| Minnesota's largest city, Minneapolis lies on | | | | the city's many mills by rail, and by 1905 |
| the Mississippi and is next to the State | | | | the Minneapolis was responsible for almost |
| capitol of St-Paul. The combined cities are | | | | 10% of the total flour and grist output of |
| often referred to as Minneapolis-St. Paul | | | | the United States. |
| forming the 15th largest metropolitan area in | | | | |
| the US. The city of Minneapolis has a long | | | | Never a city to sit on its laurels, |
| and distinguished history, based on water and | | | | Minneapolis razed 40% of its buildings |
| primarily influenced by the St. Anthony | | | | comprising 25 blocks during a fervent urban |
| Falls. | | | | renewal from the early 1950s to the mid |
| | | | 1960s. That renewal has continued and the |
| Prior to the arrival of early European | | | | city is now a modern metropolis with a rich |
| settlers in 1680, Dakota Sioux had free reign | | | | history, and is home to five Fortune 500 |
| over the lands now known as Minneapolis. | | | | companies. |
| However for 140 years there was little | | | | |
| development in the area, it was not until the | | | | Known as the 'city of lakes' many of the |
| construction of Fort Snelling in 1825 that | | | | leisure activities in the area are |
| the area saw any significant expansion. Under | | | | water-based, with 6% of the area covered in |
| pressure from the relentless inflow of | | | | lakes. It boasts a thriving art and music |
| settlers, the Sioux sold their land forging | | | | culture, and one of the city's claims-to-fame |
| the way for the incorporation of the city of | | | | is that internationally renowned rock |
| Minneapolis in 1867. Five years later | | | | musician Prince studied at the Minneapolis |
| settlers began arriving from Chicago via the | | | | Dance Theatre. Professional sports are also |
| newly built railroad, helping to bolster the | | | | well represented in the city with the NFL's |
| settlement's numbers. | | | | Vikings, baseball's major league Twins, NBA's |
| | | | Timberwolves and the WNBA's Lynx all based |
| The Saint Anthony Falls, the only natural | | | | there. |
| waterfall on the Mississippi, formed the hub | | | | |
| of the city. Here the timber mills and flour | | | | Getting around downtown Minneapolis is made |
| mills flourished and by 1871, Minnesota | | | | easier by the Skyways, which consist of seven |
| boasted many thriving businesses including | | | | miles of walkways linking eighty blocks. |
| iron works, other mills for cotton and paper, | | | | Restaurants, retailers and the occasional |
| and a large railway factory. Grain grown by | | | | lobby of a downtown hotel in Minneapolis are |
| farmers on the Great Plains found its way to | | | | all connected via this second floor walkway. |