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 by traveldave
Originally called Albion, the name was changed to Minneapolis in 1852. Minneapolis is a derivation of Minnehaha which means "Laughing Waters" in the dialect of the Mdewakantan band of the Dakota Indian tribe, and polis which is Greek for "city."
Early in the city's history, the Mississippi River was an important means of transportation, mainly for the shipping of logs cut in the surrounding forests. Many sawmills were built along the banks of the Mississippi River and lumber became the first major industry in the fledgling community.
The lumber industry was soon overtaken by milling, however. A cold-hardy strain of wheat that could be grown in the cold climate of the Upper Midwest was developed, and much of the area was converted to wheat farms. Because of the transportation potential provided by the river, and its central location in the Upper Midwest, Minneapolis became a center for milling, or the grinding of wheat into flour. Within a couple of decades, Minneapolis became the world's largest producer of flour.
After the First World War, the milling of flour became less important and many of the mills closed. But as milling diminished in importance, other industries, such as finance, banking, and transportation helped spur the city's economy.
Nowadays, Minneapolis is the economic, commercial, transportation, and cultural center of the Upper Midwest. It, along with its twin city, Saint Paul, forms the center of a metropolitan area of 3,570,000 inhabitants known as the Twin Cities. Leave a Comment
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 by traveldave
A retired fur trader named Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant established a saloon in the new settlement, which took the name of Pig's Eye Landing. However, Father Lucien Galtier arrived in 1841 and built a chapel dedicated to Saint Paul. He asked that the settlement's name be changed to Saint Paul, which it was.
In 1849, Minnesota became a territory, and Saint Paul was named its capital. When Minnesota became a state in 1858, the city remained its capital.
Due to its strategic location on the Mississippi River, Saint Paul became an important center for trade and commerce, especially the fur trade.
Saint Paul continued to prosper and grow, and now, along with its twin city, Minneapolis, forms the center of a metropolitan area of 3,570,000 inhabitants known as the Twin Cities. Leave a Comment
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 Lake Superior as bubbling
cauldron by zrimLeave a Comment
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 a wintery woodsy scene by zrimLeave a Comment
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 The Vast Cold Lake by zrimLeave a Comment
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 Serenity in the birch forest by zrimLeave a Comment
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 by zrimLeave a Comment
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 The Minnesota River by zrim
The Minnesota River cannot compare with those other mighty M rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi. But it is a river that we can call our own. Leave a Comment
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 by christi_arneLeave a Comment
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 Lakes and more Lakes by zuriga
See a play at the Guthrie or check out the art museums. Shop downtown and never have to walk outside! Leave a Comment
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