Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The point is, even with the entire eastern borde for Wisconsin being Lake Michigan, Minnesota still has far more total shoreline. Minnesota wins!
And if proximity to Chicago was so important, why not just move to Illinois?
Minnesota has better large cities.
Wisconsin has better small cities.
Minnesota has better small towns.
I'll take some Northern Minnesota towns like Thief River Falls, Warroad, Roseau, Grand Rapids, Bemidji, Virginia, Hibbing, and Two Harbours over any small town in the rest of the country.
I remember interviewing once for a job near Saratoga Springs, NY; driving around up there, especially by Saratoga Lake, very much reminded me of trips "up north" in MN.
I remember interviewing once for a job near Saratoga Springs, NY; driving around up there, especially by Saratoga Lake, very much reminded me of trips "up north" in MN.
Lake Placid & Saranac Lake, NY area = Garrison Keillor's fictional Lake Wobegon.
Both states are very nice and similar in culture, climate, geography, topography and population. But my vote would be for Wisconsin. Madison the capital is a great city; clean, educated and the nightlife (affected by UW). I dont care for its liberal politics. but oh well. And Milwaukee, its largest city, is just 90 miles north of Chicago and is a bit of a miniature Chicago itself. I guess the advantage Wisconsin has over Minnesota is that its closer to Chicago and has Lake Michigan. I have lots of relatives in Wisconsin anyways.
Wisconsin's terrain does make this match a bit closer. Really they are two pretty solid states, among the best in their region, and it's difficult to choose. I think Wisconsin has a more solid tourism base.
Beyond the eternal Vikings/Packers struggle, are Minnesota and Wisconsin rivals?
Yes. Minnesota and Wisconsin are rivals. Not always intense, harsh or hostile, but a rival nontheless. Growing up in the TC, and now living in Duluth, with Wisconsin just across the bridge, there is a very apparent rivalry. We poke fun at each other, calling Wisconinites? 'Sconnies'.... Packer Backers. Also, many jokes center around Wisconsin's drinking heritage. Jokingly, MNs like to make fun at WIs as they are drunks. As liquor stores in WI are open later and on Sundays, the Brewers, and the law that lets minors drink in establishments if their parents are present. And who can forget the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe? Badgers VS Gophers!
MINNESOTA:
About 5.3 Million people
Cities:
Minneapolis - 387,000
St. Paul- 287,000
Rochester-105,000
Bloomington-86,000
Duluth-86,000
Brooklyn Park-71,000
Plymouth- 70,000
Eagan-66,000
St. Cloud-65,000
Coon Rapids-63,000
MSP Metro Area: 3.5 million
NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB teams
A large state that has many varying regions-the Western and Southern Plains, the rolling hills of the South East, the North Shore, Iron Range, Alexandria and Brainerd Lakes Countries, Boundary Waters, and plains of the North West.
WISCONSIN
About 5.7 million people.
Cities:
Milwaukee- 587,000
Madison-220,000
Green Bay- 100,000
Kenosha- 96,000
Racine-77,000
Appleton-71,000
Oshkosh-66,000
Waukesha-66,000
Eau Claire-65,000
Janesville- 62,000
A state that is smaller in size than MN, but has more interesting geography. Much of the state of WI has rolling to large hills with cliffs and bluffs, and most of the state borders the Great Lakes.
MKE Metro Area: 2 million
NBA, NFL, and MLB teams.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.