Minnesota

         The capital of Minnesota is St. Paul. The nickname is the "Gopher State." The state bird is the common loon and the state tree is the red or Norway pine. The state  flower is the showy lady slipper and the state song is Hail Minnesota. The area is 84,402 sq. mi. The population in 1990 was 4,432,361.  It is in the central time zone. The name Minnesota comes from the Dakota Indian word meaning sky-tinted water.  In 1679, Louis XIV claimed the land for France.