"Survey Says...!"

The following are the general results from a preliminary survey carried out by the team in Winter of 2001. The more common responses are given along with a few of the unusual or unexpected responses. Approximately 120 surveys were given.

Outsiders' View of Minnesota and Minnesotans

1. What are the three things that pop into your head when someone mentions Minnesota?

   Well, perhaps of no surprise is that cold, snow, and lakes rank right up there at the top. (Some say it helps keep the 'riff-raff' out). Coming up next are a couple of celebrities: Governor Ventura and Garrison Keillor. A few of the unusual responses include: 'tunnels', 'beavers', and 'no fences'.

2. What other three places do you associate with Minnesota?

   Our neighbors Wisconsin and Canada, along with both Dakotas were appropriately at the top. Our neighbor to the south, Iowa, came in 6th place. It was outnumbered by Minneapolis, Michigan, and the Great Lakes. The airport came in last.

3. What is your image of a typical Minnesotan?

   The graphic images shown here give you the picture. This broad category is tough to generalize. Minnesotans seem to be rugged, hearty, Nordic and tall, honest and stoic, hardworking, friendly, bundled up, politically liberal, laid back people who talk fast and with a funny accent.

   Here are some quotes: "educated, cultured, mostly happy with their lives, and mostly crazy for living in such cold weather;" "shoveling the driveway on the way out to work;" "sensible shoes, maybe overalls."

   1. What religion is this typical Minnesotan?

      Lutheran is the top ranking response, with Protestant a close second. Mennonite, Atheist, and Born-again Christian, besides others, all got one vote.

   2. Is this an urban or rural person?

      Rural outnumber urban responses by more than 2:1. There are a few suburban and small town responses as well.

   3. What is the race of the typical Minnesotan?

      Overwhelmingly, the response is white (very white, as white as it gets, whiter than snow).

   4. What is the ethnic background of a typical Minnesotan?

      The overwhelming response here is Scandinavian, followed by Norwegian and German. Other nationalities mentioned are Dutch, Irish, French/Canadian, American, Polish, Anglo, Scottish, WASP, Finnish, and even Ukrainian.

4. What kind of music do Minnesotans listen to?

   Country and polka aren't too far ahead of popular and "like anyone else" in terms of response numbers. Other types are ABBA-like music, techno, jam bands, club music and church music. Oh, and German festival music.

5. What is your image of the ethnic makeup of the Twin Cities?

   Similar to the State of Minnesota, the Twin Cities are perceived to be mostly Caucasian/White (65% white, 80% white) with African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans mentioned more than Asians, Russians, Kenyans, or Ethiopians.

6. What are the three things that pop into your mind when someone mentions Minneapolis/St. Paul?

   Cold and snow come up frequently here as well as "Twin Cities" and the fact that they are adjoining cities next to a river, with one of the cities being the capital of Minnesota. Also mentioned is that the Twin Cities are probably more diverse (though still homogenous) than the rest of the state. The airport and Mall of America are also noted.

7. What do you know about the music scene in the Twin Cities?

   Most people know nothing about the music scene here. There are some responses noting 'Prince' and the symphony as being here. And don't forget polka, plus rap, jazz, Bob Dylan, rockabilly, swing, new age, theater music, blues bars, "80's place." Some people said famous musicians started here (but apparently don't stay here).

8. What are your sources of information on Minnesota/Minnesotans?

   Friends are the biggest source of information, with news and TV coming up next. Movies are another source along with radio's 'Prairie Home Companion Show.' Some people got information from a bus station or the stock market, through commercials or football commentary, or through genealogy work. The 'Internet' garners fewer responses than travel brochures, books, or popular culture.

Insiders' View of Minnesota and Minnesotans

The following are the general results from a preliminary survey carried out by the team in Winter of 2001. The more common responses are given along with a few of the unusual or unexpected responses. Approximately 120 surveys were given. Most people who took this survey were from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, and have lived in Minnesota over 10 years.

1. How do you think the average US citizen see Minnesotans? (as in image)

   We Minnesotans tend to think the movie "Fargo" reflects what outsiders think of us; in other words, simple people with funny accents who are crazy enough to live in the cold. ('Simple' seems to be another word for stupid). Some quotes: "cold and nice," " nice people with a strange accent," "people are very cordial; environment is so harsh you have to be insane to live here." Obviously, we think that you think that (cold) weather influences our lives a lot. Oh, yes, we aren't too sophisticated either.

2. What is your image of a typical Minnesotan?

   People sometimes have a hard time with the word "typical." We gave it our best shot: Friendly and hardworking, plus polite, come up an awful lot when we talk about ourselves. And don't forget family- oriented or shy yet liberal. Mostly positive characteristics are listed. NOTE: there's hardly any mention of weather, let alone cold, as we see ourselves. Some of the more memorable quotes: "Scandastupian," "not very fashionable," "progressive to some degree, rural, with a bit of West envy."

3. White, Lutheran, rural ...
   1. What religion is this typical Minnesotan?

      Lutheran, it is, by a long shot. There are few people thinking "Protestant," and several "Christian" responses.

   2. Is this an urban or rural person?

      Pretty even split here; with rural "winning by a nose." Some people believe 'both.'

   3. What is the race of a typical Minnesotan?

      Caucasian or white, no other response was given.

   4. What is the ethnic background of a typical Minnesotan?

      It gets a little messier here: ( in order) Scandinavian, German, Polish or at least European, and at least one "?"

4. What is your image of the ethnic makeup of the Twin Cities?

   Now we get more diverse: (not in order) Latino, Somalian, Hmong, African-American, Caucasian, Middle Eastern, Asian, Mexican, Indians, variety, mixture of all races.

5. In your opinion, how diverse are the Twin Cities?

   Becoming more diverse, moderately diverse, fairly diverse; much more diverse than the rest of the State.

6. What ethnic groups are you aware of in the Twin Cities?

   At least 24 different groups are listed with African-American, Hmong, and Hispanic/Latino the most known. Native Americans are listed infrequently, as are Thai and Lebanese. Some of the other groups listed are: Russian, English, Irish, Somali, Ethiopian, Spanish, Jewish, Japanese, Canadian, Slavic, and Chinese.

7. What kind of music do Minnesotans listen to?

   Another toughie; 'everything' or 'all' are often listed. Polka comes up rarely, with country, rock, rap, classical, show tunes, Spanish, heavy metal, new age, and bluegrass also showing up.

8. What do you know about music scene(s) in the Twin Cities?

   Well, this is toughie, though jazz and "nothing" comes up more here. Many are listed. Some are: opera, classical, Broadway musicals, local musicals, pop, rock band/alternative music, folk music, good afro music and Indie/punk scene. Plus there's record production here.

   Some quotes: "as vanilla as people who are from here" and "hugely thriving, bigger than anyone outside Minnesota understands."

9. What is the most unique music experience you had in the Twin Cities?

   Too many to list here, but you get the idea:

   Chinese opera, playing acid punk on my violin with two strangers in a studio, Tibetan monk chanting, "Sounds of Blackness", panpipe flutes at the farmers market, the Buddy Holly show, playing for Gorbachev at the airport terminal, Max Morath at Symphony Hall, South Asian music, Frank Zappa at the Guthrie theatre in 1968, and "washing Kitaro's underwear."