Nicknames: North Star State; Gopher State; Land of 10,000 Lakes
Origin of name: From a Dakota Indian word meaning “sky-tinted water”
Capital: St. Paul
Governor: Tim Pawlenty, R (to Jan. 2011)
Entered Union (rank): May 11, 1858 (32)
Motto: L'Étoile du Nord (The North Star)

Minnesota is a land with tales to tell -- Vikings and Voyageurs, Paul Bunyan and Charles Lindbergh. But the real focus is its lakes, noted for their fine fishing. Its thriving cities and hundreds of resorts and campgrounds beckon today's explorers to discover this unique region of the country.