Minneapolis–Saint Paul

The metropolitan area of ​​Minneapolis -Saint Paul is an area in the U.S. state of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. It consists of the Twin Cities ( Twin Cities ) mentioned cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul as well as surrounding towns and townships. With 3.18 million inhabitants, it is the sixteenth largest metropolitan area in the United States.

Definition

There are different classifications of the U.S. Census Bureau to describe the region. For the agglomeration of the Twin Cities Minneapolis -St. Paul ( Urbanized Area ) is one of the densely built-up area immediately surrounding the two cities. It includes seven counties with a population of approximately 2.85 million inhabitants.

For the metropolitan area (MSA ), Minneapolis - St. Paul - Bloomington are additionally counted six other counties, including two in the east adjoining state of Wisconsin. The population of this area is about 3.28 million.

Another definition is the extended metropolitan region (English: Combined Statistical Area, Abbr: CSA) Minneapolis - St. Paul - St. Cloud. Its members include five more counties to including the compression chamber to the north-west town in St. Cloud. The CSA is with a population of approximately 3.62 million inhabitants, ranked 16th in the United States.

History

Origin and development of the region based on the geographical location in various rivers. They offered European immigrants favorable settlement conditions. The first settlements were established with the construction of Fort Snelling, built in 1820-1825 at the confluence of the Mississippi River and Minnesota River. At the Saint Anthony Falls, the town of Saint Anthony, which was later merged with the growing small city Minneapolis was. On the east side of the Mississippi River several small villages, later Saint Paul were created.

About 1872, the term of "Dual Cities", which later evolved into Twin Cities was created. He illustrates that both cities are independent despite the growing together. While Minneapolis was known for its boulevards and the structured and modern city center and as the "first city of the American West " was, was St. Paul, in contrast, with its narrow streets and the late - Victorian architecture, " the last of the Eastern United States associated city ". The difference between the two cities also stems from that Minneapolis was more populated by immigrants of Scandinavian origin, while in St. Paul residents were predominantly native of Irish and German descent.

Especially the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, there was a rivalry between the two cities. In many areas, such as sports, business, and architecture, both cities competed with each other. In the 20th century the region became a stronger economic and cultural significance. The population growth shifted with the increasing motorization of the cities in the satellite towns. While Minneapolis and St. Paul earlier accounted for the largest share of the total population in the region, fell this with the suburbanization on today around 20 percent.

Economy

In addition to the services sector is of great importance in the region of the processing industry. The most important areas include the electrical, mechanical and food industry. Sixteen of the 500 largest companies in the United States have their headquarters in the region. Thus, it is the largest economic center between Chicago and the West Coast.

Another major economic area includes the high-tech sector. The approximately 1,300 working in research, production and training high-tech companies in the region often work in cooperation with the University of Minnesota and other colleges. The banking and finance industry makes Minneapolis -St. Paul 's most important financial center in the Upper Midwest. The unemployment rate in the region is around 4.7 per cent (Q1 2008 ).

The largest employers are the State of Minnesota ( 55,000 employees) and the U.S. government ( 35,000 employees). In addition, Target, University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, Allina Hospitals & Clinics and Northwest Airlines are among the largest employers ( as of 2005).

Largely unnoticed by the public, the region has become the center of the supplier for engine test benches for large jet engines. In fact, there are only three major manufacturers, two of them ( Cenco Inc. and Aero Systems Engineering, Inc.) have their origin and, headquartered in Minneapolis -Saint -Paul. The third provider ( MDS Aero Support Inc.) maintains at least an office in Minneapolis. This concentration is due to a request from Northwest Airlines in 1958, when the then CENCO company was able to secure a mandate for the development of a test bed. After some time ( 1967), the former partner, however, and threw the company ASE was founded in St. Paul.

Traffic

By automobile transport changed in the 20th century, the development of the region. The population growth shifted from the cities out into the suburbs and gave rise to satellite towns. As a result, created a dense and well- developed road network, which is mainly encountered yet at rush hour to its capacity limits. The Interstate highways 94 and 35, there is also a connection to the national transport routes in north-south and east-west direction.

Public transport is mainly organized by Metro Transit. It performs around 95 per cent of all transport links. After the abolition of trams mid-1950s this was mainly restricted to the bus and coach transport. Of 2004, the Hiawatha Line, a light rail line opened, the Minneapolis with the Minneapolis -St. Paul and Bloomington connects. Compared to other metropolitan areas in the United States, the passenger is considered old-fashioned and inefficient. It could not keep up with the growth and the increased mobility needs of the region in the past.

The largest commercial airport is the Minneapolis -Saint Paul International Airport, operated on the Northwest Airlines and Sun Country Airlines, a cargo and passenger hub. He is the tenth largest airport in the United States and handles annually from approximately 540,000 aircraft movements. The Empire Builder is the only national railway line, which holds on its way from Chicago to Seattle / Portland in the region.

Structure

Counties

Municipalities

The main towns - which invariably possess the status of City - throughout the CSA Minneapolis - St. Paul - St. Cloud:

Core cities

  • Minneapolis
  • Saint Paul

Places with more than 50,000 inhabitants

  • Blaine
  • Bloomington
  • Brooklyn Park
  • Burnsville
  • Coon Rapids
  • Eagan
  • Eden Prairie
  • Lakeville
  • Maple Grove
  • Plymouth
  • St. Cloud
  • Woodbury

Places with more than 20,000 inhabitants

  • Andover
  • Apple Valley
  • Brooklyn Center
  • Champlin
  • Chanhassen
  • Chaska
  • Cottage Grove
  • Crystal
  • Edina
  • Elk River
  • Faribault
  • Farmington
  • Fridley
  • Golden Valley
  • Hastings
  • Inver Grove Heights
  • Lino Lakes
  • Maplewood
  • Minnetonka
  • New Brighton
  • New Hope
  • Northfield
  • Oakdale
  • Prior Lake
  • Ramsey
  • Richfield
  • Rosemount
  • Roseville
  • Savage
  • Shakopee
  • Shoreview
  • South St. Paul
  • St. Louis Park
  • White Bear Lake
  • Winona

Places with more than 10,000 inhabitants

  • Anoka
  • Big Lake
  • Buffalo
  • Columbia Heights
  • East Bethel
  • Forest Lake
  • Hopkins
  • Hugo
  • Hutchinson
  • Mendota Heights
  • Monticello
  • Mounds View
  • North St. Paul
  • North Branch
  • Otsego
  • Red Wing
  • Robbinsdale
  • Sartell
  • Sauk Rapids
  • Stillwater
  • St. Michael
  • Vadnais Heights
  • Waconia
  • West St. Paul
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