Minneapolis

Lying on the banks of the Mississippi River, Minneapolis is a major city in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is the state’s largest city and the bigger of the Twin Cities, the second of which is the state capital Saint Paul. The city serves as the county seat of Hennepin County. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul Metropolitan Area is the 16th-largest in the U.S., boasting population of around 3.5 million. Nicknamed the “City of Lakes,” Minneapolis has numerous water bodies, including the Mississippi River, thirteen lakes, wetlands and waterfalls.

The area where Minneapolis stands today was originally inhabited by Dakota Sioux. The French were the first Europeans to arrive here, with fur trading initially being the main basis of relations. The area was acquired by the United States from France early 19th century and was recognized as a town in 1856. Minneapolis grew rapidly and was incorporated as a city in 1867. It soon absorbed the older city of St. Anthony. Its name is derived from the combination of the Dakota word “mni” or “minne” and the Greek “polis,” which translates into “Waterfall City.”

Minneapolis’ location at the Falls of St. Anthony made it destined to be a major center of commerce from the very beginning. The falls is the largest source of hydro power on the Mississippi and helped power lumber and power mills around here in the 19th century. The city was once regarded as the flour milling capital of the world. Today, along with Saint Paul, it is the second-largest economic hub in the Midwest, behind Chicago. Minneapolis boasts the fifth-highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the U.S.