Minneapolis-Saint Paul (Minnesota)

Minneapolis-St Paul is a large metro area (metro population 3,52 million) around the US rivers Mississippi, Minnesota and Saint Croix. It is commonly known as "Twin Cities" for its pair of state's largest cities - Minneapolis (Minnesota's biggest population - around 380,000) and Saint Paul (Minnesota's capital city, with population around 285,000).

The twin cities Minneapolis-Saint Paul were merged into a single metropolis due to their geographical proximity and population expansion. They together form USA Midwest's 2nd-largest economic center - following Chicago Illinois. From all the USA's 382 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Minneapolis-St Paul is the 16th, with a total (combined) city area of approx 115 ml2 (298 km2).

There are different definitions of the region and many refer to Twin Cities as the 7-county region governed under Metropolitan Council governmental agency and planning organization. The US Office of Management and Budget designates 16 counties as Minneapolis-Saint Paul–Bloomington MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, the 16th biggest in the USA. The entire region (known as "Minneapolis-St. Paul MN-WI Combined Statistical Area") features a population of around 3,9 million, ranking it the USA's 14th largest.

Despite the Twin moniker, both towns are independent municipalities, quite distinct from each other, with defined borders. Minneapolis is somewhat younger with its modern skyscrapers, while Saint Paul has often been likened to an European city with quaint neighborhoods and a collection of late-Victorian architecture. Minneapolis has been influenced by its Scandinavian and Lutheran heritage and hosts the biggest Somali population in North America. Saint Paul was influenced by early French, Irish and German roots and currently hosts a Hmong population.