Minneapolis, MN USDA Loan

Minneapolis (/ˌmɪniˈæpəlɪs/ ⓘ MIN-ee-AP-ə-lis), officially the City of Minneapolis, is a city in the state of Minnesota and the county seat of Hennepin County. As of the 2020 census the population was 429,954, making it the state’s most populous city. Nicknamed the “City of Lakes”, Minneapolis is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks, and waterfalls. Minneapolis was the 19th-century lumber and flour milling capital of the world and has preserved its financial clout into the 21st century. It occupies both banks of the Mississippi River and adjoins Saint Paul, the state capital of Minnesota.

The site of Minneapolis was originally inhabited by Dakota people. European settlement was founded along Saint Anthony Falls—the only natural waterfall on the Mississippi River—on land north of Fort Snelling. Its early growth was attributed to its proximity to the fort and the falls providing power for industrial activity. Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding area are collectively known as the Twin Cities, a metropolitan area home to 3.69 million inhabitants.

Minneapolis has one of the most extensive public park systems in the U.S.; many of these parks are connected by the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. Biking and walking trails run through many parts of the city including the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska, and Lake Harriet, and Minnehaha Falls. Minneapolis has cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Minneapolis is the birthplace of General Mills, the Pillsbury brand, and the Target Corporation. The city’s cultural offerings include the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the First Avenue nightclub, and four professional sports teams. Minneapolis is home to the University of Minnesota’s main campus. The city’s public transport is provided by Metro Transit and the international airport, serving the Twin Cities region, is located towards the south on the city limits.

Despite its well-regarded quality of life, Minneapolis faces a pressing challenge in the form of stark disparities among its residents—arguably the most critical issue confronting the city in the 21st century. Governed by a mayor-council system, Minneapolis has a political landscape dominated by the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), with Jacob Frey serving as mayor since 2018.

About a half dozen Native American nations inhabited Minnesota, and in modern times, two nations dominated: the Dakota (also known as the Sioux) and the Ojibwe (or Anishinaabe or Chippewa). Evidence says the Dakota were state residents in or before 1000 AD. Dakota are the only inhabitants who claimed no other land; they have no traditions of having imigrated. The Ojibwe migrated west from the Atlantic states to northern Minnesota where they displaced many Dakota by the 17th century. In the Dakota language, the city’s name is Bde Óta Othúŋwe (‘Many Lakes Town’).