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The Land of 10,000 Lakes is a pretty fascinating place, but those unfamiliar with it may not be aware of some of the most interesting Minnesota facts. For example, did you know that Minnesota is the 12th largest state in the U.S.? Maybe you knew that the number of lakes in Minnesota is well over 10,000. In fact, there are more than 14,000 lakes in the state that are over 10 acres. To help you win any upcoming trivia night or just learn a little more about our great state, here are 14 facts about Minnesota we thought folks might like to know about.
1. The Land of 10,000 Lakes actually has more than 14,000 named lakes that are 10 acres or larger.
In terms of total number of lakes, Minnesota ranks fourth, behind Alaska (which has a whopping 3 million-plus), Michigan, and Florida.
2. We invented water skiing.
Well, technically speaking, Ralph Samuelson of Lake City invented water skiing, but we all take credit for it.
3. Post-It Notes were born here.
Art Fry, a scientist at Minnesota’s own 3M Corporation, invented the product when the developer of a tacky, reusable adhesive, 3M scientist Dr. Spencer Silver, could not come up with an application for his invention.
4. Although known for its deep Scandinavian roots, Minnesota is home to some of the largest Hmong and Somali communities in the U.S.
Minnesota boasts the largest population of Somali residents in the U.S. and the second largest Hmong community (after California) in the nation.
5. There’s a 60-foot-tall magnetic rock in northern Minnesota.
The hike out is lovely, and yes, this stone column is actually magnetic. To see this incredible natural feature in person, you will need to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails-the Magnetic Rock Trail to be exact. This out-and-back trail is approximately 3 miles and considered quite easy, aside from some rocky terrain and slight elevation gain.
6. Water only flows out of Minnesota, never into it.
With the exception of a few border streams that cross into the state and leave again, almost all of the streams and rivers in Minnesota originate in the state.
7. Speaking of which, the headwaters of the Mississippi River is right here in Minnesota.
You can walk across it at its Lake Itasca outflow in Itasca State Park, where it starts its 2,350-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico.
8. You must drive through Canada (or cross a lake) to visit part of Minnesota.
The Northwest Angle, a Lake of the Woods peninsula, is part of Minnesota but only shares a land connection with Manitoba. It’s the northernmost point in the Lower 48 states.
9. More turkeys are hatched in the Gopher State than anywhere else in the country.
Minnesota produces around 35 million birds annually. North Carolina, Arkansas, and Indiana respectively produce the second, third, and fourth greatest numbers of turkeys on a yearly basis. Each of these latter three states sends between 20 and 30 million birds to market every year.
10. Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” were stolen in Minnesota.
The notorious heist occurred when they were on display at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids. Part of the museum is located in the childhood home of Garland, who was a Minnesotan. The shoes were eventually recovered, and in 2024 they set a record for the sale of movie memorabilia at auction. The museum had hoped to acquire them for its permanent collection, but it couldn’t raise sufficient funds to top the $32.5 million winning bid.
11. Minnesota is home to the delightful meat treat Spam.
You can even take a tour of the Spam Museum if you visit Hormel headquarters in Austin. It’s a surprisingly fascinating stop.
12. Two Minnesotans have won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Bob Dylan, of Hibbing, in 2016, and Sinclair Lewis of Sauk Centre in 1930. Lewis’s boyhood home is now a museum.
13. More gray wolves live in Minnesota than in any other of the Lower 48 states.
This is because the state’s wolf population was the only one to have avoided extirpation in the 19th and 20th centuries.
14. The movie “Fargo” isn’t actually set in Fargo.
The 1995 movie, “Fargo,” which was set in Minnesota, left a lot of folks thinking that the city was located in the state. Well, it’s not. It’s located in North Dakota, across the Red River from Moorhead, Minnesota.
So, are you ready to tackle your next trivia night? Minnesota is truly a fascinating place with some quirks that we sure love. For even more things you should know about our great state, check out these weird laws in Minnesota you might not know about. And take a look at these surefire signs that your roots grow deep in Minnesota.
