Minneapolis/St Paul
Minneapolis and St Paul, the Twin Cities on the upper course of the Mississippi, together form the largest city in Minnesota, but yet are very different from one another. While the larger city of Minneapolis is the quintessence of the glistening modern
American city, the more spaciously laid out St Paul, built on terraces above the Mississippi, has preserved something of the character of an old frontier town (e.g. in Summit Ave.). Features common to both cities, however, are their extensive parks and their economic importance as centres of the electronics, printing and publishing industries. Minneapolis is also the commercial centre of one of the largest farming areas in the United States and has one of the largest grain exchanges in the world.
St Paul, the older of the two cities, originated as a military post established at the junction of the Minnesota River with the Mississippi in 1807 that later became Fort Snelling. From 1823 it became a port of call for river boats. In 1840 fur traders and trappers established a settlement nearby, originally called Pig's Eye after the leader of the group, a Frenchman, but renamed St Paul in the following year. When Minnesota was incorporated as a town, St Paul was declared state capital.
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