©J. Polo
Saint Paul is the capital city of Minnesota

Minnesota is the 32nd state of the United States of America. It is located in the Upper Midwest region of the country as well as within the Great Lakes region of North America. Minnesota is the northernmost U.S. state apart from Alaska, bordered by Wisconsin and Lake Superior to the east, North Dakota and South Dakota to the west, the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba to the north, and Iowa to the south. Known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota has about 11,842 lakes and 6,564 rivers and streams, with Lake Superior being the largest and deepest body of water in the state. Being part of the vast interior plains and having a continental climate gave the state a unique environment defined by its natural features: the Great Plains running northwest to southwest, the northern boreal forest northeast to central region, then the eastern temperate forest of deciduous trees and shrubs from the central to the southeast region.
Minnesota’s fauna include animals such as the pine marten, elk, bison, whitetail deer and bobcat.

Before European settlement, Minnesota was populated by several tribes of Native Americans. The French were the first colonist that settled in the territories that would become Minnesota, tapping on the fur resource provided by the population of cold temperate mammalian animals in the region. At the end of the American Revolutionary War when the Second Treaty of Paris was signed, portions of lands became part of the United States, and the rest of the region followed next with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Minnesota was established in 1849, and a few years later, in 1858, the region became part of the United States as the 32nd state.

At the turn of the century, Minnesota turned into a highly industrialized state. Forestry remains a significant industry, with finished products coming from wood such as paper remain a significant cash product. With huge swaths of land dedicated to agriculture, Minnesota is the nation’s primary source of sugar beets, sweet corn, and green peas,

Education in Minnesota

When Minnesota was admitted into the union in 1858, one of the very first acts of legislature was the establishment of the normal school at Winona. This marks the very first step of the state’s commitment to education, and today, the educational system in Minnesota is considered one of the best in the nation. In 2007, high school students in Minnesota earned the highest average score in the nation on the ACT exam.

Minnesota is home to dozens of public schools, universities and colleges. It is also home to more than 20 private schools, colleges and universities, seven of which annually rank among the best schools in the United States according to various news and media outlets, such as the U.S. News and World Report.

Minnesota Military Boarding Schools

Minnesota is home to several military schools and programs offered by private institutions all over the state. Currently, there are dozens of private military schools, college prep military schools, public elementary military schools, as well as military programs offered by state colleges. To find a military boarding school, just click on any of the links below.