What Are the Twin Cities in Minnesota? (Where The Name Comes From)
If you’re visiting Minnesota or are new to the state and have heard a local reference them you may be wondering ‘what are the Twin Cities?’
What are they? Where are they? What does that mean? All very good questions about these mysterious cities in Minnesota.
As someone who’s lived in Minnesota for my entire life, I’ve heard and used this phrase thousands of times, and am here to give you an answer.
Keep reading to get a full answer as to what the heck ‘Twin Cities’ means.
What Are the Twin Cities?
The Twin Cities are a set of large cities in southern Minnesota, made up of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Minneapolis and St. Paul are just two of the cities located in the large metropolitan area that surrounds them.
The area is often times considered the ‘Twin Cities Metro,’ which bulks together all of the smaller cities around them.
Although the two large cities themselves are just considered to be Minneapolis and St. Paul.
When you’re in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, you may hear locals nickname this area ‘The Cities.’
St. Paul is the capital city of Minnesota, and Minneapolis has the largest population in the entire state.
Other cities within the metro region include Bloomington, Roseville, Edina, and Mendota Heights.
The Twin Cities Metro covers about the area from Blaine in the north, Plymouth to the west, Burnsville to the south, and Woodbury to the east.
Where Are the Twin Cities Located?
Minneapolis and St. Paul are located in southern Minnesota, about 2 hours north of the Iowa border.
Both of the cities are located entirely within the Minnesota border.
They’re just under an hour from the Wisconsin border to the east, and about 3 hours from South Dakota to the west.
Minneapolis is located on the western side of the Mississippi River, while St. Paul is on the eastern half.
Minnesota is located in the upper Midwest of the United States.
Why Do They Call Them the Twin Cities?
If you’ve ever wondered what are the Twin Cities and why are they called that, then you certainly aren’t alone.
These two cities are called this because of their close proximity to each other as well as the way that they overlap one another.
They have similar building structures, roadways, shopping, dining, educational systems, and more.
When you’re traveling between the two, you may not even realize that you’ve crossed into the other, because of how close they are.
Although each city is independent of the other and has borders that separate them, they have been given this nickname because of their “twin-like” attributes.
History of Minneapolis & St. Paul Becoming the Twin Cities
Oddly enough, these are not the two cities that were known as the Twin Cities, because back when they were established, they were very far away from one another.
A small town named St. Anthony existed in the area of northern Minneapolis near St. Anthony Falls.
Minneapolis was then created after Saint Anthony, and the two later became one city, rather than two separate ones.
As the years went on, roads were built and Minneapolis and St. Paul became much closer to one another.
For several years, the two developed independently before finally being joined via Interstate 94 (I-94) in the 1960s.
How Far Apart Are the Twin Cities?
The Twin Cities of Minnesota are located right next to each other, and the center of each city is just about 12 miles from the other.
In fact, when you’re visiting, you may not even know when you cross over from one to the next, because they flow together.
The only thing that really separates the two from being combined is the mighty Mississippi River, which flows right between them.
Minneapolis is on the left/western side of the river, while St. Paul is across the bridge on the right/eastern side.
Fun fact: The first bridge to ever span the Mississippi River was built in Minnesota in 1855, called the Father Louis Hennepin Suspension Bridge.
What is Considered the Twin Cities?
Technically, only Minneapolis and St. Paul are the Twin Cities, because ‘twin’ means ‘two.’
But, many people consider the entire area around these two large metro cities to be given this nickname.
There are several smaller cities and towns located within the metro area, stretching all the way from Blaine, to Shakopee, to White Bear Lake, and more.
Aside from just cities and towns, there are 7 counties in this region, including Carver, Anoka, Washington, Scott, Ramsey, Dakota, and Hennepin.
And almost 3 million people live in the area, making it the largest metro area in Minnesota and the third largest in the Midwest, just behind Chicago and Detroit.
What is Special About the Twin Cities?
One of the reasons that Minneapolis and St. Paul are so popular is because it’s the area around the state’s capital city.
These two large areas also house most of the state’s population, are a hub for shopping and dining, and are home to all of the state’s professional sports teams.
Both of the cities are also home to one of the country’s largest riverways, the Mississippi River, along with the St. Croix River.
Which is Better, Minneapolis or St. Paul?
When comparing the two major cities that make up the Twin Cities, it can be tough to decide which is better, Minneapolis or St. Paul.
A few key differences include population, size, architecture, and the number of restaurants and shops.
Minneapolis is much larger in population and size, and tends to have more and better restaurants and places to shop.
St. Paul is the state’s capital city and has more history, as well as architecture. Here you’ll find the capital building, the Cathedral of Saint Paul, and the Landmark Center.
It can be really tough to decide which is better, but I’d say that I personally prefer Minneapolis, but many others would say the opposite!
FAQs
What is the Population of Minneapolis?
As the largest city by population in Minnesota, Minneapolis has about 425,000 people living in the city.
What is the Population of St. Paul?
St. Paul, Minnesota has a population of about 300,000 people, making it the second-largest city by population in the state.
What Are the Sister Cities in Minnesota?
The Sister Cities of Minnesota, otherwise known as the Twin Cities, are Minneapolis and St. Paul in the southern half of the state.
Are the Twin Cities Expensive?
Compared to other large cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul are fairly inexpensive places to live.
Conclusion: What Are the Twin Cities?
Whether you’re visiting or are moving to Minnesota, you may have found yourself wondering, what are the Twin Cities?
Minneapolis and St. Paul make up this large metropolitan area in southern Minnesota, that has become one of the largest in the Midwest.
Together, they’re known as sister cities and almost merge together in many ways.
