Geography of Minnesota "The Cities"), and "Outstate" or "Greater Minnesota". The Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area comprises eleven Minnesota counties centered around Minneapolis, the state's largest city, and adjoining Saint Paul, the capital; plus two Wisconsin counties. About three out of every five residents of the state live in this conurbation. Greater Minnesota is less urbanized than the Twin Cities. It is also geographically more diverse, with farmlands to the south and west, lake country in central Minnesota, and forests in the northern part of the state. Approximately 40% of Minnesotans live in Greater Minnesota. Its major population centers include Duluth, Rochester, Moorhead, St.
Minnesota State Highway 278 (Washington Avenue). MN 278 was authorized in 1949. In 1978, the western terminus was moved to US 52 from the previous MN 100, transferring the 36th Avenue North portion of the route to Robbinsdale city maintenance. In 1982, the remaining section of the route was decommissioned and transferred to county maintenance, becoming part of "Hennepin County Road 153". Minnesota State Highway 278 Minnesota State Highway 278 (MN 278) was a state highway in Minnesota, originally connecting MN 100 in Robbinsdale to MN 152 in Minneapolis. It existed entirely in Hennepin County. The route was decommissioned in 1982. When authorized, Highway