Minneapolis is not a US state. It is a city in the state of Minnesota. Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota, paired with Saint Paul (the actual capital) to form the "Twin Cities". The state is Minnesota.
Minnesota at a glance
USPS code: MN
Capital: Saint Paul
Largest city: Minneapolis
Region: Midwest
Year admitted: 1858
Why people ask this
"Is Minneapolis a state?" gets searched thousands of times a year. There are three common reasons:
- City is more famous than its state. Travelers see "Minneapolis" on flights, news, sports, and TV — but the state name comes up less often.
- The US has 50 states + many big cities, so it's easy to lose track. Only 17 of the 50 capitals are the largest city of their state — meaning a famous city is usually not the capital.
- People learning US geography from scratch (non-Americans, kids, ESL learners) need a quick disambiguation page like this one. You're welcome.
Quick reference: Minneapolis vs Minnesota
If you ever need to fill in a form or quiz:
- City: Minneapolis
- State: Minnesota
- State abbreviation (USPS): MN
- State capital: Saint Paul
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Is Minneapolis a state?
No — Minneapolis is a US city in Minnesota.
What state is Minneapolis in?
Minneapolis is in Minnesota.
What is the capital of Minnesota?
The capital of Minnesota is Saint Paul. The largest city is Minneapolis.
How many cities does Minnesota have?
Minnesota has dozens of incorporated cities and towns. The largest is Minneapolis. See all of Minnesota's major cities and facts.