roller Derby]] of WFTDA Division 2, and Minnesota Men's Roller Derby, a league of the [[Men'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 annual [[Twin Cities Marathon]] is held in the fall with a course running through Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Minneapolis was the birthplace of [[Rollerblade]] and is a center for [[inline skating]], as well as home to the most golfers per capita of any U.S. city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.50states.com/facts/minnesota.htm |title=Minnesota Facts and Trivia |access-date=December 16, 2018 |last1=Douglas |first1=Phil |first2=Ward |last2=Blumer |work=50States.com }}</ref> Additionally, [[water skiing]] got its start on [[Lake Pepin]], a lake southeast of the metropolitan area, in the Mississippi River about {{convert|50|mi|km}} downstream from Saint Paul.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usa-wwf.org/history-of-water-skiing |work=USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation |access-date=December 16, 2018 |title=A Look Back |quote=1922: Ralph Samuelson designed the first water skis from two pine boards and successfully skied on Lake Pepin in Lake City, MN. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217062814/https://www.usa-wwf.org/history-of-water-skiing |archive-date=December 17, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Some other sports teams gained their names from being in Minnesota before relocating. The [[Los Angeles Lakers]] get their name from once being based in Minneapolis, the City of Lakes. The [[Dallas Stars]] also derived their name from their tenure as a Minnesota team, the [[Minnesota North Stars]].

====Professional sports teams in Minneapolis–Saint Paul====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Club
!Sport
!League
!Venue
!City
!Since
!Titles
|-
|[[Minnesota Twins]]
|[[Baseball]]
|[[American League]], [[Major League Baseball]]
|[[Target Field]]
| Minneapolis
|1961
| [[1987 World Series|1987]], [[1991 World Series|1991]]
|-
|[[St. Paul Saints]]
|[[Baseball]]
|[[International League]], [[Minor League Baseball]]
|[[CHS Field]]
| St. Paul
|1993-2005 {{small|([[Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010)|NL]])}}<br/>2006-2020 {{small|([[American Association of Professional Baseball|AA]])}}<br/>2021
|1993, 1995, 1996, 2004 {{small|([[Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010)|NL]])}}<br/> 2019 {{small|([[American Association of Professional Baseball|AA]])}}
|-
|[[Minnesota Vikings]]
|[[American football]]
|[[National Football League]]
|[[U.S. Bank Stadium]]
| Minneapolis
|1961
| [[1969 NFL Championship Game|1969]] {{small|(Not [[Super 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
|
|-
|[[PWHL Minnesota|Minnesota Frost]]
|[[Ice hockey]]
|[[Professional Women's Hockey League]]
|[[Xcel Energy Center]]
| St. Paul
|2023
|2024, 2025
|-
|[[Minnesota United FC]]
|[[Association football|Soccer]]
|[[Major League Soccer]]
|[[Allianz Field]]
| St. Paul                          
|2011-2016 {{small|([[North American Soccer League|NASL]])}}<br>2017
|2011 {{small|([[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|NASL]])}}
|-
|[[Minnesota Aurora FC]]
|[[Association football|Soccer]]
|[[USL W League]]
|[[TCO Stadium]]
| Eagan
|2021
|
|}

The Twin Cities are also home of the [[University of Minnesota Golden Gophers]] who play in the [[Big Ten]] Conference.

===Media===
{{Main|Media in Minneapolis–Saint Paul}}

====Print====
The Twin Cities have two major daily newspapers: ''[[The Minnesota Star Tribune]]'' and the ''[[Saint Paul Pioneer Press]]''. The ''[[Minnesota Daily]]'' serves the [[University of Minnesota system|University of Minnesota]]'s Twin Cities campus and surrounding neighborhoods. There is one general-interest neighborhood weekly newspaper still in the cities: The ''[[East 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====
[[File:KARE-TV-MN State Fair 20060826.jpg|thumb|left|[[KARE (TV)|KARE]] television broadcast, [[Minnesota State Fair]]]]
The region is the 15th-largest television market, according to Nielsen Media Research. Three [[Duopoly (broadcasting)|duopolies]] exist in the Twin Cities: [[Twin Cities PBS]] operates [[Twin Cities PBS|KTCA and KTCI]] (channels 2.1 and 2.4),{{efn|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).}} Saint Paul-based [[Hubbard Broadcasting]] (founded by [[Stanley E. Hubbard]]) owns [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[KSTP-TV]] (channel 5) and [[Independent station (North America)|independent station]] [[KSTC-TV]] (channel 5.2),{{efn|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).}} and [[Fox Television Stations]] operates [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] [[owned-and-operated station]] [[KMSP-TV]] (channel 9) and [[MyNetworkTV]] O&O [[WFTC]] (channel 9.2).{{efn|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).}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|website=Minneapolis Public Library |title=A History of Minneapolis: Radio and Television |url=http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/history/nm2.asp |year=2001 |access-date=2007-05-10 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419090008/http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/history/nm2.asp |archive-date=2007-04-19 }}</ref>

[[File:Transmitters-downtown-Minneapolis.jpg|thumb|[[WCCO-TV]] building in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]].]]
Two local television stations in the area operate their main studios in Minneapolis: [[CBS]] O&O [[WCCO-TV]] (channel 4) and [[The CW|CW]] affiliate [[WUCW]] (channel 23, owned by [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]). Saint Paul is home to KSTP/KSTC and KTCA/KTCI. The other major television stations are based in nearby suburban areas: [[NBC]] affiliate [[KARE (TV)|KARE]] (channel 11, owned by [[Tegna, Inc.|Tegna]]) operates a broadcasting complex in [[Golden Valley, Minnesota|Golden Valley]], while KMSP/WFTC operates from a facility in [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden 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&nbsp;p.m. before moving to 9:00&nbsp;p.m. upon trading time slots with the now-canceled ''[[Independent Network News (TV program)|Independent Network News]]'' in 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 from [[iHeartMedia|Clear Channel Television]] and [[BHC Communications|United Television]], respectively) and independent KSTC (which began airing a newscast produced by sister station KSTP in 2001).

Communities in the region have their own [[public, educational, and government access]] (PEG) [[cable television]] channels. 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 program ''[[Newton's Apple]]'' and 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, including ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'', a satirical [[B-movie]] showcase that achieved [[cult following|cult classic]] status during its 1989–96 national cable run on [[Comedy Central]]. The short-lived ''[[Let's Bowl]]'' started on KARE and later ran on KLGT and [[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. Cloud]]-licensed KXLI-TV (channel 41, now [[Ion Television|Ion]] O&O [[KPXM-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 series ''[[Mental Engineering]]'' originated 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 and [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]] operated CONUS Communications, a [[electronic news gathering|satellite news gathering]] and news video-sharing service for local television stations throughout the nation. In 1989, the venture launched [[All 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 (now [[HLN (TV network)|HLN]]), 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 as [[CNN|CNN Newsource]]), but it maintains a digital archive of its news library.<ref>{{cite web|title=CONUS to close operations|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/conus-close-operations-93926|author=Dan Trigoboff|magazine=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=Reed Business Information|date=September 20, 2002}}</ref>

In 1994, Hubbard launched [[United States Satellite Broadcasting]] (USSB), a [[satellite television]] provider offering premium channels from [[Home Box Office, Inc.]] and [[Showtime 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 as [[MTV]], [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] and [[Nickelodeon]]), and All News Channel. Founded in 1981 by then-Hubbard President [[Stanley S. Hubbard]], USSB and competitor [[DirecTV]] used the [[Digital Satellite Service|Digital Satellite System]] (DSS) infrastructure, allowing customers to optionally subscribe to both services. Hubbard sold USSB's assets to then-DirecTV parent [[Hughes Electronics]] in 1999, leading the latter provider to add USSB's remaining channels. (Viacom moved its basic channels over to DirecTV the previous year.)<ref>{{cite news|title=DirecTV Agrees to Acquire USSB in $1.3-Billion Stock-Cash Deal|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-dec-15-fi-54374-story.html|author=Sallie Hofmeister|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 15, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Basic cablers exit USSB for DirecTV|url=https://variety.com/1998/tv/news/basic-cablers-exit-ussb-for-directv-1117434328/|author=John Dempsey|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=Cahners Business Information|date=January 6, 1998}}</ref>

====Radio====
The Twin Cities radio market was ranked 15th by Nielsen in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb_menu_001 |title=Nielsen Audio Ratings |work=Radio, Online |year=2018 |access-date=December 18, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forumdisplay.php?599-Top-20-US-Radio-Markets |title=Forum: Top 20 US Radio Markets |access-date=December 16, 2018 }}</ref> In November 2018, the area's top five morning radio shows were all FM stations: [[KSTP-FM|KSTP]] (94.5), [[KFXN-FM|KFXN]] (100.3), [[KQQL]] (107.9), [[KDWB-FM|KDWB]] (101.3), and [[KXXR]] (93.7).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb027 |title=#15 Minneapolis-St. Paul November 2018 Portable People Meter Ratings |date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=December 16, 2018}}</ref> Three of those stations are owned by iHeartRadio. Most stations broadcast on air and online, as livestreams from their websites.

[[File:MPR-2006-12-19.jpg|thumb|[[Minnesota Public Radio]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]]]]
In addition to owning KSTP television, Hubbard Broadcasting also operates two radio stations that share call letters (which reference their shared [[city of license|licensed city]], St. Paul) with its co-owned television outlet: [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]] (1500 AM) maintains a sports radio format as an [[ESPN Radio]] affiliate, and KSTP-FM maintains a [[pop music]] format. 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|date=December 2018}}

The Twin Cities have a mix of commercial and non-commercial radio stations. The market is dominated by [[iHeartMedia]], which operates seven stations (including [[contemporary hit radio|contemporary hits]] outlet KDWB, [[sports radio]] outlet KFXN, [[classic hits]] outlet KQQL, and news/talk station [[KTLK]]). Multiple small, independent stations are award winners, including [[KUOM]] (770 AM; relayed in St. Paul on 100.7 FM and in Minneapolis on 104.5 FM), operated by the [[University of Minnesota]], [[community radio]] outlet [[KFAI]] (90.3) in [[Cedar-Riverside, Minneapolis|Cedar–Riverside]],<ref>{{cite web |website=iBiquity|title=HD Radio – Minnesota |year=2007 |url=http://www.ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_find_a_station/MN/StnMarket#stationlist |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211015/http://www.ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_find_a_station/MN/StnMarket |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }} and {{cite web |title=Independent Public Radio |url=http://www.ampers.org/station-awards.shtml |year=2006 |access-date=2007-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629175047/http://www.ampers.org/station-awards.shtml |archive-date=2007-06-29 |url-status = dead}}</ref> and African American-oriented community station [[KMOJ]] (89.9 FM) in North Minneapolis.<ref>{{cite news |title=KMOJ’s Freddie Bell named ‘Broadcaster of the Year’ |url=https://spokesman-recorder.com/2020/07/28/kmojs-freddie-bell-named-broadcaster-of-the-year/ |access-date=17 January 2025 |work=Minnesota Spokesman Recorder |date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>

[[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-FM|KNOW]] (91.1 FM) serves as the flagship station of MPR's news and information service, MPR News, featuring locally produced and [[NPR]]-distributed news and talk programs; [[KSJN]] (99.5 FM) serves as the flagship of MPR's [[classical music]] service, "YourClassical MPR"; and [[Northfield, Minnesota|Northfield]]-licensed [[KCMP]] (89.3 FM) maintains an [[adult album alternative]] format branded as "The Current". (In addition to being relayed on MPR stations in [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] and [[Rochester, Minnesota|Rochester]], KCMP's "Current" programming is also carried in the Los Angeles market on an [[HD Radio|HD]] subchannel of educational FM station [[KPCC-FM|KPCC]].) MPR was first nationally known for the variety show ''[[A Prairie Home Companion]]'', which ceased production in 2016.<ref name=guardian2016>{{cite news |date=July 2, 2016 |title=Garrison Keillor Hosts Final A Prairie Home Companion Episode |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/02/garrison-keillor-final-prairie-home-companion-episode |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=December 16, 2018 }}</ref> Doing business as [[American Public Media]], the company is the second-largest producer of NPR content, after National Public Radio (of which MPR is an affiliate).

====Independent media====
The Twin Cities is home to many independent media organizations, including [[The UpTake]] and ''[[MinnPost]]''.

==Demographics==
===Population===
{{US Census population|title=MSA Historical Population|1850=4491|1860=77565|1870=167674|1880=284766|1890=540232|1900=649735|1910=808388|1920=921031|1930=1069845|1940=1162361|1950=1346285|1960=1697403|1970=2079826|1980=2255502|1990=2595799|2000=3031918|2010=3346859|2020=3690261|estimate=3693729|estyear=2022|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=June 9, 2017}}</ref>|footnote=Note: This is the historical population of the counties<br /> currently making up the metropolitan area, not the size<br/> of the metropolitan area at the time. U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="U.S. Decennial Census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 15, 2014|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref name="Historical Census Browser">{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020}}

{{US Census population|1850=4909|1860=100503|1870=227182|1880=374208|1890=651160|1900=780923|1910=943975|1920=1070395|1930=1228835|1940=1330771|1950=1523428|1960=1891459|1970=2300115|1980=2503343|1990=2866678|2000=3335000|2010=3682928|2020=4078788|estimate=4080232|estyear=2022|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2018"/>|align-fn=center|footnote=Note: This is the historical population of the counties<br />  currently making up the CSA, not the size<br/> of the metropolitan area at the time. U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="U.S. Decennial Census"/><br />1790–1960<ref name="Historical Census Browser"/> 1900–1990<ref name="auto1"/><br />1990–2000<ref name="auto"/> 2010–2020|title=CSA Historical Population}}

===Place of birth===
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|date=February 2015}}

===Religion===
[[File:Church in Chaska-20070203.jpg|thumb|Guardian Angels Catholic Church in [[Chaska, Minnesota|Chaska]]]]
Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a major center for religion in the state, especially [[Christianity]]. The state headquarters of five major Christian churches are there: the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis]], the [[Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota]], the [[Presbyterian]] Synod of Lakes and Prairies, and [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church). The Presbyterian and LDS churches both have [[Mission (Christianity)|missions]] in Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Bloomington, as does the Orthodox Church in America.

The headquarters of the former [[American Lutheran Church|American Lutheran Church (ALC)]], [[Evangelical Lutheran Church (United States)|Evangelical Lutheran Church]], [[Lutheran Free Church]] and the [[Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church]] were in Minneapolis; the headquarters of [[Augsburg Fortress]] publishing house still is. The [[Minneapolis Area Synod]] and the [[Saint Paul Area Synod]] are the largest and third-largest synods of the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] ([[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|ELCA]]), respectively.

The [[Evangelical Free Church of America]] is headquartered in Bloomington, and the [[Association of Free Lutheran Congregations]] is headquartered in Plymouth, along with its seminary and a Bible School.

The Twin Cities are home to a [[Judaism|Jewish]] population 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bir.brandeis.edu/bitstream/handle/10192/38897/twincities_jcs_2019_rpt_091020.pdf |first1=J.K. |last1=Aronson |first2=M.A. |last2=Brookner |first3=E. |last3=Chapman |first4=D. |last4=Mangoubi |first5=H. |last5=Aaronson |first6=M. |last6=Feinberg |first7=M. |last7=Boxer |first8=L. |last8=Saxe |date=2020 |title=Portrait of Our Jewish Community: 2019 Twin Cities Jewish Population Study |location=Waltham, MA |publisher=Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies |website=Brandeis University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108041610/https://bir.brandeis.edu/bitstream/handle/10192/38897/twincities_jcs_2019_rpt_091020.pdf |archive-date= Nov 8, 2021 }}</ref> There is also a Hindu temple in the Twin Cities suburb of [[Maple Grove, Minnesota|Maple Grove]]. The Twin Cities' sole [[Sikhism|Sikh]] [[gurdwara]] is in Bloomington.<ref>{{Cite web|title = MNSIKHS |website=mnsikhs.com |url=https://www.mnsikhs.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716031712/http://www.mnsikhs.com/ |archive-date= Jul 16, 2023 }}</ref> A recent influx of immigrants from [[Laos]] and [[North Africa]] has brought many more religions to the area. There are several [[Islam]]ic [[masjid]]s in the area. There is a temple for the religion of [[Eckankar]] in the suburb of [[Chanhassen]] known as the [[Temple of Eck]]. In addition, many [[Hmong people|Hmong]] and [[Tibet]]an [[Buddhist]] peoples live in Saint Paul; a Hmong Buddhist temple opened in suburban [[Roseville, Minnesota|Roseville]] in 1995. The LDS [[St. Paul Minnesota Temple]] opened in [[Oakdale, Minnesota|Oakdale]], a suburb east of Saint Paul, in 2000. There are several [[Unitarian Universalist]] communities, such as the [[First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis]], as well as several [[Paganism|Pagan]] and [[Buddhist]] groups. Minneapolis–Saint Paul has been called [[Paganistan]] due to the large numbers of Pagans living there.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/archive/mnmo-recommends/|title=MNMO Recommends|first=Minnesota|last=Monthly|newspaper=Minnesota Monthly|date=September 14, 2009}}</ref> An estimated 20,000 Pagans live in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.startribune.com/articles/206115007|title=Wiccan prisoner sues state, claiming religious rights violated|website=[[Star Tribune]]}}</ref>

Minneapolis is where the [[Billy Graham Evangelistic Association]] started and was its home for more than 50 years.

==Politics==
{{see also|Politics of Minnesota}}Minneapolis and Saint Paul have each hosted a national political convention. The [[2008 Republican National Convention]] was held at the [[Xcel Energy Center]] in Saint Paul. Minneapolis hosted the [[1892 Republican National Convention]] at the [[Industrial Exposition Building]].
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+Presidential elections results in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Campaigns - United States - Minnesota - President|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerDetail.html?ContainerID=142|access-date=2021-03-30|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>
!Year
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''61.3%''' ''1,101,219''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |36.1% ''648,191''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.6% ''47,911''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''64.7%''' ''1,151,270''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |30.7% ''546,632''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |4.6% ''82,186''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''55.3%''' ''910,105''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |35.8% ''589,018''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |8.9% ''146,155''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''56.9%''' ''934,437''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |40.8% ''670,433''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.3% ''37,955''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''58.0%''' ''927,825''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |40.3% ''644,931''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.7% ''27,725''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''54.6%''' ''842,339''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |44.3% ''683,336''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.2% ''18,250''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''51.0%''' ''679,125''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |42.5% ''566,078''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |6.5% ''86,612''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''53.5%''' ''631,387''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |33.6% ''396,163''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |12.9% ''152,329''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''45.9%''' ''583,255''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |30.5% ''387,262''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |23.6% ''299,436''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''54.8%''' ''611,367''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |44.2% ''493,864''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.0% ''10,944''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''52.2%''' ''558,158''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |47.2% ''504,867''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.6% ''6,887''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''49.1%''' ''494,701''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |38.7% ''389,211''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |12.2% ''123,090''
|-
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''55.1%''' ''527,428''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |41.8% ''399,846''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |3.0% ''29,089''
|-
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |47.3% ''398,544''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''50.4%''' ''424,178''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.3% ''19,122''
|}

Like most major metropolitan areas, the Twin Cities is a stronghold for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], known in Minnesota as the [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]]. At the state level, DFLers in the [[Minnesota Legislature|Minnesota legislature]] have 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-03 |title=In Minnesota, GOP eyes grab of rare Midwest Dem stronghold |url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-minnesota-lakes-minneapolis-bf23941b7d6a3330b3ce9d9575fba497 |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{See also|Economy of Minnesota|List of companies based in Minneapolis–Saint Paul}}

The Minneapolis–Saint Paul area is home to 24 [[Fortune 1000]] headquarters. The 2022 rankings are:
{| class= "wikitable sortable"
|-
!MSP<br>Rank
!Company
!City
!Sector
!Fortune<br>Rank
|-
|1
|[[United Health Group]]
|Eden Prairie
|Healthcare
|5
|-
|2
|[[Target Corporation|Target]]
|Minneapolis
|Retailing
|32
|-
|3
|[[Best Buy]]
|Richfield
|Retailing
|68
|-
|4
|[[CHS Inc.|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 Inc.|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|Bright Health Group]]
|Minneapolis
|Healthcare
|688
|-
|18
|[[The Toro Company|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 include [[Cargill]], the country's largest private company, [[Carlson Companies|Carlson]], [[Radisson Hotel Group]], [[Holiday Stationstores]], and [[Andersen Corporation|Andersen]]. Foreign companies with U.S. headquarters in the Twin Cities include [[Aimia (company)|Aimia]], [[Allianz Life]], [[Canadian Pacific]], [[Coloplast]], [[Medtronic]], [[Pearson VUE]] and [[Pentair]].

The Twin Cities' economy is the nation's 13th-largest<ref>{{cite web|title=Gross Domestic Product by Metropolitan Area, 2015|url= https://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/gdp_metro/gdp_metro_newsrelease.htm|access-date=7 July 2016}}</ref> and ranks second in the [[Midwest]] after Chicago. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul area is also North America's second-largest medical device manufacturing center<ref>{{cite web |title=Analysis by Crossborder Group Finds Tijuana #1 City in North America for Medical Device Manufacturing Employment |date=July 19, 2011 |url=http://crossbordergroup.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/analysis-by-crossborder-group-finds-tijuana-1-city-in-north-america-for-medical-device-manufacturing-employment/ |access-date=August 14, 2011 |publisher=Tijuana Economic Development Corporation}}</ref> and the fourth-largest U.S. banking center, based on total assets of banks headquartered in the area, after New York, San Francisco, and [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/banking/article152038502.html |title=Goodbye bragging rights: Charlotte's no longer the No. 2 U.S. banking center |date=May 24, 2017 |last1=Roberts |first1=Deon |last2=Rothacker |first2=Rick |newspaper=Charlotte Observer |access-date=July 6, 2017 }}</ref>

The [[Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis]] covers the 9th District of the [[Federal Reserve System]], which is made up of Minnesota, [[Montana]], [[North Dakota|North]] and [[South Dakota]], northwestern [[Wisconsin]], and the [[Upper Peninsula]] of [[Michigan]]. Its geographical territory is the third-largest of the 12 Federal Reserve banks.

==Education==

===Colleges and universities===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Adler Graduate School]] – Minnetonka
* [[Anoka-Ramsey Community College]] – Coon Rapids and Cambridge
* [[Anoka Technical College]] – Anoka
* [[Augsburg University]] – Minneapolis
* [[Bethany Global University]] - Bloomington
* [[Bethel University (Minnesota)|Bethel University]] – Arden Hills
* [[Capella University]] – Minneapolis
* [[Century College]] – White Bear Lake
* [[Concordia University, St. Paul|Concordia University]] – Saint Paul
* [[Crown College (Minnesota)|Crown College]] – St. Bonifacius
* [[Dakota County Technical College]] – Rosemount
* [[Dunwoody College of Technology]] – Minneapolis
* [[Hamline University]] – Saint Paul
* [[Hennepin Technical College]] – Eden Prairie and Brooklyn Park
* [[Inver Hills Community College]] – Inver Grove Heights
* [[Luther Seminary]] – Saint Paul
* [[Macalester College]] – Saint Paul
* [[Metropolitan State University]] – Saint Paul and Minneapolis
* [[Minneapolis College of Art and Design]] – Minneapolis
* [[Minneapolis Community and Technical College|Minneapolis College]] – Minneapolis
* [[Minnesota State University, Mankato|Minnesota State University]] – Edina
* [[Mitchell Hamline School of Law]] – Saint Paul
* [[Normandale Community College]] – Bloomington
* [[North Central University]] – Minneapolis
* [[North Hennepin Community College]] – Brooklyn Park
* [[Northwestern Health Sciences University]] – Bloomington
* [[Rasmussen University]] – Bloomington, Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Eagan and Lake Elmo
* [[St. Catherine University]] – Saint Paul and Minneapolis
* [[St. Cloud State University]] – St. Cloud and Maple Grove
* [[St. Mary's University of Minnesota]] – Minneapolis
* [[Saint Paul College]] – Saint Paul
* [[United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities|United Theological Seminary]] – Saint Paul
* [[University of Minnesota]] – Minneapolis and Saint Paul (Falcon Heights)
* [[University of Northwestern – St. Paul]] – Roseville
* [[University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)|University of St. Thomas]] – Saint Paul and Minneapolis
* [[University of Wisconsin–River Falls|University of Wisconsin]] – River Falls and Hudson
* [[Walden University]] – Minneapolis
{{div col end}}

===Libraries===

====Libraries, with numbers of branches====

{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Anoka County Library]] - 9
* Bayport Public Library - 1
* Carver County Library - 6
* [[Dakota County Library]] - 10
* East Central Regional Library - 8
* [[Hennepin County Library]] - 41
* [[Ramsey County Library]] - 7
* [[St. Paul Public Library]] - 13
* Scott County Library - 7
* Stillwater Public Library - 1
* Washington County Library - 7
{{div col end}}

==Infrastructure==

===Buildings and structures===
[[File:Minneapolis-skyline-2006-07-17.jpg|thumb|The tallest buildings in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]] are, left to right, the [[IDS Center]], [[Capella Tower]] and the [[Wells Fargo Center (Minneapolis)|Wells Fargo Center]].]]
The 11 tallest buildings and 16 of the 17 tallest buildings in the area are in [[List of tallest buildings in Minneapolis|downtown Minneapolis]]. There is some dispute over which building is the tallest—most Minnesotans think of the [[IDS Center]] if asked, but most sources seem to agree that [[Capella Tower]] is slightly taller. In early 2005, it was found that the [[IDS Center]] is taller by a {{convert|16|ft|m|0|adj=on}} washroom garage on top, bringing its height to {{convert|792|ft|m}}. [[Capella Tower]] and the [[Wells Fargo Center (Minneapolis)|Wells Fargo Center]] differ in height by a foot or two. The tallest building [[List of tallest buildings in Saint Paul|in St. Paul]] is [[Wells Fargo Place]], at {{convert|471|ft|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.<ref name="Millett">{{cite book|last=Millett|first=Larry|title=Lost Twin Cities|year=1992|publisher=[[Minnesota Historical Society]]|location=[[St. Paul, Minnesota]]}}</ref> 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 the [[Richardsonian Romanesque]] style (or at least Romanesque-inspired variants). [[Minneapolis City Hall]] is one prominent example of this, though buildings of all types—including personal residences such as the [[James J. Hill House]]—were similarly designed.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Paul Clifford|last1=Larson|last2=Martin|first2=Judith|editor-last=Larson|editor-first=Paul Clifford |title=The Spirit of H.H. Richardson on the Midland Prairies|year=1988|publisher=Iowa State University Press|location=Ames, Iowa}}</ref> A few decades later, [[Art Deco]] brought several structures that survive today, including [[St. Paul City Hall]], the [[Foshay Tower]], and the [[Minneapolis 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.

[[File:Walker Art Center-Minneapolis-061230.jpg|thumb|left|[[Walker Art Center]] on [[Hennepin Avenue]] in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]]]]
Saint Paul and especially Minneapolis underwent massive [[urban renewal]] projects in the post-[[World War II]] era, so a vast number of buildings are now lost to history. Some of the larger and harder to demolish structures have survived.<ref name="Millett" /> In fact, the area might be signified more by bridges than buildings. A series of [[reinforced concrete]] [[arch]] spans 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 the [[National Register of Historic Places]], including the [[10th Avenue Bridge]], [[Intercity Bridge]] (Ford Parkway), [[Robert Street Bridge]], and the longest, the {{convert|4119|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[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 of [[Hennepin Avenue Bridge]]s have since been built at the site. Both downtowns have extensive networks of enclosed pedestrian bridges known as [[skyway]]s.

Several prominent Minneapolis buildings helped modernize the city. These include the [[Walker Art Center]], [[Minneapolis Public Library|Central Public Library]], [[Weisman Art Museum]] and the [[Guthrie 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|date=September 2019}} It was designed by [[Jean Nouvel]] and is a {{convert|285000|sqft|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, the [[National Trust for Historic Preservation]] put 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|date=September 2019}}

===Healthcare===

====Hospitals with Numbers of Beds====
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
''Trauma Centers'' - ''Level I *; Level II **''

[[Allina Health]] 
* [[Abbott Northwestern Hospital]] - Minneapolis - 686
* [[Mercy Hospital (Minnesota)|Mercy Hospital]] - Coon Rapids - 271 **
* Mercy Hospital (Unity Campus) - Fridley - 164
* [[Phillips Eye Institute]] - Minneapolis - 8
* Regina Hospital - Hastings - 43
* St. Francis Regional Medical Center - Shakopee - 89
* [[United Hospital]] - St. Paul - 556

[[Children's Minnesota]] - 381
* [[Children's Minnesota|Children's Minnesota Hospital]] - Minneapolis 
* [[Children's Minnesota|Children's Minnesota Hospital]] - St. Paul

[[Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare]]
* [[Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare|Gillette Children's Hospital]] - St. Paul - 60

[[HealthPartners]] Park Nicollet
* Lakeview Hospital - Stillwater - 90
* Methodist Hospital - St. Louis Park - 361
* [[Regions Hospital]] - St. Paul - 552 *
* St. Francis Regional Medical Center - Shakopee - 89

[[Hennepin County Medical Center|Hennepin Healthcare]]
* [[Hennepin County Medical Center]] - Minneapolis - 484 *

[[M Health Fairview]]
* M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center - Wyoming - 61
* M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital - Burnsville - 171
* M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital - Edina - 334
* [[M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center]] - Minneapolis - 828 **
* [[M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital]] - Minneapolis - 212
* [[St. John's Hospital (Maplewood, Minnesota)|St. John's Hospital]] - Maplewood - 184
* M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital - Woodbury - 86

[[North Memorial Health Hospital|North Memorial Health]]
* Maple Grove Hospital - Maple Grove - 130
* [[North Memorial Health Hospital]] - Robbinsdale - 353 *

Ridgeview Health
* Ridgeview Medical Center - Waconia - 124

[[Veterans Administration Medical Center|Veterans Administration Health Care]]
* [[Veterans Administration Medical Center]] - Minneapolis - 845

{{div col end}}

===Transportation===
{{See also|Transportation in Minnesota}}

====Roads and highways====

[[File:MendotaBridge8.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Mendota Bridge]] over the [[Minnesota River]] between [[Fort Snelling, Minnesota|Fort Snelling]] and [[Mendota, Minnesota|Mendota]]]]
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 many [[traffic camera]]s and [[ramp meter]]s to monitor and manage [[traffic 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 a [[MnPASS]] transponder 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 on [[Interstate 394 (Minnesota)|Interstate 394]] (I-394) between [[Minnesota State Highway 100|Minnesota Highway 100]] (MN 100) and [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|I-94]], are open to all traffic.

I-94 comes into the area from the east and heads northwest from Minneapolis. Two spur routes form the [[Interstate 494|I-494]]/[[Interstate 694|I-694]] loop, and I-394 continues west when I-94 turns north. [[Interstate 35 in Minnesota|I-35]] splits in [[Burnsville, Minnesota|Burnsville]] in the southern part of the region, bringing [[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)|I-35E]] into Saint Paul and [[Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|I-35W]] into Minneapolis. They rejoin to the north in [[Columbus, Minnesota|Columbus]] (just south of [[Forest Lake, Minnesota|Forest Lake]]) and continue to the highway's terminus in [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]]. This is one of only two examples of an interstate highway splitting into branches and then rejoining; the other is in [[Dallas–Fort Worth]], where I-35 also splits into east and west branches.

On August 1, 2007, much of the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge]] near downtown Minneapolis collapsed into the [[Mississippi River]] around 6:05pm [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CDT]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_6518669 | title=35W bridge collapses over Mississippi River, cars in the water | newspaper=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]] | date=2007-08-01 | access-date=2007-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://kstp.com/article/stories/S156329.shtml?cat=1 | title=35W bridge over Mississippi collapsed |location = St. Paul | publisher=[[KSTP-TV]] | date=2007-08-01 | access-date=2007-08-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016155630/http://kstp.com/article/stories/S156329.shtml?cat=1 | archive-date=October 16, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref> A [[St. Anthony Falls (35W) Bridge|replacement bridge]] opened on September 18, 2008.

; Interstates
{{Div col}}
* [[File:I-35 (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Interstate 35 in Minnesota|I-35]]
* [[File:I-35E (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)|I-35E]]
* [[File:I-35W (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Interstate 35W (Minnesota)|I-35W]]
* [[File:I-94 (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|I-94]]
* [[File:I-394 (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Interstate 394|I-394]]
* [[File:I-494 (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Interstate 494|I-494]]
* [[File:I-694 (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Interstate 694|I-694]]
{{Div col end}}

; U.S. Highways
{{Div col}}
* [[File:US 10.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[U.S. Route 10 in Minnesota|US 10]]
* [[File:US 12.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[U.S. Route 12 in Minnesota|US 12]]
* [[File:US 52.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota|US 52]] (Lafayette Freeway)
* [[File:US 61 (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota|US 61]] (Blues Highway)
* [[File:US 169 (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[U.S. Route 169 in Minnesota|US 169]] (Johnson Memorial Highway)
* [[File:US 212 (MN).svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[U.S. Route 212 in Minnesota|US 212]] (Minnesota Veterans Memorial Highway)
{{Div col end}}

; Major state highways
{{Div col}}
* [[File:MN-3.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 3|MN 3]]
* [[File:MN-5.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 5|MN 5]] 
* [[File:MN-7.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 7|MN 7]]
* [[File:MN-13.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 13|MN 13]]
* [[File:MN-36.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 36|MN 36]]
* [[File:MN-47.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 47|MN 47]]
* [[File:MN-51.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 51|MN 51]] (Snelling Avenue North)
* [[File:MN-55.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 55|MN 55]] (Olson Memorial Highway)
* [[File:MN-62.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 62 (east)|MN 62]] (Crosstown Highway)
* [[File:MN-65.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 65|MN 65]]
* [[File:MN-77.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 77|MN 77]] (Cedar Avenue)
* [[File:MN-100.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 100|MN 100]]
* [[File:MN-101.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 101|MN 101]]
* [[File:MN-120.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 120|MN 120]]
* [[File:MN-149.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 149|MN 149]]
* [[File:MN-252.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 252|MN 252]]
* [[File:MN-156.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 156|MN 156]]
* [[File:MN-280.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 280|MN 280]]
* [[File:MN-610.svg|x24px|alt=|link=]] [[Minnesota State Highway 610|MN 610]]
{{Div col end}}

====Air travel====
The main [[airport]] in the region is '''[[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport]]''' (MSP), a major hub for [[Delta Air Lines]]. [[Endeavor Air]], a Delta subsidiary, is based there. MSP is also [[Sun Country Airlines]]' main hub and operating base. There are six smaller ([[relief airport|relief]]) airports in the area owned and operated by the [[Metropolitan 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:

{{Div col}}
* [[Airlake Airport]] (LVN) – [[Lakeville, Minnesota|Lakeville]]
* [[Anoka County-Blaine Airport]] (ANE) – [[Blaine, Minnesota|Blaine]]
* [[Crystal Airport (Minnesota)|Crystal Airport]] (MIC) – [[Crystal, Minnesota|Crystal]]
* [[Flying Cloud Airport]] (FCM) – [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]]
* [[Lake Elmo Airport]] (21D) – [[Lake Elmo, Minnesota|Lake Elmo]]
* [[St. Paul Downtown Airport]] (STP) – [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]]
{{Div col end}}

====Public transit====
[[File:Hiawatha Line-bike rack-20061211.jpg|thumb|Bicycle rack on the [[Blue Line (Minnesota)|METRO Blue Line]] LRT]]
[[File:Metro Transit-Minneapolis-2005-06-04.jpg|thumb|[[Metro Transit (Minnesota)|Metro Transit]] storefront, [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]]]]

[[Metro Transit (Minnesota)|Metro Transit]], by far the area's biggest bus service provider, owes its existence to the [[Twin City Rapid Transit|old streetcar]] lines in the area. Metro Transit provides about 95% of the [[public transit]] rides in the region, with over 900 buses, while some suburbs have other bus services. The [[University of Minnesota|University of Minnesota, Twin Cities]] operates a free bus system between its campuses. This system includes the Campus Connector [[bus rapid transit]] line, which travels between the Minneapolis and Saint Paul campuses by a dedicated bus line and throughout the two campuses on normal access roads. The [[Metro Blue Line (Minnesota)|METRO Blue Line]] LRT ([[light rail]]) began operations in June 2004, connecting downtown Minneapolis, [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport]] and the [[Mall of America]] in Bloomington. It was followed by the [[Metro Red Line (Minnesota)|METRO Red Line]] BRT (bus rapid transitway) in 2013 connecting the Mall of America with [[Lakeville, Minnesota|Lakeville]] along [[Cedar Avenue]] through the southern suburbs. The [[Metro Green Line (Minnesota)|METRO Green Line]] LRT connecting downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota campus and downtown Saint Paul along [[University Avenue (Minneapolis–Saint Paul)|University Avenue]] opened in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Metropolitan Council – Central Corridor transit FAQ |url=http://metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/ccfaq.htm |access-date=3 July 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612083026/http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/ccfaq.htm |archive-date=12 June 2011 }}</ref> Metro Transit operates all three lines. The [[Northstar Line]] [[commuter rail]] line connecting Minneapolis with [[Big Lake, Minnesota|Big Lake]] opened in 2009.

The METRO system consists of six separate projects. There are two [[light rail]] lines: the Blue Line, which runs from [[Target Field]] in downtown [[Minneapolis]] past [[Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport]] to the [[Mall of America]]; and the Green Line, which runs from [[Target Field]] past the [[University of Minnesota]] to [[Saint Paul Union Depot|Union Depot]] in downtown [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]]. The [[bus rapid transit|BRT]] Red Line serves as an extension of the Blue Line across the [[Minnesota 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.

{{rint|minnesota|METRO}} '''METRO'''

* {{Color box|blue|border=darkgray}} '''[[Metro Blue Line (Minnesota)|Blue Line]]''' LRT: [[Target Field (Metro Transit station)|Target Field Station]] – [[Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport]] – [[Mall of America station|Mall of America]]
* {{Color box|green|border=darkgray}} '''[[Metro Green Line (Minnesota)|Green Line]]''' LRT: Target Field Station – [[University of Minnesota]] – [[Union Depot (St. Paul)|Union Depot]]
* {{Color box|orange|border=darkgray}} '''[[Metro Orange Line (Minnesota)|Orange Line]]''' BRT: Downtown Minneapolis – Burnsville Heart of the City
* {{Color box|red|border=darkgray}} '''[[Metro Red Line (Minnesota)|Red Line]]''' BRT: Mall of America – [[Apple Valley Transit Station]]
* {{Color box|grey|border=darkgray}} '''[[A Line (Minnesota)|A Line]]''' BRT: [[46th Street station (Metro Transit)|46th Street station]] – [[Rosedale Transit Center]]
* {{Color box|grey|border=darkgray}} '''[[C Line (Minnesota)|C Line]]''' BRT: Downtown Minneapolis – [[Brooklyn Center Transit Center]]
* {{Color box|grey|border=darkgray}} '''[[D Line (Minnesota)|D Line]]''' BRT: Mall of America – [[Brooklyn Center Transit Center]]

A variety of rail services are being pondered by state and local governments, including neighborhood streetcar systems, intercity light rail service, and [[commuter rail]] options to [[Commuter town|exurban]] regions. Minnesota is one of several Midwestern states considering [[high-speed rail]] service, using Chicago as a regional hub.<ref name="rail">[http://www.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/highspeed.html Midwest Regional Rail Initiative]. Retrieved June 24, 2008.</ref>

The Minneapolis–Saint Paul area has been criticized for inadequate public transportation.<ref name="traffic">[http://www.metrocouncil.org/Directions/transit/transit2005/congestionJun05.htm Metropolitan Council Release on Traffic Congestion]. Retrieved October 16, 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221224912/http://www.metrocouncil.org/Directions/transit/transit2005/congestionJun05.htm |date=February 21, 2012 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="traffic" />{{dead link|date=September 2011}} Additional lines and spurs are needed to upgrade public transportation in the Twin Cities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Metropolitan Council – Central Corridor transit FAQ |url=http://metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/ccfaq.htm |access-date=3 July 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612083026/http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/ccfaq.htm |archive-date=June 12, 2011 }}</ref> Construction is underway for [[Southwest Corridor (Minneapolis)|Green Line extension]] connecting downtown Minneapolis to the southwest suburb of [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]]. A northwest LRT (Blue Line extension) along [[Bottineau Boulevard]] is being planned from downtown Minneapolis to [[Brooklyn Park, Minnesota|Brooklyn Park]]. The [[Orange Line (Minnesota)|METRO Orange Line]] BRT 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.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Notes===
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|United States}}
{{Wikivoyage|Minneapolis-Saint Paul}}
* [http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a000800/a000858/a000858.mpg Flyby video] courtesy NASA/Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090221132300/http://www.demography.state.mn.us/FactSheets/MSACompare/ Fact sheet about Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Area Comparison]
* [http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/history/ History of the National Weather Service in Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180412110942/http://metromsp.org/ GIS-based Demographic Guide to Twin Cities Region]
* [http://video.tpt.org/video/2258262175 Lost Twin Cities] – Documentary produced by [[Twin Cities Public Television]]

{{MinneapolisSaintPaulCities}}
{{MplsStPaulStCloudCSA}}
{{Minneapolis, Minnesota}}
{{City of Saint Paul}}
{{Twin Cities Transit}}
{{Great Lakes Megalopolis}}

{{Authority control}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Minneapolis Saint Paul}}
[[Category:Minneapolis–Saint Paul| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:Twin cities]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of Minnesota]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Regional rivalries]]