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Fact |
Source |
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1. |
We have the highest average ACT test
scores in the nation |
2005 ACT, Inc. |
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2. |
We lead the nation in SAT scores |
2005 Minnesota Office of Higher Education |
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3. |
Best improvement in annual test scores
under the no-child left behind act. Compares the 03-04 school
year to the 04-05 school year. |
U.S. Department of Education |
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4. |
We rank 2nd in the country in
Fortune 500 companies per capita and 4th in Fortune
1000 companies per capita. Minnesota is number one in our
region in both categories. |
Calculated from the 2005 Fortune 500 list
and US Census Bureau information |
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5. |
Minnesota is eighth in the nation and
first in the region in INC 500 Companies per capita. The INC
500 is made up of the fastest growing private firms in the
country. |
Calculated from the INC 500 for 2005 and
US Census Bureau data |
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6. |
Lowest rate of people without health
insurance |
US Census Bureau 2004 |
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7. |
Second lowest poverty rate |
US Census Bureau, 2003 |
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8. |
Second longest life expectancy in the
nation, after Hawaii |
2000 Census
–National Center for Health Statistics |
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9. |
Number one in the country for the
healthiest population |
United Healthcare Foundation 2005 and
Morgan Quitno Press |
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10. |
We rank number one in our region and
fifth in the nation in homeownership |
US Census Bureau 2004 |
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11. |
The United Way of the United States has
ranked Minnesota the Most Caring State for each of the last
three years |
United Way |
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12.
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Minnesota ranks 2nd behind New
Hampshire as America’s most livable state for 2005. Minnesota
has ranked #1 or #2 every year since 1996. |
Morgan Quitno Press |
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13.
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Minnesota earned a perfect score on the
2006 Development Report Card for the States, with straight As
in business vitality, economic performance and development
capacity. |
Development Report Card for the States |
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14.
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Minnesota ranks fourth nationwide in the
number of apprentices enrolled to improve skills of current
employees and new hires. |
“Inside
Economic Development” 9/2004
|
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15.
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Minnesota has the highest percentage of
residents over 25 with high school diplomas (92.3%) |
US Census Bureau 2004 |
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16.
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Minnesota ranks ninth in the nation and
first in the upper Midwest for residents over 25 with a
college degree |
US Census Bureau 2004 |
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17. |
In 2003 our eighth graders scored the
best in the nation in math and sixth in reading |
National Center for Education Statistics
2003 |
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18.
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We are the nation’s “hardest working”
state, with the highest labor force participation rate (75
percent) of working-aged people in the labor force. |
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2005 |
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19. |
Popular Science ranked Minneapolis
the top city in 2005 for technology on the basis of the number
of high-tech jobs per capita, use of technology in schools and
use of cell phones, computers and satellite cable, among other
indicators. |
Popular Science 2005 |
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20.
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Minnesota’s transportation technology –
such as highway sensors and electronic surveillance of
intersections – earned the state first place in innovative
transportation solutions, according to Popular Science.
Minnesota also ranked fourth in energy technology. |
Popular Science 2005 |
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21. |
A recent study by the University of
Massachusetts ranks Minnesota first in the nation in the
production of medical devices, and among the top five in value
of shipments, employment, payroll and value added. |
University of Massachusetts |
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22.
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Minnesota is a
pioneer in the production of alternative energy, ranking
fourth nationwide in wind energy installed capacity and
ninth in wind energy potential in 2005. |
American
Wind Energy Association |
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23. |
The Federal Highway Administration’s
National Bridge Inventory ranks Minnesota bridges third best
in the nation, based on percentage of deficient and obsolete
bridges. |
Federal Highway Administration |
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24. |
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport has
consistently been among the top domestic airports, ranking
second in 2004 for overall customer satisfaction. It also
ranked ninth in the U.S. and 16th worldwide in
passenger traffic, serving 36.7 million people. |
Int’l Air
Transport Association
Airports
Council International |
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25. |
Minnesota ranked 16th in the country in
venture capital investments in 2003, with more than $204
million. Minnesota firms received $370.8 million in venture
capital investment in 2004, ranking 11th in the
country. We also surpassed all other Midwest states in
venture capital investments per capita ($73) in 2004 and
ranking among the top 10 nationwide |
Price
Waterhouse Coopers (Moneytree Survey) |
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26.
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U.S. News and World Report ranks
the Mayo Clinic the second best hospital in the country, with
top-five rankings in fields including digestive disorders
(first), neurology and neurosurgery (first), heart and heart
surgery (second) and cancer (fifth). |
US News and World Report |
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27.
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Minnesota has the second lowest infant
mortality rate in the nation for 2005. |
Center for Disease Control, 2005 |
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28.
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Minnesota ranks 10th in the
nation and first in the region for the number of doctors per
100,000 residents |
US Census Bureau 2003 |
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29.
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Minnesota ranks first in the region for
Annual Pay, per capita income and household income |
US Census Bureau 2004 |
