INNESO'T.A, one of the United States, lies in lat. 43° 30' to 49° n., and long. 89° 29' to IV.1 97° 5' west. It is 380 tn. in extreme length from n. to s., and from 183 to 337 from e. to w., containing an area of 83.531 sq. miles. It is bounded on the n. by the British possessions, from which it is separated by the chain of lakes and rivers connecting the lake of the Woods with lake Superior, and by the 49th parallel of latitude; e. by lake Superior and Wisconsin ; s. by Iowa; and w. by Dakota territory (q.v.), from which it is partly divided by the Red river of the north. It contains 75 counties, and its chief towns are St. Paul, the capital, Red Wing, Winona, 'Hastings, Minneapolis, etc. Minnesota contains the summit of the central table-land of the North American continent, where, within a few miles of each other, are the sources of rivers which find their outlets in Hudson's bay, the gulf of St. Lawrence, and the gulf of Mexico. The state is abun dantly watered by the Mississippi, Minnesota, Red river of the north, Rainy Lake river, and their branches, and has inure than 1500 in. of navigable rivers. The country abounds also in lakes and ponds. The sources of the great rivers are 1680 ft. above the level of the sea, Though the most northerly state in the union, Minnesota is one of the most beautiful, fertile, and salubrious. The winters are long and cold, but equable, and the
country is rich in fertile lands and forests. The clea•waters are stored with fish, and game is abundant. The scenery is varied and beautiful. The falls of St. Anthony on the Mississippi afford abundant water-power. Near these is the beautiful cascade of the Minnehalia, or laughing water, 45 ft. perpendicular, and a cavern, explored to the depth of 1000 feet. Minnesota began to be settled in 1845, though it was explored by the French and trading-posts established in 1680. The chief route to the British settlements of the Red river of the north lies through ])finnesota,. The state has plenty of good timber, and is rich in minerals, including gold, iron, copper, coal, and lead. In 1870 its agrieul• tural products were valued at $33,446,400. In the same year it had 6 universities and colleges, and 2,424 public schools. In Jan., 1875, 1940 m. of railway were completed, and about 1000 more projected, towards which grants of land have been made to the extent of nearly $000,000. Powerful Indian tribes occupy portions of the state. The state government was organized in 1858. Pop. '60, 172,023; in '70, 439,706.