The Origin and Meaning of the Minnesota Nicknames
The history, origin and meaning of each of the state's nicknames are as follows: The North Star State
The official nickname alludes to to the French motto. The Land of 10,000 Lakes
The Land of 10,000 Lakes refers to the numerous lakes found in the region. The lakes number 11,842 that are over 10 acres in size. The Three Largest Lakes located entirely within the borders of Minnesota are the Red Lake (288,800 acres), the Mille Lacs Lake (132,516 acres) and the Leech Lake (111,527 acres). The Wheat State
The Wheat nickname refers to the high yielding cash crop grown in Minnesota. Wheat is a cereal grain used in products such as cereals, cakes, bread and cookies. The wheat crop is also utilized in these other products such as wood, paper, adhesives, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The Bread and Butter State
As wheat is used to make bread and as the crop has such important economic influence on Minnesota the Bread and Butter nickname is an obvious choice. The Gopher State
The Gopher is burrowing rodent native to America. The gopher has a thick set body, short legs, and cheek pouches. It is also a pun on "Go for". | 
