Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” the state of
Minnesota
is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, wildlife conservationists and
families. Chiseled into the state’s bedrock by ancient glaciers more
than 10,000 years ago, Minnesota’s lakes and the forests that
surround them are refuge to bald eagles, timber wolves and a wide
variety fish such as walleye, trout and bass.
The terrain is also
diverse with grassland plains and prairies dominating the west and
south, a coniferous (or cone-bearing) forest to the north and the
“Big Woods” hardwood forest to the east. The mighty Mississippi
River begins its 2,552-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico at Lake
Itasca in northern MN.
Amidst the pristine wilderness,
the people of Minnesota have created modern cities that are bustling
testaments to the state’s robust economy. These cities emphasize a
high quality of life, affordable housing, a number of outstanding
public school systems, rich cultural environments, professional
sports and emerging industries. The “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis and
St. Paul are the two largest cities in the state with more than
770,000 people between them. The next three most populated cities
are Duluth (the largest fresh-water port in the world) Rochester and
Bloomington with more than 85,000 people each. More than five million
people live in Minnesota today. A majority of the state’s
residents are homeowners who take advantage of the low cost of
living and affordable housing available to them. From the
checkerboard fields and pastures of the Minnesota farmland to
comfortable single-family homes in city suburbs, real estate in
Minnesota covers all prices ranges, from starter and vacation homes
in the $25,000 range to large ranches at $500,000 and more. In the
larger metropolitan areas, housing is equally as affordable with
prices ranging from around $50,000 to more than $1 million for
estate homes in the most desired locations. All this value is a mere
stone’s throw away from some of the most beautiful, rugged
recreational terrain the country.
