Downtown
Three stadiums, river walks, world class theaters, live music venues, hotels, shopping and dining options – you’ll never run out of things to do downtown.
City By Nature Basics
Minneapolis is the perfect blend of natural beauty and urban sophistication. No other American city has a chain of lakes, the mighty Mississippi and 200 miles of walking, biking and cross country ski trails within the city limits, literally steps from the most vibrant arts and music scene outside NYC, the best shopping in the region and museums among the finest in the nation.
From ski hills to shopping malls, muskie to Monet, biking to beef bourguignon, Minneapolis is the American city where natural and urban drama share a single stage.
Continue below to read the first sections of the media kit and learn more about the City by Nature.
Note: The content in this section will be updated at least once per year. Please check with individual businesses before making plans.
The Basics/Fast Facts
Population
U.S. Census
Minneapolis: 429,954 (2020)
Hennepin County: 1,281,565 (2020)
Downtown: 56,748 (2024)
16th largest metro area in the U.S.
State Population
5,706,494 (2020 U.S. Census estimate)
Geography Area: 86,943 square miles
Water: 7,326 square miles of Minnesota are covered by water
Geography
Latitude: 44° 58’ 39’’
North Longitude: 93° 15’ 56’’
West Area: 59 square miles or 37,516 acres
Land: 35,244 acres
Water: 2,324 acres
Lakes: 22
Elevation: 824 feet above sea level
Total Number of Minnesota Lakes: 11,842 of 10 acres or greater (22 within Minneapolis city limits)
Weather
- Average high in January: 24° F
- Average high in July: 83° F
- Average annual precipitation: 30.64 inches
- Average annual snowfall: 55 inches
Other Facts
TALLEST BUILDING
IDS Center: 57 stories, 775 feet
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Public: 3 Private: 8
MINNESOTA
Settled: 1858
Capitol: Saint Paul
State Bird: Common Loon
State Fish: Walleye Pike
State Flower: Pink and White Lady’s Slipper
MINNEAPOLIS HISTORIC NICKNAMES
Mill City
City of Lakes
Annual Visitor Statistics (Metro Area)
2022: 29.5 million
2020: 19.7 million
2019: 34.6 million
2018: 34.5 million
2017: 33.3 million
2016: 32.5 million
2012: 27.9 million
2008: 17.9 million
2000: 11.1 million
1990: 4.5 million
Sales & Lodging Tax
| SALES TAX* | RATE |
| Minnesota State Sales Tax | 6.875% |
| Minneapolis City Sales Tax | 0.500% |
| Hennepin County Ballpark Tax | 0.150% |
| Hennepin County Transit Tax | 0.500% |
| City Lodging Tax | 3.000% |
City Entertainment Tax | 3.000% |
| Metro Transportation Tax | 0.750% |
| Metro Housing Tax | 0.250% |
| TOTAL | 15.025% |
*There is no sales tax on apparel or shoes in Minnesota
Neighborhoods
Stroll from the iconic Sculpture Garden by Loring Park to the picturesque Mississippi river to catch the sunset on the skyline in Northeast. Get the high score at an all-night pinball bar in Lyn Lake. Or enjoy an incredible Ethiopian meal in Cedar-Riverside. All without ever leaving the city limits. This is what living and exploring Minneapolis is all about.
Central Business District — Theater District
The Central Business District has high quality dining options, a thriving nightlife that includes a whole block of theaters, and of course the famous skyway system that'll make you forget all about the subzero temperature outside. Conveniently, some of downtown's best hotels are here in the thick of it, meaning many days of amusement can be planned without stepping a toe into a car.
North Loop & Warehouse District
Venture on the northern outskirts of downtown Minneapolis and you'll find yourself in the "North Loop" or "the Warehouse District." This melting pot of trendy shops and innovative restaurants has transformed warehouses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and created a vibrant neighborhood that is continually growing. It's an area with a bustling nightlife, where you'll find a lively crowd after a concert or a game looking to extend the night just a little bit longer.
East Town – Downtown East and Elliot Park Neighborhoods
Scenic parks and pathways, landmark restaurants, and historical attractions line the banks of the Mississippi River, which once fueled Minneapolis' flour milling boom and now defines downtown's northern edge. Many milling era buildings have been reborn as housing and cultural venues, while concerts and festivals along the historic cobblestone-lined Main Street bring the riverfront to life.
Loring Park
Best known for housing some of our biggest festivals. You'll find the Twin Cities Pride festival in June, Loring Park Art Fair in July, and Holidazzle in November through December. When a festival isn't taking over, you can find foodies swooning over the trendy eateries just outside the park, people strolling through the Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center, and convention-goers popping in and out of the Convention Center.
Northeast Minneapolis
Northeast's neighborhood can be divided into two main sections: the Arts District and the Riverfront District. Both bring a unique flavor to the area and make it one of Minneapolis' favorite neighborhoods to explore. If you're looking for local art and locally made items then you'll need to make a stop in the Northeast Arts District. The Riverfront District is your best bet for stunning views of the downtown skyline.
Hennepin & Lake: Uptown
Decidedly urban and unabashedly hip, Uptown supplies trendy 20 and 30-somethings with cutting-edge cuisine, intoxicating nightlife, funky, high-end fashions, and home accessories. Located immediately south of downtown Minneapolis, just steps away from the scenic Chain of Lakes, Uptown centers around the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street, where you'll find cool coffee shops, filled restaurants and trendy salons on just about every corner.
Linden Hills
A modern village with a view of the downtown skyline, Linden Hills occupies an idyllic pocket of southwest Minneapolis between Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake Harriet. Born as a resort community at the turn of the century, the area remains an escape from the everyday – a unique shopping and dining destination minutes from beaches, gardens, concerts and winding recreational paths.
Lyndale & Lake — LynLake
A fun selection of indie stores, entertainment, bars and restaurants in the most walkable neighborhood in Minneapolis makes for a pleasant day and night of indulgence. Some of the city's most diverse shops are here as well as live performance spaces and delightful places to keep you energized throughout the night.
Longfellow
Located along the breathtaking Mississippi River Gorge, the Longfellow community is rich in nature and recreation with scenic expanses including the fabled Minnehaha Falls and miles of parkland, biking, and hiking trails. It is also home to the Minnehaha Mile, a wide, bike-friendly retail boulevard hosting an abundance of antique, vintage, retro, and secondhand shops. All this along with great eating and entertainment establishments make for a great time for all!
Kingfield
Once farm country up until the late 1800s, this thriving southwest neighborhood now celebrates the harvests of the region with a broad assortment of cafes and restaurants. You can taste your way around the world at the coffee shops and cafés alone, but to stop your visit there would mean missing out on all the other reasons to visit. The community spirit here is strong, and you can feel like a local at Sunday’s Kingfield Farmers Market or during the neighborhood’s annual Porchfest in June, when more than three dozen homes host bands performing on patios and in front yards.
Dinkytown, University of Minnesota Area & Prospect Park
There's absolutely nothing dinky about Dinkytown. Expect to be amazed by the cultural and culinary offerings here. Rubbing shoulders with the University of Minnesota, Dinkytown features a vibrant mashup of college-town coffee shops, plus refined dining and lodging for when the parents come to visit. During Gopher sporting events, the neighborhood amps up the excitement at sports bars and restaurants. Arts lovers find plenty to engage with, too, at cultural meccas Northrop Auditorium, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum and the iconic Varsity Theater.
Minneapolis Icons
Award-Winning Foodies
Seven Minneapolis chefs have won James Beard Foundation Best Chef: Midwest Awards -– commonly referred to as the "Oscars of the food world." Numerous chefs from Minneapolis have continued to be nominated annually and most recently, Hai Hai's Christina Nguyen was named Best Chef: Midwest in June 2024. Additionally, Owamni by the Sioux Chef won the national Best New Restaurant award in 2022.
BEST CHEF: MIDWEST
- Tim McKee, a chef at several Minneapolis area restaurants was known for La Belle Vie, which closed in 2015 (won in 2009)
- Alex Roberts, chef/co-owner of Restaurant/Cafe/Hotel Alma and Brasa Rotisserie (won in 2010)
- Isaac Becker, chef/owner of 112 Eatery, Bar La Grassa and Snack Bar (won in 2011)
- Paul Berglund, former chef at The Bachelor Farmer (now closed; Berglund won in 2016)
- Gavin Kaysen, chef/owner of Spoon and Stable, Bellecour, Demi, Mara & Socca (won in 2018)
- Ann Kim, chef/owner of Young Joni, Hello Pizza, Pizzeria Lola and Kim's (won in 2019)
- Christina Nguyen, chef/co-owner of Hai Hai and Hola Arepa (won in 2024)
Skyways
The skyway system is one of our most striking assets. One floor above ground (in most cases), this over 10-mile system links hotels, restaurants, entertainment and more through enclosed elevated walkways. It connects more than 150 buildings of downtown Minneapolis in climate-controlled bliss. Launched in 1963, it’s the most extensive second-story pedestrian system in the world.
Seasons
70 degrees and sunny 365 days a year? Boring! In Minneapolis we have four distinct seasons and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether nestled by a crackling fire sipping wine, or snowboarding at Theodore Wirth Park; strolling through the Walker Art Center’s world-class sculpture garden or stopping to smell the flowers at Lake Harriet’s rose gardens; watching movies under the stars at one of Minneapolis’ city parks or playing in the water at one of the city’s 22 lakes; apple picking in crisp autumn air or admiring the colorful fall foliage; visitors and residents alike will enjoy the abundance of activities each season brings.
Spring
(April through May): Spring in Minnesota varies widely and weather may be glorious or erratic and visitors should pack a heavy jacket. April shows the first true signs of spring when snow melts and gentle showers abound. By May, flowers have pushed their way out of hibernation, trees blossom, gardens are planted and the city bursts into life.
Summer
(June through August): The high temperatures (think mid-eighties) and humidity levels in the summer make it the perfect season to hang out at one of Minnesota’s 10,000+ lakes! Downtown restaurants have sidewalk seating and the city is alive with bikers, joggers, sunbathers and festivals. Shorts and sandals are the standard uniform and the abundance of lakes make bathing suits and beach towels a must.
Fall
(September through late November): As the air turns crisp and leaves turn to deep golds, oranges and reds, fall is easily one of the most beautiful times in Minneapolis. Visitors can enjoy striking autumn colors and lively outdoor activities in mild temperatures by packing a sweater or a light jacket. Autumn foliage peaks late-September on Minnesota's North Shore and slowly spreads throughout the state and into the cities by mid-October, making the transition from summer to winter a long and leisurely one.
Winter
(Late November through March): Snuggled under a white blanket of snow, winter is our coldest season and though our greenery may be hibernating, the city is not! During our winter season lakes are alive with skaters, our landscape is full of snowmen and snowshoers, and downtown bustles with shoppers and diners. Minneapolis has the country’s largest network of glass-enclosed, climate-controlled skyways; however, a winter coat, gloves, hat, scarf and boots are necessary so you can get out and take part in one of our many active winter sports and festivals like the Great Northern festival.
History & Heritage
Minneapolis wasn’t built in a day. This dynamic, prosperous city is the current incarnation of its unique past – a history impacted by the region’s natural beauty, its original indigenous and immigrant residents and its fluid relationship with the mighty Mississippi River.
According to historians, archaeologists have documented human activity in Minnesota for at least 9,000-12,000 years. Native American peoples used the waterways for transportation, food and trade with other Native nations. Trade items from this and other regions have been found along the entire Mississippi River. By the 1600s there were two main groups of people living in what's now Minnesota, the Dakota and Ojibwe. (from Minnesota Historical Society)
The Mississippi River, or "Haha Wakpa," in the Dakota language, and the only natural waterfall on the river, St. Anthony Falls, or "Owámniyomni"(falling or swirling waters), were sacred to the Dakota people who inhabited this area for thousands of years.
1600-1850 - Mighty Mississippi
Around 1680, Father Louis Hennepin christened scenic St. Anthony Falls, which, centuries later, would give the burgeoning city enormous industrial power. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the construction of Fort Snelling in the 1820s ushered more Europeans into this pristine region for trading, trapping and settlement.
1850-1930 - Flour Power
Minneapolis grew beside the Mississippi River where St. Anthony Falls fueled the lucrative flour milling industry. From the 1880s to the 1930s, flour production made Minneapolis the milling capital of the world, and established modern corporate giants such as Cargill, General Mills and Pillsbury. Tourists and artists also flocked to the only waterfall on the river, spanned in 1883 by the landmark Stone Arch Bridge, which remains today.
1930-TODAY - Economic Growth
A progressive city claiming many commercial, political, medical and cultural firsts, Minneapolis continues to make history, the city has one of the most stable economic bases in the country and includes global leaders Medtronic, Best Buy and 3M within its broad, successful business community.
PRESENT DAY - Increasingly Diverse
Minneapolis has always been empowered by its people, including native residents, pioneers, immigrants and transplants from around the world. Many Dakota and Ojibwe names – Minnehaha, Minnetonka, Nokomis – attest to the continued presence of Minnesota’s first residents. The cultural influences of the city’s first European settlers – Scandinavian, Irish, German, Italian, French-Canadian, Greek, Polish, Jewish and people of many nationalities – can be seen in neighborhood churches, businesses, architecture and events. A massive influx of Scandinavians in the late 1800s had a well-known and lasting impact on area culture. Today the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area boasts the largest Hmong and Somali populations in the country as well as other diverse ethnic groups. This includes recent immigrant groups such as the Karen and Liberians, whom hold large populations in Saint Paul and Brooklyn Park, respectively.
Sustainability
Minneapolis has more than 80 green rooftops and counting. The Central Library, the Target Center, a handful of underground parking garages and the lawn-bowling green at Brit’s Pub are just a few located in downtown. One of the oldest examples is the Hennepin County Government Center’s north plaza which is a park area above a cafeteria and office space. A 5,800-square-foot roof at City Hall includes plantings and solar panels.
- HVAC and lighting systems are monitored around the clock to save energy.
- 2,613 rooftop solar panels produce 750,000 kWh of renewable electricity per year, offsetting 539 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
- In 2018, nearly 800 tons of waste was recycled, with the annual rate at 60 percent.
- In 2018, more than 180 tons of organics are composted or provided as “food to hogs."
- The MCC Plaza is a green roof, and water is collected from the facility in a cistern to reuse in landscaping.
- There is no heating system in the mall; it relies on the heat from lighting, skylights and the masses of people. It is 70 degrees Fahrenheit 365 days a year.
- Leftover food from restaurants is picked up daily by a local hog farmer.
- The ballpark is the second LEED-Silver-certified Major League Baseball field in the country.
- The nearby Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) provides heat for the ballpark with captured waste energy.
- Nearly 20 percent of Target Field was built with recycled content.
- Gold Medal Park encompasses 7.5 acres in the heart of Minneapolis’ Riverfront Mill District. The park includes close to 300 mature trees, all hand-picked and between 6 and 12 feet in diameter. The species include maples, lindens, hackberries, oaks and catalpas.
MINNEAPOLIS CENTRAL LIBRARY
- The 18,560-square-foot green roof atop the Minneapolis Central Library creates a model for other downtown buildings and developments and promotes a clean, sustainable city.
- Low-growing prairie plants reduce cooling and heating loads and improves downtown air quality.
