About the Twin Cities About Minnesota Public Transit Housing The Twin Cities The Department of Economics is located in Minneapolis. Minneapolis has 13 lakes, most with swimming beaches. The lakes are connected by a parkway system extending over 35 miles, with separate bicycle trails and running paths. Near the University, where many students live, are small shops, inexpensive restaurants, bookstores and theaters. Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota, and St. Paul, the state capital, are known as the Twin Cities. The Twin Cities combine the benefits of a small town--gracious homes, tree-lined streets, uncrowded lakes and parks--with the cultural and recreational offerings of a large urban area. Even with a population of more than two million, there are negligible pollution, low crime rates, affordable housing, and people known for their friendliness. Both are highly attractive cities, offering flourishing downtowns, sophisticated educational and cultural institutions, impressive shopping facilities such as the Mall of America, entertainment and sports, and the always affordable diversions of parks and open spaces. Arts and Entertainment The Twin Cities are the cultural center of a five-state area. The nationally acclaimed Guthrie Theater, a number of community theaters, the University's own theater, and national touring companies provide year-round entertainment. The musical environment is outstanding. Orchestra Hall and the Ordway Music Theater host internationally known conductors and performers. In addition to classical music programs, there are pop, jazz and rock concerts. The Twin Cities are home to the Minnesota Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Opera. The University's Northrop Auditorium offers an annual dance series that features dance groups from around the world. Movie theaters in the area hold regular film festivals. The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts display both permanent collections and special exhibits. There are numerous outdoor festivals during the year. Most notable are St. Paul's Winter Carnival, the Minneapolis Aquatennial, Riverfest, the Renaissance Festival, and the Minnesota State Fair (one of the nation's largest). Many of the activities noted here are available to students at a discount. Nearly all are accessible by public transportation. Sports and Recreation The University's Big Ten teams and the Cities' professional baseball, football and basketball teams provide a year-round schedule of spectator sports. Intramural sports at the University offer ample opportunity for students to participate in team sports; the economics department regularly fields teams in basketball and soccer. The Cities offer miles of bicycle paths, hiking and cross-country ski trails, and easily accessible golf courses and tennis courts. The area abounds with lakes for swimming, boating, and ice-skating. Hunting, fishing, camping and hiking facilities are plentiful and inexpensive throughout Minnesota. Minnesota Sharing its northern border with Canada, Minnesota is a patchwork of lakes and rivers, forests and croplands. Glaciers scraping slowly across North America eons ago created the many bodies of water that give Minnesota its nickname "Land of 10,000 Lakes." There are actually more than that, and it's not surprising that two popular recreation areas in the state focus on water: the North Shore, which curves around the western edge of Lake Superior, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, a federally protected area. The weather, especially winter, is a subject that comes up frequently. Mention Minnesota, and some people imagine an arctic plain with howling winds. However, winter is rarely as bad as one might imagine. Clear winter days bring skiers, skaters, hikers, and joggers to the lakes and parkways. The same areas accommodate swimmers, sailors, cyclists, golfers, and tennis players in the spring and summer. These are all popular diversions from study and research. Most long-term visitors to the University, even if they come with exaggerated fears about winter, soon fall in love with Minnesota and the widely envied quality of life here. Public Transit As with many urban campuses, parking is at a premium on campus. Public transit is a convenient way to get around the cities. Metro Transit covers both St. Paul and Minneapolis as well as providing services to some of the suburbs. As a University Student, you are eligible to purchase a U-Pass which gives a substantial discount on bus fares. The University also provides a bus service between the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses. Housing The University is in a large metropolitan area with adequate housing available for both married and single graduate students: Como Student Community Cooperative University of Minnesota student families, with or without children, or single parents who have 50 percent or greater legal custody of minor children are eligible. A marriage certificate or custody document is required. Extended family members are not eligible for University student family housing (mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, adult children, etc.). For more information and/or an application, send your request to: Como Student Community Cooperative University of Minnesota Student Family Housing 1024 27th Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA (612) 378-2434 Housing Services If you are interested in living in a campus residence hall contact Housing Services at the address listed below. If you want off-campus housing in Minneapolis or St. Paul, you can visit Housing Services for listings of apartments, duplexes, houses, sleeping rooms, shared units, and sublets. Information about temporary housing, public housing, living costs, transportation, and day-care centers is also available from: Housing Services. Housing Services Comstock Hall-East 210 Delaware Street SE University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455-0307 USA ph: (612) 624-2994 fax: (612) 624-6987 e-mail: housing@tc.umn.edu The St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune , the newspapers covering the Twin Cities, also have listings for rentals on-line.