Minneapolis, mihn ee AP uh lihs, is the largest city in Minnesota and a major Midwestern center of finance, industry, trade, and transportation. The city also is the home of the University of Minnesota, one of the nation's largest universities. Minneapolis lies in southeastern Minnesota, just west of St. Paul. Minneapolis and St. Paul are called the Twin Cities.

The name Minneapolis comes from the Indian word minne, meaning water, and the Greek word polis, which means city. Minneapolis got its name because of the 22 natural lakes that lie within the city limits. It has the nickname City of Lakes.

In the late 1840's, farmers and lumberjacks settled the area that is now Minneapolis. They chose the area because of its broad farmlands and hardwood forests. In addition, the nearby Falls of St. Anthony, on the Mississippi River, supplied water power for their flour mills and sawmills. In 1849, a village called Saint Anthony was established on the east side of the falls. In 1852, settlers on the west side of the falls chose the name Minneapolis for their growing community. Saint Anthony became a city in 1855, and Minneapolis did so in 1867. In 1872, the two cities merged under the name Minneapolis.

From 1882 to 1930, Minneapolis led the world in flour production. After World War II ended in 1945, the city became an important producer of computers, electronic equipment, and farm machinery. Today, service industries, especially education, finance, and retail trade, are the most important economic activities.