Annex a Neighbor (Rochester, Mankato, Hastings: real estate, schools, tax)

[wherespankakehouse?]

Which neighboring city (or natural area) should we tweak state boundaries to claim as Minnesota's own?

Perhaps another way of asking this question is which neighbor most epitomizes Minnesota? I won't create a separate poll but feel free to distinguish between the two if applicable.



Ballot options:

Grand Forks, ND - Per the Wild, a big blue line runs around our state. It seems like ND hockey leaked out.

Fargo, ND - Time to finish what the movie started?

Wahpeton, ND - Breckenridge's twin.

Brookings, SD - TOUCHDOWN JACKRABBITS!!

Sioux Falls, SD - Won the most livable mid-sized city back in the day. Can't be too bad.

Decorah, IA - Scientists just revealed it sits on a giant crater. That might come in handy.

LaCrosse, WI - First order of business: drunk people net along the river banks.

Ellsworth, WI - Do it for the creamery!

Prescott, WI - Goes with Hastings

River Falls, WI - Do they still have the Chiefs?

Hudson, WI - Coming for you, tax dodging Packer lovers.

Somerset, WI - Keep a closer eye on the youth.

Superior, WI - Pass the Dick Bong Bridge back this way, man.

Thunder Bay, ON - Another big city for the North. We'll sweeten the pot with a narrow strip of more North Shore.

Quetico Provincial Park, ON - These towns suck. Give me more trees, lakes, and critters.

Isle Royale National Park, MI - Boost our wolf and moose population. Seems like we kind of got screwed on this one. We're WAY closer than the UP.

Fort Frances, ON - Goes with Int'l Falls

Kenora, ON - No more sharing Lake of the Woods.

[wherespankakehouse?]

I will start with a vote for Decorah. There are other places that I would rather have, but they seem to be asking for it with their Norwegian Heritage Museum. It just kind of seems like Luther should be in the MIAC with the other Scandihoovian schools.

More real estate in bluff country as well.

[iNviNciBL3]

Wow we have some boring neighbors.

[chessgeek]

I voted for Sioux Falls, SD. Its population is over 120,000 and that would provide SW Minnesota more urban presence to complement its rural/small town/mid-sized town (Mankato) options like Rochester is for SE Minnesota and it would be a boost to the economy as well.

[geebabe]

Originally Posted by wherespankakehouse?

Which neighboring city (or natural area) should we tweak state boundaries to claim as Minnesota's own?

Perhaps another way of asking this question is which neighbor most epitomizes Minnesota? I won't create a separate poll but feel free to distinguish between the two if applicable.

Ballot options:

Isle Royale National Park, MI - Boost our wolf and moose population. Seems like we kind of got screwed on this one. We're WAY closer than the UP.

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No, not really.
Michigan (1837) became a state 21 yrs before Minnesota (1858) and 11 yrs before Wisconsin (1848). Since Michigan came first I don't think we got screwed even if it is closer to the MN and ON borders.

[Ghengis]

by annex, do you mean a first strike with a tactical nuclear warhead?

[wherespankakehouse?]

Originally Posted by geebabe

No, not really.
Michigan (1837) became a state 21 yrs before Minnesota (1858) and 11 yrs before Wisconsin (1848). Since Michigan came first I don't think we got screwed even if it is closer to the MN and ON borders.

Well it seems only fitting they should have gifted it to us at the housewarming party when we were granted statehood, doesn't it?

Greedy lakeshore hoarders.

[601halfdozen0theother]

I don't think even Wisconsin wants Superior . . . we sure don't.

But - more WOLVES would be nice!

[geebabe]

Originally Posted by wherespankakehouse?

Well it seems only fitting they should have gifted it to us at the housewarming party when we were granted statehood, doesn't it?

Greedy lakeshore hoarders.

Good one - I like the gift idea.
I was trying to read up on the territories (MI-WI-MN) before statehoods were granted, but my brain doesn't want to gather so much information at the moment. Wisconsin territory once covered all of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa plus parts of North and South Dakotas! So somewhere along the line Michigan got in on the island of Isle Royale. I suppose an island sounded like a good idea to them.

I have not been to Isle Royale yet and at this point would only be interested in either a day trip or staying at the lodge. It is on my things to do list although I should have done it when I lived on the North Shore. I once spoke to people who camped there and they said there is a lot - A LOT - of moose s**t to shovel away in order to set up camp. I don't know if they were exaggerating, but it sounded reasonable to me since there are so many moose there.

Anyway, I realized that I didn't answer the original question. My answer is Isle Royale.

[geebabe]

^^^^ Hmmm, I don't know how CD mixed it up but I didn't quote my own comment. It was the OP's third comment I was responding to.