Minnesota: Minneapolis and St. Paul

The Twin Cities - Minneapolis and St. Paul

are the two major metropolitan areas that hug the shores of the Mississippi River and form the state's center of government and business and the region's cultural epicenter.

With their business districts separated by a mere 10 miles of interstate highway, these "twins" share a growing economy, a hardy population with an undying love of the outdoors, and a natural wonderland of lakes, rivers, and parks.

Named "Gateway to the Land of 10,000 Lakes," these sisters cities are a great base camp for outdoor enthusiasts.

Though the cities share much in common, they have distinctly different characters.
The differences are the result of the citys' different formations.
St. Paul's early years were defined by shady characters and under-the-table dealings.
While the city's Summit Avenue played host to F. Scott Fitzgerald and railroad magnate James J. Hill, gangsters such as John Dillinger, Baby-Face Nelson, and Ma Barker planned their out-of-town crimes from St. Paul's best neighborhoods, restaurants, and clubs.
However, St. Paul's criminal beginnings soon gave way to a more orderly municipality when the city became the capital of Minnesota.

St. Paul now feels more like a village with its narrow, winding streets lined with historic buildings.
A slow-paced, conservative city, St. Paul boast lovely classical architecture, including the beautiful St. Paul's Cathedral, City Hall, and the State House.

Minneapolis, on the other hand, had a much quieter beginning as a center for trade.
It became a prime location for the flour industry and eventually grew into the state's business and transportation center.