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List of cities in Minnesota facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Minnesota in United States
Map of the United States with Minnesota highlighted

Minnesota is a cool state located in the Midwestern United States. It's known for its many lakes and beautiful nature! In 2020, about 5.7 million people lived in Minnesota, making it the 22nd most populated state. But it's quite a large state by land area, being the 14th biggest.

Minnesota is split into 87 areas called counties. It also has 853 official cities and towns! These cities can be very big, like Minneapolis with over 425,000 people, or very small, like Kinbrae with only 12 people in 2022. Cities in Minnesota are grouped into different classes (first, second, third, or fourth) based on how many people live there. This helps the state government make rules for them.

Big Cities in Minnesota

 †  This city is a county seat (like the main town for a county).
 ††  This city is the state capital and a county seat!

Minnesota has many cities, but some are much larger than others. Here are some of the biggest and most important cities you'll find in the state:

  • Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota. It's a busy place with lots of businesses, parks, and cultural spots.
  • Saint Paul is the state capital, which means it's where the state government works. It's right next to Minneapolis, and together they are often called the "Twin Cities."
  • Rochester is another major city, famous for its world-renowned medical center, the Mayo Clinic.
  • Bloomington is known for being home to the Mall of America, one of the biggest shopping malls in the United States!
  • Duluth is a port city on Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes. It's a beautiful place with great views and outdoor activities.

Many cities in Minnesota also serve as a "county seat." This means they are the main city in their county, where the county government offices are located.

Here's a look at some of the most populated cities in Minnesota, based on estimates from 2022:

2022 Rank City 2022 Estimate County
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 Minneapolis † &&&&&&&&&0425096.&&&&&0425,096 Hennepin
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 Saint Paul †† &&&&&&&&&0303176.&&&&&0303,176 Ramsey
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 Rochester † &&&&&&&&&0121878.&&&&&0121,878 Olmsted
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 Bloomington &&&&&&&&&&087797.&&&&&087,797 Hennepin
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 Duluth † &&&&&&&&&&086619.&&&&&086,619 St. Louis
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06 Brooklyn Park &&&&&&&&&&083324.&&&&&083,324 Hennepin
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 Plymouth &&&&&&&&&&078683.&&&&&078,683 Hennepin
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08 Woodbury &&&&&&&&&&078561.&&&&&078,561 Washington
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09 Lakeville &&&&&&&&&&074553.&&&&&074,553 Dakota
&&&&&&&&&&&&&010.&&&&&010 Blaine &&&&&&&&&&071739.&&&&&071,739 Anoka
Ramsey
&&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011 Maple Grove &&&&&&&&&&070582.&&&&&070,582 Hennepin
&&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012 St. Cloud † &&&&&&&&&&069568.&&&&&069,568 Stearns
Benton
Sherburne
&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013 Eagan &&&&&&&&&&067534.&&&&&067,534 Dakota
&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014 Burnsville &&&&&&&&&&063936.&&&&&063,936 Dakota
&&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015 Coon Rapids &&&&&&&&&&062785.&&&&&062,785 Anoka

See also

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List of cities in Minnesota Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.