Minneapolis, MN

The largest city in Minnesota, Minneapolis straddles both banks of the Mississippi River just north of where the river connects with the Minnesota River. Because Minneapolis shares its boundaries with Saint Paul, the state's capital, the two are known as the Twin Cities. In total, the area has an estimated population of 3.5 million residents; Minneapolis itself has a population of about 375,000.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Minneapolis is divided into a number of different communities, each with distinct neighborhoods.

• Calhoun-Isles, often referred to as "Uptown," contains the business district of Minneapolis. The community derives its name from its most prominent geographical features, Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles. Considered the city's most affluent section, Calhoun-Isles is inhabited by young professionals and old-money millionaires. Notable neighborhoods include Lowry Hill, characterized by Colonial, Mediterranean, English Tudor, and Romanesque architecture, and East Calhoun, which includes the Catherine Gray House, a prominent example of Prairie School architecture.
• Camden is an ethnically diverse community that covers the upper half of the north side of Minneapolis. The community contains both the Camden Industrial Area and the Humboldt Industrial Area. Notable communities include Lind-Bohanon, which encompasses Bohanon Park, North Mississippi Regional Park, and the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway.
• Central Minneapolis includes downtown Minneapolis and the central business district. Within the Downtown East neighborhood is the Mills District, containing many industrial properties left over from the flour-milling era, as well as Mill City Museum, Mill Ruins Park, Guthrie Theater complex, and Hubert. H. Humphrey Metrodome, home to the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, and University of Minnesota Gophers football team. Loring Park is the largest park in the Central community, while Stevens Square, with its many subdivided apartment complexes, is probably the most densely populated neighborhood.
• Longfellowis characterized by bungalow-style homes and contains the Danish American Center, Minnehaha Academy, and the Longfellow House, a replica of the home of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
• Nokomis is named after Lake Nokomis and contains many pre-World War II homes and regional parks. Nokomis East includes the majority of Lake Nokomis.
• St. Anthony, five miles northeast of downtown Minneapolis, has many small neighborhoods and blends classic architecture with bustling commercial districts, industrial work centers, and new residential high-rises. The community has a popular art scene, beautiful Eastern European-style churches and massive grain silos and mills.
• Philips, which has been subdivided into four smaller neighborhoods, is located south of downtown Minneapolis and is considered the most crime-ridden community. Franklin Avenue, in the Ventura Village neighborhood, is the main commercial district.
• Powderhorn takes its name from Powderhorn Park, which includes Powderhorn Lake, as well as playing fields and playgrounds.
• Southwest Minneapolis includes a commercial district in Linden Hills, the Washburn Park Water Tower in East Harriet, and retail centers in King Field.
• University is the academic heart of Minneapolis. The community includes the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, which contains the West Bank campus of the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis Campus, the University neighborhood, which contains most of the Minneapolis Campus, and Prospect Park, a historic neighborhood once served by streetcar.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Known as the "City of Lakes," Minneapolis was once the flour-milling capital of the world, but the hydro-based economy of old gradually gave way to an economy based on commerce, finance, and transportation.

Among its most important industries are medical-device manufacturing and medical research, food and dairy processing, printing and publishing, and machinery and transportation-equipment manufacturing.

A financial hub for the northern Midwest and home to the U.S. Bancorp and the Ninth District of the Federal Reserve System, Minneapolis is also known for its high-technology firms. The city is also one of the most important trucking centers in the United States.

Some major companies located in Minneapolis are:

• General Mills
• U.S. Bancorp
• Target
• Ameriprise Financial

Additionally, both the government and the University of Minnesota are major employers in Minneapolis.

EVENTS

Regardless of the season, there is always something going on in Minneapolis:

• The City of Lakes Loppet is a 35km cross-country ski race that takes place the first week in February.
• In the Heart of the Beast Mask and Puppet Theater stages their annual May Day Parade the first weekend in May. The theme changes every year, so it's never the same parade twice.
• One of the country's largest GLBT pride celebrations takes place every June.
• August hosts the annual Uptown Metris Art Fair.
• The first weekend in October features the Twin Cities Marathon, known as "the most beautiful urban marathon in America."
• Every Wednesday through Sunday throughout November and December you can catch the Holidazzle Parade down Nicollet Mall.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Minneapolis ranks second only to New York City for live theater per capita and is estimated as the third-largest theater market in the United States.

• Theaters include Illusion, Jungle, Mixed Blood, Penumbra, the Brave New Workshop, and the Guthrie , whose building on the Mississippi River in the historic downtown milling district was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.
• The Minnesota Fringe Festival is the largest non-juried performing arts festival in the country.
• Museums include the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, built in 1915 in south-central Minneapolis, the Walker Art Center, which sits atop Lowry Hill, and Weisman Art Museum.
• The Minnesota Orchestra performs at downtown Orchestra Hall.
• Tied with Seattle as America's most literate city, Minneapolis is also a hub for printing and publishing and boasts the Minnesota Center for Book Arts as well as a number of publishing houses.

EDUCATION

Minneapolis has a number of academic institutions, including the main campus facilities of the University of Minnesota, which offers graduate programs that rank among the highest in the United States.

Other notable institutions include the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, North Central Bible College, and Augsburg College.