Minneapolis Sports and Concert Events

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is the county seat of Hennepin County, Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 382,618 making it the largest city in Minnesota. The two cities on the Mississippi River together are known as the Twin Cities. Father Louis Hennepin was the first European to explore the area, lending his name to the county in which Minneapolis is located. The nearby Fort Snelling spurred the growth of villages and towns in the area. In the 1840s, settlers were not allowed to stay on land directly controlled by the fort without special permission, so the first settlement near the falls grew on the northeast side of the river, just outside of the fort's jurisdiction. A few years later in 1852, the amount of land controlled by the fort was reduced with an order from U.S. President Millard Fillmore. The village of Minneapolis soon sprung up on the southwest bank of the river. In 1867, Minneapolis became a city, merging with Saint Anthony five years later in 1872. Following an initial burst of activity in the lumber industry, the city's economy developed around the processing of grain from the Great Plains, which is reflected by the presence of companies such as General Mills and Pillsbury in the city. It was the leading producer of grain in the world until 1932. More recently the city has become notable for its medical and financial industries, as well as the largest shopping mall in terms of indoor space in the United States, the Mall of America. Minneapolis was the headquarters of Honeywell International Inc. In the 1980s, Minneapolis took its place as a center of the arts, with the Walker Arts Center leading the nation in appreciation of pop and postmodern art, and a diverse range of musicians, from Prince to Husker Du to the Replacements leading the nation in musical innovation. Minneapolis has a large park system that is interlinked in many places. The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway circles through the city, with a parkway for cars, a bikeway for riders, and a walkway for pedestrians all running in roughly parallel paths along the 50-mile route. One of the most famous parks in Minneapolis is Minnehaha Park, where Minnehaha Falls is located. A number of cultural heritage events take place there every year. Several freshwater lakes, including Lake Nokomis, Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, and Cedar Lake, form a Chain of Lakes across the city. Among the major tein cities professionals sports teams are: Minnesota Lynx (WNBA), Minnesota Thunder (Soccer), Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), Minnesota Twins (MLB), Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Minnesota Vixens (Women's Football), Minnesota Wild (NHL), Saint Paul Saints (Minor League Baseball)