Minnesota is located in the upper Midwestern region of the United States. It officially became a U.S. state on May 11, 1858. The state is known for its natural surroundings; around 1 third of the area is covered by forests, and it is often nicknamed the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”.
The population of Minnesota was last recorded in 2020 as 5,706,494, marking it as the 22nd most populous in the country. The state is the 12th largest by size, after Michigan.
Saint Paul is the capital of Minnesota, while the largest city is Minneapolis. Together, the 2 cities are known as the “Twin Cities” with a population of around 3.7 million—over 60% of Minnesota’s total population.
The Minnesota Department of Health in Saint Paul has birth records since 1900 and death records since 1908. The office does not hold marriage or divorce certificates.