Today in Alt-History: North Minnesota and South Minnesota

A map showing the potential borders had a proposal to divide Minnesota Territory along an east-west line instead of a north-south line prevailed. Modified from "Minnesotaterritory." Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Minnesotaterritory.PNG#mediaviewer/File:Minnesotaterritory. (Photo: Map by David Montgomery)

A map showing the potential borders had a proposal to divide Minnesota Territory along an east-west line instead of a north-south line prevailed. Modified from “Minnesotaterritory.” Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons (Photo: Map by David Montgomery, Argus Leader)

A couple weeks ago I came across this feature from the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader in South Dakota exploring an interesting intersection of American history. In the time before Minnesota statehood and the dissection of Dakota territory, there was serious talk of splitting Minnesota on an east-west border instead of using the Red River as a north-south line like we do today. The result would have been two states in place of most of present-day Minnesota, North and South Dakota.

In essence, we would have had North Minnesota and South Minnesota.

The map above came from David Montgomery, something he created for his very interesting article about the subject in the Argus-Leader. Here we see the major cities of Bismarck, Fargo and Duluth would anchor “North Minnesota,” a state that would have been a farm-heavy blend of agriculture, mining and shipping. In South Minnesota, Sioux Falls and the Twin Cities would have led a powerful agricultural and railroad state.

Western North and South Dakota would likely have fallen in with some combination of Montana and Wyoming, a resource-rich super state that would have been quite a rowdy place as well.

I encourage you to read the entire piece at the Argus-Leader, and consider these alternative universe possibilities:

  • North Minnesota would have been an even greater hockey powerhouse than present-day Minnesota.
  • Both states would be purplish swing states in today’s political index.
  • St. Paul certainly would not have been capitol of South Minnesota.
  • Fargo would have been much bigger, maybe even have a pro sports franchise and skyscrapers.
  • There would be no winter hellscape quite like western North Minnesota.

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