This is a draft (I'll probably edit it in place) of what I'm working on to post to CFB before /u/hythloday1 puts up her long study. Please let me know if things don't make sense or I need to explain things in better ways.
Review and History. The Port of Minneapolis is the northernmost port on the Mississippi River System. Located near the convergence of the Mississippi and the Minnesota Rivers, the Port of Minneapolis is about 17 nautical miles upriver (20 kilometers or 12 miles northwest by air) of its sister city, St. Paul. Seat of Hennepin County, Minnesota, the Port of Minneapolis and St. Paul form the Twin Cities conurbation.
The ports of South Louisiana, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge rank third, fourth, and fifteenth, respectively in total trade by port to all world ports. In terms of dollar value, total trade by port to all world ports, New Orleans, South Louisiana, and Baton Rouge, rank 12th, 16th, and 27th, respectively. About 6,000 vessels pass through the Port of New Orleans annually.