a territory of the United States of North America, bounded on the N. by British America, E. by Lake Superior and the state of Wisconsin, from the latter of which it is separated chiefly by the St Croix River and the Mississippi, S. by the state of Iowa, and W. by Nebraska, from which it is separated by the Missouri and White Earth Rivers. It lies between Lat. 42. 30. and 49. N., and Long. 89. 30. and 103. 30. W., and is 630 miles in length from E. to W., by about 380 in breadth from N. to S.; area 141,839 square miles. Minnesota occupies the most elevated tract of country between the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic Sea, and forms the watershed of three of the greatest basins of North America—the Missouri, Mississippi, the St Lawrence, and the Hudson's Bay. The sources of the Red River of the North, and of the Mississippi, are nearly in the centre of the territory, at an elevation of about 2000 feet above the Gulf of Mexico. The Hauteurs de Terre, or Highlands, are a range of heights which extend W. by S. about 300 miles, and form the dividing ridge between the Mississippi and Lake Superior. The region W. of the Mississippi has several plateaus or tablelands, which mark the limits of various river basins. The most remarkable of these are the Coteau des Prairies, or Prairie Heights, about 200 miles in length by from 15 to 40 in breadth, running through the middle of the southern part of Minnesota; and the Coteau du Grand Bois, or Wooded Heights, extending for more than 100 miles nearly parallel with the Coteau des Prairies, and mostly covered with an extensive forest of hard wood. A range of less altitude than the Coteau des Prairies, but continuing in the same direction, forms the watershed of the streams flowing into the Missouri on the W., and those flowing into the Red River on the E. The rest of the country generally alternates between sandhills and swamps, river bottoms and prairies.

One of the most distinguishing features of the territory is the great number of its lakes of every size, from 40 miles to less than 1 mile in extent. The largest of these lakes are the Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake, Red, Minni-Wakan, Leech, and Spirit Lakes. These have generally clear pebbly bottoms, and are well stocked with fish. The rivers and streams of Minnesota are also very numerous. The Minnesota. Mississippi takes its rise in Lake Itasca, which it leaves by a small rivulet only a few feet in width, and subsequently flows through a number of small lakes. Its length in this territory is about 800 miles, for 500 of which (200 below and 300 above St Anthony's Falls) it is navigable. The Red River, passing north, and ultimately falling into Hudson's Bay, is the outlet of numerous small lakes. It has a winding course of about 500 miles in Minnesota. The Rum and St Croix tributaries of the Mississippi drain the S.E. portion of the territory, the latter of the two forming the boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin. The slope toward Lake Superior is drained by the St Louis River, and by a chain of small lakes forming the N.E. boundary. The great valley formed by the slopes of the Coteau des Prairies and the Coteau du Bois is drained by the St Peter's, which flows first S.E. and afterwards N.E., till it falls into the Mississippi, after a course of about 460 miles. It is navigable for steamers for about 60 miles, and for flat-bottomed boats for about 120. Its principal affluent is the Blue Earth or Mankato River. The Rivière à Jacques and the Sioux are the principal affluents of the Missouri from this territory. They have both an almost directly S. course, the former being about 600 and the latter about 350 miles long. The Missouri, which forms the western boundary of the territory, is navigable by steamboats throughout Minnesota.

The larger part of Minnesota, including the central and N.E. portions, appears to belong to the igneous and metamorphic formations. In the N. and S.E. districts there are extensive formations of Lower Silurian rocks; and in the valleys of the St Peter's and Mississippi magnesian limestone forms the basis of many of the bluffs. Extending from the centre eastward to Lake Superior is a narrow band of new red sandstone, and on the shores of the lake are alternations of metamorphic schists, slates, and sandstones, with volcanic grits and other bedded traps and porphyries, intersected by basaltic and greenstone dykes, with occasional deposits of red clay, marl, and drift. The Missouri through its whole course in Minnesota appears to flow through cretaceous rocks, which are bordered on the E. by tertiary formations. The mineral resources of the country are as yet little known. Iron and coal exist in the southern parts, but it is not supposed that either are very widely diffused. Copper and lead have also been found, the latter on the Waraju River, and the former in masses having the appearance of having been carried by the action of water. Salt is abundant in the N.W. The most remarkable mineral, however, is the red clay, from which the Indians manufactured pipes, and which is believed to be peculiar to the region of the Coteau des Prairies.

The winters of Minnesota, especially in its northern and western sections, are extremely severe; but owing to the great stillness of the air, the coldest weather in winter is endurable. At Pembina settlement, under the 49th parallel of latitude, the cold is frequently so intense as to freeze mercury. The mean temperature of the month of January 1847 was 12° below zero, and the greatest cold 48° below zero. The hottest day in the month of July was 96°, showing a range of 144° between the greatest heat and the greatest cold. From the 17th of June to the 17th of July 1848 the mean temperature was 69°. The weather nearer the lake is milder, and of course the climate in the south yields to the influence of the latitude. The rivers are frozen over early in November, and generally remain close to the middle of April. On the whole the climate is dry; and while the early winters prove unfavourable to the ripening of Indian corn, the steady cold, and the dryness of the atmosphere, are favourable to wheat and other winter grains.

The soil varies greatly in different parts. In the valleys of the rivers it is mostly excellent, especially those of the St Peter's, and of the Mississippi and its tributaries in the Minor S.E. of the territory. Above the Falls of St Anthony, with the exception of the river alluvions and some prairie land, the country is generally covered with drift, interspersed with marshes too wet for cultivation; but much of the elevated portion is often of tolerable fertility, though inferior to the calcareous land of the river bottoms, and not unfrequently covered with dwarf timber. The country on the Red River, however, is excellent, and equal in soil to the best bottom lands of Illinois, producing fine crops of grain, fruit, &c. Wild rice, berries of various kinds, plums, wild grapes, and the crab-apple, are indigenous. According to the census of 1850, there were only 5035 acres of land under cultivation, producing 1401 bushels of wheat, 125 of rye, 16,725 of Indian corn, 30,582 of oats, 10,002 of peas and beans, 21,145 of potatoes, 200 of sweet potatoes, 1216 of barley, 515 of buckwheat, 2019 tons of hay, 85 lb. of wool, 2950 lb. of maple sugar, 80 lb. of bees' wax and honey. Value of live stock, L18,375; of market produce, L31; and of slaughtered animals, L570. Parts of Minnesota are densely covered with pine forests, though it cannot be said to be a well wooded country. According to Professor Owen, a belt of forest crosses the territory in Lat. 44.30. On the Rum, St Croix, and Pine Rivers, there are extensive forests of pine. The ridges of the drift districts are usually covered with small pine, birch, maple, ash, elm, fir, and poplar. In the swamps between the ridges the tamarisk and cypress are found; while the river bottoms furnish a good growth of oak, ash, linden, elm, walnut, maple, &c. Wild animals abound. Vast herds of buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, and other game, roam over the western plains, and occasionally the grizzly bear is met with. The black bear, wolverine, otter, mink, musk-rat, wolf, and raccoon abound; and over the prairies grouse, pheasants, and partridges are plentiful. The golden and bald-headed eagle are occasionally met with, and many kinds of water-fowl are common.

Previous to the organization of the state of Wisconsin, all that part of Minnesota lying on the E. side of the Mississippi River had been included in the territory of Wisconsin; and all the portion W. of that river had been included in the territory of Iowa. By the act of Congress 3d March 1849, Minnesota was erected into a territory.

The government comprises a governor appointed by the president of the United States for four years, a Council of 9 members elected in districts for two years, and a House of Assembly of 18 members elected for one year. Members of either body must be resident in their districts, and every district is represented according to its population. The suffrage is vested in every white male inhabitant twenty-one years of age, and who has taken an oath to support the constitution. In 1850 Minnesota was divided into nine counties, and had a total population of 6077; of whom 3695 were white males, and 2343 white females; 21 free coloured males, and 18 free coloured females. In 1855 the population of the territory was estimated at 45,000 to 50,000, and the counties had increased to 29. St Paul, the capital, is situated on the left bank of the Mississippi, at the head of the steamboat navigation, 15 miles below the Falls of St Anthony. Pop. (1850), 1333; (1855), estimated at 5000 to 6000.