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<br />DAHLEN & DWYER, INC.
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<br />MINNESOTA REGIONAL OVERVIEW
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<br />Minnesota lies near the geographic center of North America and is the northern-
<br />most state in the Continental U.S. The state is approximatelYr400 miles long and has
<br />an average width of 2'25 miles. Minnesota is bounded by the Red River on the west,
<br />the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers on the east, lake Superior on the northeast, and
<br />Canada along its northern borders. There are approximately 20,000 lakes, ponds,
<br />and wetlands of 5 acres or more and 90,000 miles of lake and river shoreline.
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<br />The Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area is located in the southeastern part
<br />of central Minnesota and has approximately one-half of the State's 4.4 million
<br />population along with its three largest cities. These cities are Minneapolis, St. Paul,
<br />and Bloomington. The 1997 population of the 13-County Federally defined
<br />Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was approximately 2.68
<br />million. The Core Seven-Counties of the MSA - Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin,
<br />Ramsey, Scott, and Washington - had a 1997 population of 2,448,967. Minneapolis
<br />had a 1997 population of 364,382, while St. Paul's 1997 population was 270,441.
<br />The City of Bloomington had a 1997 population of 87,292. As well as being the
<br />center of cultural activity, the Twin Cities area is the transportation hub and
<br />commercial center for the Upper Midwest.
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<br />Of the ten fastest-growing counties in Minnesota, eight are located in the Twin
<br />Cities MSA. The cities with the biggest net population gains include Woodbury,
<br />Lakeville, Eagan, Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Coon Rapids, Apple Valley, Oakdale,
<br />Andover, and Maple Grove.
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<br />According to FORTUNE, April 26, 1999, thirteen of the largest U.S.
<br />Corporations are headquartered in the State of Minnesota. Dayton Hudson
<br />Corporation, having a national ranking of 30, leads the list followed by United Health
<br />Care (84), Supervalue (86), 3M Co. (103), St. Paul Cos. (171), NWA (175),
<br />Honeywell (193), Best Buy (195), U.S. BancÇ>rp (215), General Mills (272)1 Nash
<br />Finch (372), Harmel Foods (453), and Lutheran Brotherhood (483).
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<br />An analysis of demographic data reveals stable patterns of growth and
<br />indicates the soundness of the area' s economy. Increases in population are
<br />attributable to an expanding economy, typified by increases in the business and
<br />commercial sectors. Various studies predict a steady population growth into the next
<br />century not only for the State of Minnesota but in particular for the Minneapolis-
<br />St.Paul Metropolitan area.
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