History UsefulNotes / TwinCities

A number of SpeculativeFiction authors live in or near the Twin Cities, including Creator/NeilGaiman, Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold and Creator/PatriciaCWrede.

Many musicians also are from or got their start there, including Music/{{Prince}} and his [[PrincesAssociates associates]], Music/BobDylan, Music/TheReplacements, Music/SoulAsylum and [[Music/HuskerDu Hüsker Dü]].

Also, Minneapolis and St. Paul have some of the largest Hmong and Somali populations in the United States, but you never seem to see those on TV. Despite the Twin Cities' reputation for dowdy Midwesternness, it is the 12th largest media market, they also have the second-most theatre seats per capita of any metro area in the country, and the metro area ranks eighth on the list of metropolitan areas with the largest percentage of GLBT residents (with Minneapolis itself in fourth on the list of top cities, by percent), but, again, not something you'd hear every day.

Minneapolis and St. Paul are the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Minneapolis is the most populous city in Minnesota, and situated on the west bank of the Mississippi. On the east bank is St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota and the second-most populous city in the state. Minneapolis is the county seat of Hennepin County; St. Paul is the county seat of Ramsey County. This is mildly important for people who live there.

Minneapolis and St. Paul are the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Minneapolis is the most populous city in Minnesota, and situated on the west bank of the Mississippi. St. Paul is the capital of Minnesota, the second most populous city in the state, and situated on the east bank of the Mississippi. Minneapolis is the county seat of Hennepin County; St. Paul is the county seat of Ramsey County. This is mildly important for people who live there.

Minneapolis and St. Paul are the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Famous for the Mall of America (in one of the suburbs).

Minneapolis and St. Paul, and many of their suburbs, are known as "The Cities" by inhabitants of Minnesota and neighboring states. Minneapolis and St. Paul essentially function as one large metropolitan area, hence the name "Twin Cities". However, residents are trying to move away from this image, and promote each city separately. St. Paul is slightly smaller, and viewed as very friendly, clean, blue-collar, and family-oriented. It is the capital of Minnesota. Situated just across the Mississippi River, Minneapolis is younger and trendier, and contains more of the Cities' art scene. Despite the differences, the Cities do function as one metropolitan area.

Also, Minneapolis and St. Paul have some of the largest Hmong and Somali populations in the United States, but you never seem to see those on TV. Despite the Twin Cities' reputation for dowdy Midwesternness, it is the 12th largest media market, they also have the second-most theatre seats per capita of any metro area in the country, and the metro area ranks eighth on the list of metropolitan areas with the largest percentage of GLB residents (with Minneapolis itself in fourth on the list of top cities, by percent), but, again, not something you'd hear every day.

* {{Hipster}}: St. Paul and Minneapolis are the largest cities in the [[http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrismenning/the-most-hipster-state-in-the-us most hipster state in the union.]]

* JohnSandford's novels - the ''Prey'', ''Kidd'' and ''Virgil Flowers'' series of novels by almost all take place in the Twin Cities - and the ones that don't prominently feature characters from the cities.

* ''{{Coach}}'': While most of the cast lives near a fictional university, Christine lives in downtown Minneapolis.

* ''{{Peanuts}}'' creator Charles Schulz was from St. Paul, and there are a few hints that Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang live here as well. You can also find 50 statues of the characters on the streets and in some of the public buildings.
* ''PurpleRain'' is actually fairly accurate, given a bit of TelevisionGeography. Not all that surprising, as the film is semi-autobiographical.

* Major portions of ''{{Fargo}}''

* {{Webcomic}} ''WapsiSquare'' takes its name from a fictitious Minneapolis neighborhood. Creator Paul "Pablo" Taylor is a Twin Cities resident himself, and there are occasional gags about the region's changeable climate.
* ''{{Juno}}'' is set in St. Cloud, a satellite town about an hour's drive away from the Cities. The characters make many trips to the Cities.
* The students from ''SurvivalOfTheFittest'' Version 4 came from a fictional St. Paul high school.
* The webcomic ''AlphaShade'' takes place in the Twin Cities. (At least, the parts of the comic that don't take place in another world do.)

* {{Villain Protagonist}} of Film/YoungAdult resides in Minneapolis.

'''The Twin Cities provide examples of:'''

* BizarroWorld You can literally live on either Twin City for most of your life and be completely and utterly unfamiliar with the neighborhoods of the other.

* ''{{Juno}}'' is set in St. Cloud, a distant suburb, and makes several trips to The Cities proper.

* SmallTownRivalry:

* SmallTownRivalry: Writ LARGE.

* The ''Prey'' series of novels by John Sandford and their spinoffs take place in the Twin Cities.

* ''{{Juno}}'' is set in the Twin Cities, and several local attractions get a shout out. Interestingly, though the Lorings live in St. Cloud, which is considered a distant satellite city at best, Juno seems to have no problem commuting back and forth on a regular basis to visit.
** St. Cloud is only 65 miles via the Interstate and depending on how you define 'the cities' and where in St. Cloud they are, you could easily take another 15 miles off, and plenty of people make that commute or longer daily without issue.
** The census counts St. Paul, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and all their respective suburbs as one Combined Statistical Area. Nonetheless, this St. Paulite troper's never met anyone that thinks there's a third member of the ''Twin Cities''.

* ''Film/TheMightyDucks'' (the live-action movies, not the cartoon). Each movie has a sequence designed to show off the sights, usually with our heroes [[TelevisionGeography in-line skating]] through them.

** Minneapolis Millers -- St Paul Saints.

** Interstate 35 splits into I-35E and I-35W to go through both cities, one of only two remaining sets of suffixed Interstates in the US [[note]]The other is in Dallas and Fort Worth, which have a similar rivalry.[[/note]] The exit numbers follow I-35E despite through trucks being directed onto I-35W.

* SmallTownRivalry: Writ LARGE. Minneapolis Aquatennial -- St Paul Winter Carnival. Minneapolis Millers -- St Paul Saints. There's a freaking full-sized cathedral in each city (although one is called a Basilica due to proximity issues). One reason the Minnesota State Fair grounds are in a "city" between the cities is so neither Minneapolis nor St Paul could claim that prize.

* AfterLastSeason. No, really.

Many musicians also are from or got their start there, including Music/{{Prince}} and his [[PrincesAssociates associates]], Music/BobDylan, Music/TheReplacements, Music/SoulAsylum and Hüsker Dü.

A number of SpeculativeFiction authors live in or near the Twin Cities, including Creator/NeilGaiman, LoisMcMasterBujold and PatriciaCWrede.

* Emma Bull's ''{{War for the Oaks}}'' makes spectacular use of Twin Cities locations. Another of her novels, ''BoneDance'', is also set there, although since it's an AfterTheEnd story, it's easy to miss.

* ''JingleAllTheWay''

* ''TheMaryTylerMooreShow''. To this day, the corner where Mary tosses her hat in the opening has a statue of MTM.

'''The TwinCities provide examples of:'''