Minnesota State Nickname: The North Star State
Fact-checked • Updated December 10, 2025
"The North Star State"
Also Known As:
About the Nickname The North Star State
Minnesota is known as The North Star State. The nickname comes from the state’s French motto, L’Étoile du Nord, meaning “the Star of the North.” Minnesota adopted this motto in 1861 to emphasize its northern position during westward expansion. The phrase became closely associated with the state’s identity and has remained its primary nickname ever since.
Meaning of 'The North Star State'
Minnesota extends farther north than most of the lower 48 states, with 547 miles of border touching Canada. When Minnesota sought statehood in the 1850s, territorial leaders wanted to stress this northern position as the territory competed for federal attention and settlement. The North Star, called Polaris, sits almost directly above Earth's North Pole and has guided travelers for centuries because it stays in nearly the same spot while other stars rotate across the sky.
Governor Henry Sibley proposed the French motto L'Étoile du Nord in 1861, three years after statehood. The legislature approved it immediately. French fur traders and explorers had operated in the region since the 1600s, making French an appropriate choice for the motto. The North Star connected Minnesota to themes of exploration and navigation that mattered during westward expansion.
Minnesota served as a jumping-off point for settlement of the northern Great Plains and routes to the Pacific Northwest. The North Star State nickname appeared in newspapers and official documents throughout the late 1800s. Today the state flag shows a prominent star above a scene of farming and industry, keeping the North Star image central to Minnesota's identity.
Other Nicknames
The Gopher State
This name came from an 1857 political cartoon that showed gophers representing railroad promoters pushing ambitious schemes to build tracks across Minnesota using public money. The cartoon criticized what the artist saw as attempts to profit from state resources. Gophers dig extensive tunnel systems, so the image suggested people burrowing into Minnesota's wealth. The nickname caught on even though it started as an insult. Minnesota actually has thirteen-lined ground squirrels rather than true gophers, but the name persisted anyway. The University of Minnesota made it permanent by adopting Golden Gophers for its athletic teams in the 1930s.
Land of 10,000 Lakes
Minnesota put this slogan on license plates starting in the 1950s as part of tourism promotion. The state actually contains 11,842 lakes larger than ten acres, well over the 10,000 claimed. State officials chose a round number that sounded impressive while being technically accurate. Lake Superior forms Minnesota's northeastern boundary and is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world. The Land of 10,000 Lakes is probably how most Americans outside Minnesota identify the state today, making it more recognized than the older North Star nickname.
The Bread and Butter State
Minnesota earned this name in the late 1800s when wheat farming and dairy production dominated the economy. Railroads reached the Red River Valley in the 1870s, opening vast areas for wheat cultivation. Minneapolis became a major flour milling center, processing grain from across the northern plains. At the same time, dairy farms supplied butter and cheese to eastern markets. The Bread and Butter State was widely used through the early 1900s but faded as Minnesota shifted toward manufacturing, mining, and services.
Interesting Facts
Fact 1 of 6
Minnesota became the 32nd state on May 11, 1858, shortly before the Civil War began.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Comprehensive information about Minnesota's history, geography, and the North Star State nickname
Information about Minnesota's state symbols and the adoption of L'Étoile du Nord as the state motto
Official details about Minnesota's nicknames, motto, and state emblems