[5] In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Minnesota was a significant destination for European immigrants, especially from Germany, Norway, and Sweden.

In more recent years, the state has become a new home for refugees and immigrants from Latin America, East Africa (especially Somalia), and Southeast Asia (primarily Hmong and Vietnamese communities).

Minnesota boasts a well-educated populace, with one of the highest high school graduation rates in the nation and a robust system of public and private colleges and universities.

[6] Furthermore, Minnesota is known for its commitment to environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation, with numerous state parks, forests, and water bodies.

However, it is worth noting that minority groups in Minnesota constitute a smaller proportion of the overall population compared to the nation as a whole.

This group primarily consists of individuals of Northern and Western European descent, with a significant proportion of residents claiming being German, Norwegian, Irish, Swedish, and English ancestry.

This growth is in part attributed to the influx of immigrants from East Africa, particularly Somalia and Ethiopia, who reside mainly in cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The Hmong community, originating from Southeast Asia has a significant presence in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

The Ojibwe migrated to Minnesota from the east around the 17th century, settling primarily in the northern and central parts of the state.

The Asian population also increased to 1.8%, due in part to resettlement of some Hmong peoples following the Laotian Civil War.

Irish immigrants were the fourth largest group after the Germans, Swedes, and Norwegians, many of whom came as a result of the Great Famine.

Other Europeans from Italy, Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic/ Bohemia,[32][33] and Slovakia became the dominant group immigrating to the United States, and they tended to settle in the Twin Cities, Duluth, and the Iron Range.

With extraordinary encouragement from Walter Mondale, Hmong and Vietnamese immigrants started to come to Minnesota around the mid-1970s as the pro-American governments in their home countries collapsed.

[36] As of the 2015 American Community Survey, there are a number residents from Laos and Thailand in the state, which include individuals of Hmong ancestry.

[37] In the mid-1990s, Somali immigrants began to settle in the United States as political turmoil occurred in Somalia; Minnesota became one of the prime destinations.

[40] One of the fastest growing immigrant groups in Minnesota is the Karen people, an ethnic minority in conflict with the government in Myanmar.

The most common countries of origin of refugees were Myanmar (392), Democratic Republic of the Congo (156), Ukraine (114), Somalia (109), and Ethiopia (85).

[47] Ethiopian immigrants also experienced a growth in workforce participation, from 75.5% to 78.3%, alongside a significant increase in their population in this age bracket, from 10,739 to 18,784.

[49] Canadian immigrants in Minnesota displayed a similar trend, with a high initial workforce participation rate of 80.1% that decreased to 75.4%, and their population increased from 8,066 to 9,038.

[52] Prior to European contact, the region now known as Minnesota was inhabited by various indigenous groups who spoke their own diverse languages.

These languages had a significant influence on Minnesota’s linguistic landscape, and many places in the state, such as Minnehaha and Minnetonka, still bear names of Dakota or Anishinaabe origin.

The immigration waves of the 19th and early 20th centuries brought a large influx of speakers of German, Norwegian, and Swedish, making these three languages prominent among Minnesota's non-English-speaking residents.

[62] Some schools and colleges offer classes in these languages, and there are initiatives to promote their use among the younger generation of Native Americans.

Historically, the first religious influences in Minnesota were the spiritual practices of Native American tribes, such as the Dakota and Ojibwe, which centered on nature and ancestral spirits.

[70] The first Christian influence in the area came from Catholic missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries, who worked to convert Native American tribes.

The first bishop of this archdiocese, John Ireland, was a notable figure in the late 19th and early 20th century, advocating for progressive education and immigrants' rights.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Minnesota has seen growth in other Christian denominations, such as Methodists, Baptists, and Eastern Orthodox, as well as non-Christian religions.

Additionally, Minnesota is home to a sizable Jewish community with a history dating back to the late 19th century.

Minnesota ranks near the top in terms of an educated populace, boasting that 91.3% of adult residents 25 years or older have achieved a high school diploma, and 31.4% have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

The first study in 1984 identified middle-aged men, predominantly people of color, as the majority of shelter residents, with alcoholism and mental illness being significant but not universal issues.