Minnesota Saint Paul, in east-central Minnesota along the banks of the Mississippi River, has been Minnesota's capital city since 1849, first as capital of the Territory of Minnesota, and then as the state capital since 1858. Saint Paul is adjacent to Minnesota's most populous city, Minneapolis; they and their suburbs are known collectively as the Twin Cities metropolitan area, the 16th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, and home to about 54 percent of the state's population. The remainder of the state is known as "Greater Minnesota" or pejoratively "Outstate Minnesota". The state has 17 cities with populations above 50,000 (as
Minnesota State University, Mankato the national standings and seventh time Minnesota State has posted a top-five placing for the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup. It has also won the NSIC US Bank All-Sports Award 4 times and placed 2nd 2 times during the last six-year period of the 2008–2015 competition seasons. The Minnesota State fight song is The Minnesota State Rouser also known as the Maverick Rouser. It is played at all the athletics events as well as other events along with the school song The Minnesota State Hymn. The Minnesota State University Marching Band is called the Maverick Machine it drives enthusiasm and school