Twin Cities Region, MN Land for Sale

The Twin Cities region is located in the center and eastern part of the Minnesota, and borders Wisconsin to the east. Its name comes from the two largest cities in the region, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, which is the state capital, and includes that area and the surrounding counties. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul-Bloomington MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical area is the 16th largest in the U.S., and the area is 14th in population. Both cities are independent municipalities with defined borders, with Saint Paul being the older of the two, with well-preserved late-Victorian architecture, and Minneapolis younger with more modern skyscrapers. There are a number of large cities and suburbs surrounding the area as well, including Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth and Maple Grove, some of the largest.

As with much of Minnesota, there are numerous lakes in the region, and the cities have some extensive park systems as well. Lake Minnetonka, on the western side of the region, is made up of a complex arrangement of channels and large bays. There are dozens of parks, trails and green space, which includes the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, with 72 miles of public riverfront. With two large cities at the center of the region, it is also an area with upscale lodging, dining, award-winning theater, shopping and other cultural destinations.

The Twin Cities region has a large number of companies headquartered there, and boasts the second largest economy in the Midwest. The region is the second largest manufacturer of medical devices in North America. There are a number of colleges and universities in the region, most notably North Central University, University of Minnesota, Minnesota State University and Minneapolis College Art and Design.

Hennepin County is located right in the middle of the Twin Cities region of Minnesota. The county is named for Father Louis Hennepin, a missionary who recorded some of the earliest accounts of the area in the late 1600's. It is the most populated county in the state, the 34th most populated in the U.S., and Minneapolis is its county seat, Minnesota's most populous city. The county is one of 17 Minnesota counties with more savanna soil, one of only two counties with more than 75% of its area covered by savanna soils. Saint Anthony Falls is in this county, close to Minneapolis, and is the highest waterfall on the Mississippi River. In the 19th century, the falls were converted into a series of dams, providing locks for barges and boats to move between the parts of the river above and below the dams. The major economic centers of the county are in downtown Minneapolis and Bloomington. There are a number of colleges and universities in Hennepin County, including Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, North Central University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus, University of St. Thomas, Hameline University, and several other community colleges and branches.

Wright County is in the northwest corner of Minnesota's Twin Cities region. It is named for Silas Write, a New York politician. Buffalo is the largest city and the county seat, but the cities of Monticello, Otsego and St. Michael are of comparable size. The Mississippi River forms a border to the northeast, and Wright is one of the 17 counties with mostly savanna soils, and one of two with more than 75% of its area covered with savanna soils. There are 315 lakes in Wright County, with Clearwater Lake, Buffalo Lake, Sugar Lake being the largest. There are nearly 25 county and regional parks in Wright County.

Washington County in the eastern part of Minnesota's Twin Cities region. It is fifth in population size in Minnesota, and it borders Wisconsin and the St. Croix River to the east. It is named for U.S. President George Washington. Stillwater is the county seat, but there are several other larger cities, including Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Hastings, White Bear Lake and Forest Lake, and several other small cities, most of which are suburbs of Saint Paul. A portion of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and Saint Croix National Scenic Railway are located in Washington County. Other attractions include Afton State Park, Afton Alps Ski Area, Gateway State Trail and William O'Brien State Park, and there are 7 county parks. Early economic development was dependent on the logging and lumber industries, as the county was heavily forested. As the forests were depleted, the county became primarily agricultural. Some of the county's economy developed tourism and recreation, with the growth of Saint Paul and neighboring Ramsey County.