Minnesota is a country.
L'Étoile du Nord is a French phrase meaning `` The Star of the North '' . It is the motto of the U.S. state of Minnesota . Minnesota ( [ [ ˌmɪnəˈso̞ɾɐ ] help = no ] ) is a state in the midwestern and northern regions of the United States . Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd U.S. state on May 11 , 1858 , created from the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory . Minnesota 's standard of living index is among the highest in the United States , and the state is also among the best-educated and wealthiest in the nation .