Community Profiles Now Include More Places to Explore

We've enhanced the "Places" section of our Community Profiles to make it easier for you to discover popular nearby places.

Minnesota Gazetteer

Minnesota - Basic Information

Became a State: May 11, 1858 - 32nd State
Population: 5,303,925 (2010 Census) - Ranks 21st
Land Area: 79,626.7 square miles - Ranks 14th
Population Density: 66.6 persons per square mile - Ranks 31st
Housing Units: 2,347,201 (2010 Census)
Housing Unit Density: 29.5 housing units per square mile
July 1, 2023 Estimates: Minnesota Data and Demographics
State Capital: Saint Paul
State Website: Official State of Minnesota Website
Minnesota State Flag
Minnesota state flag

Quick & Easy Ways to...

  1. Get Current Demographic Data for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  2. View Boundary Maps, for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  3. Locate Physical, Cultural, and Historical Features

Use HTL Address Research for a Minnesota Address and get...

Boundary Maps, Demographic Data, School Zones Review maps and data for the neighborhood, city, county, ZIP Code, and school zone. July 1, 2023, data includes home values, household income, percentage of homes owned, rented or vacant, etc.


Minnesota Neighborhood Explorer

NOTE: The BEST tool for researching a neighborhood is the HTL Address Research Tool (above). However, if you do not have an address, the Minnesota Neighborhood Explorer is the SECOND-BEST-TOOL to research a neighborhood (it provides a subset of the information that the Address Research Tool provides), but you can get a report by simply marking a spot on a map.

The Minnesota Neighborhood Explorer helps you to research any Minnesota neighborhood (census block group) and get home values, average household income, owner/renter/ occupancy rates, projected growth rates, boundary maps, comparisons to other communities, and much more.

Simply mark a spot on a state map and you'll have your results within 3-seconds!

Minnesota Neighborhood Explorer


Minnesota History

Minnesota State Flower
Minnesota State Flower - Pink & White Ladys Slipper

The area of Minnesota was partially included in the original territory of the United States, being part of lands ceded by four states to the United States and designated in 1787 as the "Territory northwest of the River Ohio." The United States acquired the remainder of the area from France in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase and by a convention signed with Great Britain in 1818 that extended the northern boundary along the 49th parallel westward from a line drawn due north from the source of the Mississippi River. Minnesota Territory was organized on March 3, 1849, from unorganized area formerly within Iowa and Wisconsin territories. The territory included all of the present-day state of Minnesota, the eastern part of North Dakota and South Dakota, and a small part of Nebraska. Minnesota Territory was reduced in size in 1854 when the portion in present-day Nebraska was included in Nebraska Territory. Minnesota was admitted to the Union on May 11, 1858, as the 32nd state, with generally the same boundary as the present state. The remaining part of Minnesota Territory was not assigned until the organization of Dakota Territory in 1861; in 1860 census reports, the area was identified as "unorganized Dakota."

Census data for Minnesota are available beginning with the 1850 census. The 1850 population is for the entire area of Minnesota Territory, including population in area not in the present state.

Data for the legally established state of Minnesota are available beginning with the 1860 census.

Minnesota Geographical Areas

See: Geographic Terms & Concepts

Counties & County Equivalents

Interactive Map of Minnesota Counties | Static Overview Map of Minnesota Counties

There are 87 counties in Minnesota. All counties are functioning governmental units, each governed by a county board of commissioners.


County Subdivisions

Minnesota has 2,760 county subdivisions which are recognized as minor civil divisions (MCDs). There are 1,785 active townships and 23 inactive townships.  There are 845 incorporated places which are independent of any county subdivision creating 893 county subdivisions that serve as MCDs.  There are 56 unorganized territories. In addition, there are three county subdivisions not defined covering water area.  Each township is governed by a board of supervisors.

Koochiching County is covered entirely by unorganized territories and independent places.  Lake of the Woods County is shown as having 23 nonfunctioning townships as part of an agreement between the county and the Census Bureau.

Places (Incorporated Cities, Towns & Census Designated Places (CDPs))

Minnesota State Bird
Minnesota State Bird - Common Loon

Minnesota has 906 places; 854 incorporated places and 52 census designated places (CDPs). The incorporated places are all cities. Nine cities – Aurora, Beardsley, Calumet, Johnson, Kinney, Marble, Nashwauk, Ortonville, and Taconite – are dependent within county subdivision. There are 845 cities that are independent of any township or unorganized territory.

Alphabetical List of Cities, Towns, CDPs and Other Populated Places
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q, R | S | T | U, V | W, X, Y, Z

Minnesota Civil Features

Minnesota Civil Features: Political Subdivisions, Native Areas, Land Grants, etc. - sorted by Census Class Codes.

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas

There are 7 Metropolitan and 17 Micropolitan Statistical Areas in Minnesota. MN Metopolitan & Micropolitan Areas

Minnesota ZIP Code Tabulation Areas

There are 890 ZIP Code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in Minnesota. View Minnesota ZIP Codes and ZIP Code Maps.

School Districts

Minnesota has 339 unified school districts. View Minnesota Public and Private Schools.

Congressional Districts

Minnesota has 8 congressional districts. An interactive map shows the contact information for each Representative as well as the boundaries for each Minnesota district. View Map of Minnesota Congressional Districts.

State Legislative Districts

There are 67 state senate districts and 134 state house districts in Minnesota.

American Indian Areas

Minnesota has 13 federally recognized American Indian areas. There are 11 federally recognized American Indian area reservations, 8 with off-reservation trust land. There is one trust land. In addition, there is one off-reservation trust land associated with a reservation in a neighboring state.

Minnesota Physical, Cultural and Historic Features

  1. Minnesota Physical Features such as lakes, islands, streams, valleys, summits, etc.
  2. Minnesota Cultural Features such as schools, churches, hospitals, parks, dams, reservoirs, etc.
  3. Minnesota Historical Features and Minnesota Historic Landmarks

Minnesota Maps

  • To find a ZIP Code: input the address in the top-left search box of any ZIP Code Map.
  • To find the County: input the address in the top-left search box of the interactive MN map.
  • To find the School Attendance Zone: input the address in the top-left search box of any MN school map

Quick & Easy Ways to...

  1. Get Current Demographic Data for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  2. View Boundary Maps, for Cities, Towns, and ZIP Codes
  3. Locate Physical, Cultural, and Historical Features

Minnesota Census Data Comparison Tool

Compare Minnesota July 1, 2023 Data
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