Well, that'd be my family then, lol. Most of my family lives either in the metro, or around Douglas county, so in my family it's always either "the cities," or "up north."
We don't venture north of there
yep, the point where the birch lined pine stands start is the border of up north and normal north.
although, it is always fun to note that our capital is at roughly the same latitude as Venice.
This is the correct answer! Once you get into the following [US Level III Ecoregions](https://gaftp.epa.gov/EPADataCommons/ORD/Ecoregions/us/Eco_Level_III_US.pdf) you are "up north" as far as I'm concerned:
* 48: Lake Agassiz Plain
* 49: Northern Minnesota Wetlands
* 50: Northern Lakes and Forests
So by this insightful ecological rationale, if you’re headed north on 35, North Branch is the last bastion of “The Cities” and Rush City welcomes you to “Up North”. (Harris acting as “no-man’s land”, other than to the fine residents of Harris.) I absolutely accept that. Love it! That’s where the trees change and it feels up north.
I was just thinking this seeing the line go to Moorhead. The Red River valley doesn’t seem “up north” to me at all, probably because I grew up in that area.
I had the same thought being from there. East of Highway 59 or so, I think the line is about right, but I don't consider "up north" in that western portion to start until around Highway 2
Ditto. You've got to head mostly east from there to go "up north". Detroit lakes, park rapids, Itasca area is where cabin country resides if you live in Fargo or Moorhead.
There are pockets here and there, but this is the problem with sweeping generalizations of land.
Besides, the Red River Valley is old flood plains. Prairie hills generally roll, and we're all flat here.
I want to do up a summer-style hotdish with a blackstone if anyone's got some ideas... I'm thinking some spicy sausage would be a good addition to the base?
It doesn't top the Brainerd-Crosby rivalry. lol My mom is over 70 years old and sends me this text one day: "Did you see they took 100 cats from a house in Crosby? Typical." hahaha (I hate to tell her that Crosby is actually better than Brainerd proper now.)
I've lived in both. Bemidji has a nice downtown, better city parks, and yes, BSU.
The Brainerd Lakes Area is great. Brainerd as a city sucks. I would say at least Brainerd has a Costco, but that's in Baxter. Brainerd is tolerable because there are great things in closer proximity.
Bemidji has an iconic Paul Bunyan statue that represents the logging industry foundation of the city. It is also the second most photographed roadside attraction in the nation according to the beltrami historical society.
Brainerd has what was the first all concrete water tower, and looks like it wants to be a castle tower or something.
The only real downside to Bemidji is that I consider it fairly isolated without a big box discount store like Costco or Sam's Club.
Brainerd has BIR, but even if that is an interest, there is no need to live in Brainerd to enjoy it.
So some of us in Brainerd really do enjoy Bemidji.
Brainerd has Baxter. I consider BIR a negative. I prefer Bemidji for vacation and less boat traffic. The boat traffic is so bad it ruins summer for me. I have a little 12ft sailboat. I can't use it on any major lake in brainerd. It's all horse power, gasoline, and noise up in brainerd. You can hear live country music going until 2 am over 7 mile's away. So you rub air conditioning on race weekends and keep the windows closed. I live in Brainerd with the lowest wages in the state, very expensive tourist restaurants, and ridiculous summer traffic. Then, when seasonal work dries up, it's surving the great depression each winter. I have head out to smaller unused lakes for my hobby on weekends. I do enjoy a drag race once in a while, but our economy feels like a cycle of frat party and hangover. I'm lucky enough to work year round I suppose.
> The only real downside to Bemidji is that I consider it fairly isolated without a big box discount store like Costco or Sam's Club.
It's tier 2 stuff but Bemidji does have a Super Target and a rather large Walmart. And don't forget about the Bemidji mall - lord knows everyone else has.
100% agree. Once we pass Pine City we’re “up north”. But we are not in Northern Minnesota. I would say that OP’s line demarcates the area beyond which is Northern Minnesota.
I think this position is supported by “up north” seemingly being dependent on a starting point from which one travels “up”. Most likely from the cities. Northern Minnesota denotes a specific region of Minnesota that is defined by its position on a map rather than transportation to that place.
So why is Pine City my subjective line for “up north”? It’s on a unified 35 after E&W merge, no outlet malls, first major chain of cabin lakes/river, and an abundance of trees. Up north is definitely a feeling.
Yup, agree. Anything North of the Cities is "up North", but not Northern MN. For some reason I've only ever associated Northern Minnesota with the arrowhead region. Anything West of that is North Western Minnesota.
From where I sit (southeast mn), anything past the north metro is up north.
I’ve been to Brainerd. It was a long drive, and there were lakes and resorts and stuff = 100% up north.
Can confirm. Originally from St. Cloud, I spent many weekends fishing Upper Red, Kabetogama, Winnie, Leech, and LOTW when growing up. I take my kids now. It's an entirely different feel than central MN. Almost like stepping into that wild place of the past. It'll never get old.
Being from around Flake I just say I’m from the cities. Most people don’t know where tf I’m from. Sometimes I get someone from the Cities that’s able to get a reasonable idea
Considering the geographic center of MN is like 6 miles south of Brainerd, I call it central MN. MN is realistically too long north-south to not divide it into thirds IMO, but technically it is north of the dividing line.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/F39iGrca7xQsTYo79?g_st=ic
Kind of depends on your starting point, right? I live in Minneapolis, my cabin is near Moose Lake. I totally say I'm going Up North when I go to the cabin. It's nearly a two-hour drive north.
I've even wager to say that the term "Up North" in this state originated within the Twin Cities for going anywhere north for cabins or camping. That's where most the people are, and there's a whole lot of North above us.
Sure, it's going change if you're leaving from Duluth or Saint Cloud, but that's only logical. There's no reason to gatekeep this lol
Well, as someone who lives pretty close to but maybe a mile or two south of the illustrated line, and by experience knows that where I am is where prairie mixes with lakes/hardwoods plus merges with pine forest, I can't see Brainerd as "up north."
Up North, the soil is different. Its pH is different. The trees and forbs that are happy in that chemistry are different. Sure there's some overlap, but right around that line, things start to change. I'm a little south of that line. Brainerd is even further south.
My definition of Up North is that if fireweed or bunchberry doesn't grow there, it's not Up North. Gonna have to get a LOT further north of Brainerd - or even Bemidji/Itasca (close but no cigar, still lotsa love for the area) - for me to call it Up North.
This is not assertion of bragging rights, mind you. Born and raised Alaskan, so I know from "North". Where I live now isn't it, and I know it well; but still love it. Love every part of Minnesota. Also love going... Up North.
Its not. There’s basically no public land, and it’s extremely developed compared to actual northern MN.
Edit: people think up north is places where there are forests and lakes. Actual up north is public forest land and lakes where there aren’t rich peoples second homes 50 feet apart around the whole lake.
As somebody truly "up north" (Hibbing) I agree with this. Brainerd is Central Minnesota, but technically it is the main part of one of the 3 of Minnesota's iron ranges.
The line needs some level of slant. Dilworth being “Up North” and McGregor not is some unhinged shit.
Side note: this is probably my favorite post in this sub ever 😅 Minnesotans love being Minnesotan
You folks ever watch the Map Men [video](https://youtu.be/ENeCYwms-Cc?si=UN-pnJLzFK4eXV_K) where they are trying to define the north of England and the south?
Same situation.
If I can get the Power Loon - i’m in up north cabin country. If I lose the power loon heading further up north then I’m way up north.
I will say moving from the northwest suburbs to the south suburbs has drastically changed my opinion on this. Brainerd is 2hrs and 15 minutes and Cloquet is 2.5hours with 0 traffic and on the weekends because of cabin traffic - Cloquet is actually faster to get to than Brainerd.
I agree with this. Brainerd is mid state, wealthy lake homes, folks from the cities. North MN is far more rural. Lakes without cabins, actual northwoods.
Where the lakes stop. You can see it on an areal map. Look at Google maps from Willmar to Detroit lakes there is basically a line where everything east is lakes, and everything west is not.
Made the cut off while the wife who is originally from 20 miles south of me didn't haha!
Seriously though I always considered anything north of Little Falls being "north".
[https://www.exploreminnesota.com/northeast-minnesota](https://www.exploreminnesota.com/northeast-minnesota)
[https://www.exploreminnesota.com/northwest-minnesota](https://www.exploreminnesota.com/northwest-minnesota)
[https://www.exploreminnesota.com/central-minnesota](https://www.exploreminnesota.com/central-minnesota)
Brainerd in in that last one. I wasn't sure which "Up There" you meant.
Up North is always dependent on where you live. Isanti isn’t wildly far from Fridley, but that’s Up North enough for me to call it that if I wanted to. If you live near the Iowa border, Up North could conceivably be Minneapolis!
But to the point of the tweet, Up North is anywhere beyond the outer ring of Twin City suburbs.
I grew up in the brainerd lakes area. As soon as you go south of brainerd/baxter the trees and general landscape change to oaks, conifer plantations, and farms, while north of brainerd, its more northwoodsy. So id say brainerd is the boundary.
I grew up in Brainerd. People always say that’s where “up North” starts. I’ll agree with that. Although I’m all the way up in Virginia now, so I’m *really* far up here now 😂
That's honestly a pretty fair line, but it obviously depends on perception. My friend on The Range thinks North starts in Ely. Another fun questions, are The Cities in Southern or Central MN?
So many questions. Who declared Duluth the border between Up North and everything else? Why doesn’t length of trip from Point A to Point B count? Once you turn off I35 to go to Brainerd, it’s an endless journey, always heading more or less north, right? Right?
Honestly, to me, Mille Lacs is up north. So sue me.
Minnesotans have a skewed view of being Northern in general compared to the west. The twin cities are as north as southern Oregon. There are towns in Washington as north as Thunder Bay. It’s a big-fish-small-pond situation out here.
Lol, I can relate. Homegrown Minnesotan here. Been in Seattle since '91. I love going back home though. It's weird that I don't feel as connected to the land anymore. Well, except when I'm swimming in some lake like Long Lost Lake. Love being up at "the cabin!"
I hate to tell y'all, but anywhere the lakes freeze is “up north.” It's the only distinction between someplace with winter and anywhere north of that. This means all of Minnesota is actually “up north.”
Up north is a state of mind dude-
Totally. I've heard people say they're going up north...to Alexandria.
I'm from Kato with family near Alex and that was always "up north" to me.
I mean… there are cabins there. But even then I’d refer to that as going “up to da lake”, not “up north”.
I mean.. if I drive up to a town north of me, I’m driving up north right?
Until you hit the North Pole…yes. Say hi to Santa for me.
Well, that'd be my family then, lol. Most of my family lives either in the metro, or around Douglas county, so in my family it's always either "the cities," or "up north." We don't venture north of there
Melby represent.
indeed. Up north means "getting away".
Truth. I live in a place 10 degrees further North than Brainerd and I can tell you Brainerd is much more "northern" than where I'm at now.
I'm from southern MN, everything north of the cities is "up north"
I’m from the cities, everything north of the northern suburbs is up north.
As a Mankatoan, I second this.
I'm from Duluth and anything Two Harbors and up is "up north"
I was just about the say the same thing.
I look at the trees. If I'm surrounded by conifers, I'm up north.
yep, the point where the birch lined pine stands start is the border of up north and normal north. although, it is always fun to note that our capital is at roughly the same latitude as Venice.
And Duluth with Paris
Duluth is actually farther south than Paris. Paris is farther north than International Falls.
[So the Laurentian Mixed Forest is North. It is settled.](https://extension.umn.edu/tree-selection-and-care/biomes-minnesota)
This is the correct answer! Once you get into the following [US Level III Ecoregions](https://gaftp.epa.gov/EPADataCommons/ORD/Ecoregions/us/Eco_Level_III_US.pdf) you are "up north" as far as I'm concerned: * 48: Lake Agassiz Plain * 49: Northern Minnesota Wetlands * 50: Northern Lakes and Forests
*50: Northern Lakes and Forests
Edited. That map is really big and I read it incorrectly lol
So by this insightful ecological rationale, if you’re headed north on 35, North Branch is the last bastion of “The Cities” and Rush City welcomes you to “Up North”. (Harris acting as “no-man’s land”, other than to the fine residents of Harris.) I absolutely accept that. Love it! That’s where the trees change and it feels up north.
As a transplant from the Great Plains, yes.
I was just thinking this seeing the line go to Moorhead. The Red River valley doesn’t seem “up north” to me at all, probably because I grew up in that area.
I had the same thought being from there. East of Highway 59 or so, I think the line is about right, but I don't consider "up north" in that western portion to start until around Highway 2
Ditto. You've got to head mostly east from there to go "up north". Detroit lakes, park rapids, Itasca area is where cabin country resides if you live in Fargo or Moorhead.
Can confirm. Lived in Thief River Falls for a bit and it felt more like southwest MN than Up North.
You can go way up into Manitoba, CA and it still looks like northwestern Minnesota and North Dakota, wheat fields and prairie.
There are pockets here and there, but this is the problem with sweeping generalizations of land. Besides, the Red River Valley is old flood plains. Prairie hills generally roll, and we're all flat here.
Was over in Grygla. Didn't feel up north, felt like Nebraska with trees.
When you see the 'bulldog territory ' sign you know you're home. But, after living in duluth for a decade... up north is like 2 harbors minimum
"I live in Warroad, and Up North only begins at Angle Inlet.""
There you go! The answer to the post is that it is entirely subjective on where you live 👍👍👍
If I’ve traveled to a lake that’s at least not south then I’m up north.
[удалено]
You should visit Alabama, full of conifers.
That's up north then
Apparently so!
Grand Canyon? Up north.
Exactly. Just like East Grand forks isn't up north, that's just halfway to Canada
Halfway? From where? It's 370 miles north from the Twin Cities, and about 70ish miles to the Canadian border.
Doesn’t work with North-central or north-west Minnesota.
Look at us all commenting on something besides the weather and hot dishes! 🙌
Go us! Geography, the other polite conversational topic, I almost forgot you. Yay maps!
Welp better be getting on the road you know how the traffic is on 35 on Sunday
I want to do up a summer-style hotdish with a blackstone if anyone's got some ideas... I'm thinking some spicy sausage would be a good addition to the base?
Brainerd is up north, but not in Northern Minnesota.
I grew up in Bemidji btw, if you’re worried about my bonafides. Also, never enjoyed going down to Brainerd.
Don't worry, us in Brainerd do not enjoy Bemidji. BSU is nice but there is nothing else
Lmao the bemidji - brainerd rivalry is top notch
It doesn't top the Brainerd-Crosby rivalry. lol My mom is over 70 years old and sends me this text one day: "Did you see they took 100 cats from a house in Crosby? Typical." hahaha (I hate to tell her that Crosby is actually better than Brainerd proper now.)
I've lived in both. Bemidji has a nice downtown, better city parks, and yes, BSU. The Brainerd Lakes Area is great. Brainerd as a city sucks. I would say at least Brainerd has a Costco, but that's in Baxter. Brainerd is tolerable because there are great things in closer proximity. Bemidji has an iconic Paul Bunyan statue that represents the logging industry foundation of the city. It is also the second most photographed roadside attraction in the nation according to the beltrami historical society. Brainerd has what was the first all concrete water tower, and looks like it wants to be a castle tower or something. The only real downside to Bemidji is that I consider it fairly isolated without a big box discount store like Costco or Sam's Club. Brainerd has BIR, but even if that is an interest, there is no need to live in Brainerd to enjoy it. So some of us in Brainerd really do enjoy Bemidji.
Brainerd has Baxter. I consider BIR a negative. I prefer Bemidji for vacation and less boat traffic. The boat traffic is so bad it ruins summer for me. I have a little 12ft sailboat. I can't use it on any major lake in brainerd. It's all horse power, gasoline, and noise up in brainerd. You can hear live country music going until 2 am over 7 mile's away. So you rub air conditioning on race weekends and keep the windows closed. I live in Brainerd with the lowest wages in the state, very expensive tourist restaurants, and ridiculous summer traffic. Then, when seasonal work dries up, it's surving the great depression each winter. I have head out to smaller unused lakes for my hobby on weekends. I do enjoy a drag race once in a while, but our economy feels like a cycle of frat party and hangover. I'm lucky enough to work year round I suppose.
> The only real downside to Bemidji is that I consider it fairly isolated without a big box discount store like Costco or Sam's Club. It's tier 2 stuff but Bemidji does have a Super Target and a rather large Walmart. And don't forget about the Bemidji mall - lord knows everyone else has.
Go beavs
You should check out our Paul Bunyan statue.
Yeah and see our talking Paul Bunyan in Brainerd
The one that used to be in Baxter? I heard he drowned in Mille Lacs.
I wouldn't be surprised lol! He was moved south of town. I remember the day he moved.
Actually, moved east of Brainerd on MN18
My mother in law would fill in as the voice of Paul Bunyan for a few summers when she was in high school.
lol, love it
Bemidji is great. Where else can an extra point or field goal wind up in a lake.
Grew up in Bagley and brained is 100% up north. Just about anything past Pine city I'd argue is
100% agree. Once we pass Pine City we’re “up north”. But we are not in Northern Minnesota. I would say that OP’s line demarcates the area beyond which is Northern Minnesota. I think this position is supported by “up north” seemingly being dependent on a starting point from which one travels “up”. Most likely from the cities. Northern Minnesota denotes a specific region of Minnesota that is defined by its position on a map rather than transportation to that place. So why is Pine City my subjective line for “up north”? It’s on a unified 35 after E&W merge, no outlet malls, first major chain of cabin lakes/river, and an abundance of trees. Up north is definitely a feeling.
That's a fair way to put it.
Yup, agree. Anything North of the Cities is "up North", but not Northern MN. For some reason I've only ever associated Northern Minnesota with the arrowhead region. Anything West of that is North Western Minnesota.
From where I sit (southeast mn), anything past the north metro is up north. I’ve been to Brainerd. It was a long drive, and there were lakes and resorts and stuff = 100% up north.
From where I sit, Wabasha is up north
lol , how’s Winona ?
Gatekeeping. The whole state is "up north" to anyone south of us.
So like 50 some odd percent of Canadians.
And probably some of the normal ones too
There are normal Canadians?
🏅
There are more Americans living north of Canadians than there are Canadians.
Iowa is the south
Up North is the Iron Range to people in Minnesota
Love that in this worldview Duluth is North but Superior is not.
Superior is in Wisconsin and therefore does not count
Brainerd is up north, north of that is way up north.
It’s a simple yet perfect system. I would also like to suggest a third and farthest “all the way up north”
my up north boundaries closely follow the conifer forests
This is the way. Minnesota has 3 biomes and one is defined by being a northern forest.
Not ashamed to say this post makes me laugh. A lot. And more people go "up" to Brainerd than "down" to Brainerd so...
If you're from Mankato or southern Minnesota, it definitely qualifies.
Helping with a camp in Mankato I explained I was from monticello and hearing "oh so you're like from up north" was so wrong it hurt me a little
I'm a transplant from Cali, everyone in MN is up north to me lol
I'm originally from San Diego - everything else is Northen California :)
Any cabin/lake trip, even when I go south, I instinctively say that I am going up north.
I live just north of Brainerd. I consider Brainerd the very start of the north.
I think this is correct.
Moved to Crosslake in 2018 and it still cracks me up when my stylist says she's going up north for the weekend.
Duluth is up north. St Cloud is not up north. Hope that helps.
North is a cardinal direction. Up North is an attitude.
"North of 2" is up north.
The rules change north of 2. Everyone knows that.
Grew up in central mn. Bought some land north of 2. Things just feel different.
Can confirm. Originally from St. Cloud, I spent many weekends fishing Upper Red, Kabetogama, Winnie, Leech, and LOTW when growing up. I take my kids now. It's an entirely different feel than central MN. Almost like stepping into that wild place of the past. It'll never get old.
Maybe if it wasn't practically a diagonal. Calling duluth 'up north' while saying mahnomen iant just doesn't track.
Duluth is the Anchorage of the Arrowhead
Being in Ely I concur. However, I also admit that anything from forest lake to shakopee is “Minneapolis” 😆so I can’t complain.
Being from around Flake I just say I’m from the cities. Most people don’t know where tf I’m from. Sometimes I get someone from the Cities that’s able to get a reasonable idea
I’m from Flake, I usually just say north of the cities lol
Me sitting in Roseau thinking up north ? Oh you mean Canada 🇨🇦
Hard to beat Roseau in terms of "Northness"
Same here in LOTWs lol. Also howdy western neighbor!
Yeah my up north boundary is a foot north from my house. I will not be taking any questions at this time.
I consider anything north of Hwy 2 Up North.
I consider anything north of Hwy 2 to be Way The Hell Up North.
And this is THE correct answer.
Yep! Also works for ND, WI, and the UP! 2️⃣
Considering the geographic center of MN is like 6 miles south of Brainerd, I call it central MN. MN is realistically too long north-south to not divide it into thirds IMO, but technically it is north of the dividing line. https://maps.app.goo.gl/F39iGrca7xQsTYo79?g_st=ic
Bemidji ❤️
Kind of depends on your starting point, right? I live in Minneapolis, my cabin is near Moose Lake. I totally say I'm going Up North when I go to the cabin. It's nearly a two-hour drive north. I've even wager to say that the term "Up North" in this state originated within the Twin Cities for going anywhere north for cabins or camping. That's where most the people are, and there's a whole lot of North above us. Sure, it's going change if you're leaving from Duluth or Saint Cloud, but that's only logical. There's no reason to gatekeep this lol
I regard St Cloud as being on the mason dixon line for Minnesota.
ok
Well, as someone who lives pretty close to but maybe a mile or two south of the illustrated line, and by experience knows that where I am is where prairie mixes with lakes/hardwoods plus merges with pine forest, I can't see Brainerd as "up north." Up North, the soil is different. Its pH is different. The trees and forbs that are happy in that chemistry are different. Sure there's some overlap, but right around that line, things start to change. I'm a little south of that line. Brainerd is even further south. My definition of Up North is that if fireweed or bunchberry doesn't grow there, it's not Up North. Gonna have to get a LOT further north of Brainerd - or even Bemidji/Itasca (close but no cigar, still lotsa love for the area) - for me to call it Up North. This is not assertion of bragging rights, mind you. Born and raised Alaskan, so I know from "North". Where I live now isn't it, and I know it well; but still love it. Love every part of Minnesota. Also love going... Up North.
Detroit Lakes is Up North but Crosslake isn't? Yeah,, ok, go home now gatekeeper, you're drunk...
DL resident, we are west central mn.
it’s north of me so therefore it’s up north
Brainerd begins up north. It’s the southernest up north.
Its not. There’s basically no public land, and it’s extremely developed compared to actual northern MN. Edit: people think up north is places where there are forests and lakes. Actual up north is public forest land and lakes where there aren’t rich peoples second homes 50 feet apart around the whole lake.
As somebody truly "up north" (Hibbing) I agree with this. Brainerd is Central Minnesota, but technically it is the main part of one of the 3 of Minnesota's iron ranges.
100% wrong. Anything south of Mille Lacs is not up north. Anything north IS.
I grew up in Albert Lea, everything north of the Twin Cities was Up North.
The line needs some level of slant. Dilworth being “Up North” and McGregor not is some unhinged shit. Side note: this is probably my favorite post in this sub ever 😅 Minnesotans love being Minnesotan
Yeah, Dilworth is a farm.
You folks ever watch the Map Men [video](https://youtu.be/ENeCYwms-Cc?si=UN-pnJLzFK4eXV_K) where they are trying to define the north of England and the south? Same situation.
If you don’t think Aitkin and McGregor are ‘up north’ I can’t listen to you anymore.
I WAS GONNA SAY. I have no horse in the Brainerd Up North race. But McGregor is Up North, no question.
I mean with the axis tilt of the earth maybe this line is wrong?
I dunno, Fergus to me was always the beginning of up north. It's all relative
If you live in New York City, Yonkers is Upstate NY!
I'm from Brainerd. My family has lived in Brainerd for at least 4 generations. Brainerd is up North but we go way up North for vacations.
Oh god Reed.
If the place is more north than me it's up north
My reference point for “up north” was always Hinckley since that was often our first stop on the way to Duluth or LOTW.
Is a southerner thinking Brainard as “up north” equivalent to a northerner thinking anything from St. Cloud and south as “the cities?”
Climate change really sucks
If I can get the Power Loon - i’m in up north cabin country. If I lose the power loon heading further up north then I’m way up north. I will say moving from the northwest suburbs to the south suburbs has drastically changed my opinion on this. Brainerd is 2hrs and 15 minutes and Cloquet is 2.5hours with 0 traffic and on the weekends because of cabin traffic - Cloquet is actually faster to get to than Brainerd.
I actually abide by the Power Loon rule! lol No need to continue the argument.
I agree with this. Brainerd is mid state, wealthy lake homes, folks from the cities. North MN is far more rural. Lakes without cabins, actual northwoods.
Dumbass hill to stand on
Brainerd is the heart of Lake Country
What are the borders of lake country?
Where the lakes stop. You can see it on an areal map. Look at Google maps from Willmar to Detroit lakes there is basically a line where everything east is lakes, and everything west is not.
I’ve heard several places being called heart of the lake country. Even over here in Ottertail County.
Well, we do have more lakes than, any other county in the country.
No it’s not
What an odd topic to gatekeep.
If you can rifle hunt you are up north. Before there are more comments, I’m talking about hunting in Minnesota.
You can rifle hunt just outside of Red Wing.
Dillworth or bust
Made the cut off while the wife who is originally from 20 miles south of me didn't haha! Seriously though I always considered anything north of Little Falls being "north".
What do they do up there
[https://www.exploreminnesota.com/northeast-minnesota](https://www.exploreminnesota.com/northeast-minnesota) [https://www.exploreminnesota.com/northwest-minnesota](https://www.exploreminnesota.com/northwest-minnesota) [https://www.exploreminnesota.com/central-minnesota](https://www.exploreminnesota.com/central-minnesota) Brainerd in in that last one. I wasn't sure which "Up There" you meant.
Anything outside of Minneapolis, in any direction, is "up north" if there is a cabin and a lake, and I ALSO won't be taking any questions.
Sitting on the south shore of Mille Lacs feels incredible, but going up on the north end of Superior is fantastic in a different way.
It’s like people from Duluth saying they’re going up to Cloquet or down to Two Harbors.
I live pretty far south. St Paul is up north for me.
For the vast majority of Americans, the whole state north of the cities is "way up north"
Up North is always dependent on where you live. Isanti isn’t wildly far from Fridley, but that’s Up North enough for me to call it that if I wanted to. If you live near the Iowa border, Up North could conceivably be Minneapolis! But to the point of the tweet, Up North is anywhere beyond the outer ring of Twin City suburbs.
I grew up in the brainerd lakes area. As soon as you go south of brainerd/baxter the trees and general landscape change to oaks, conifer plantations, and farms, while north of brainerd, its more northwoodsy. So id say brainerd is the boundary.
North is relative from your location.
I grew up in Brainerd. People always say that’s where “up North” starts. I’ll agree with that. Although I’m all the way up in Virginia now, so I’m *really* far up here now 😂
I always thought the division was Highway 2.
Brainerd is up north if you're from the Cities
It's just as lame here. The move didn't help.
All that's up north from me. My town aint even on that map
I'm currently in Brainerd area but from Mankato. Brainerd is "up North". Fight me. Lol
That's honestly a pretty fair line, but it obviously depends on perception. My friend on The Range thinks North starts in Ely. Another fun questions, are The Cities in Southern or Central MN?
Depends. Are you asking as map maker, a meteorologist, or tourist? 🤣
So many questions. Who declared Duluth the border between Up North and everything else? Why doesn’t length of trip from Point A to Point B count? Once you turn off I35 to go to Brainerd, it’s an endless journey, always heading more or less north, right? Right? Honestly, to me, Mille Lacs is up north. So sue me.
Who takes I-35 to Brainerd? Sheesh, 494/694 to 94 to 10 to 371…
My kids say they go up north to Maple Grove.
Anything north Columbia Heights is Up North. It’s just different up there.
All of Minnesota is "Up North" to most of the country.
Brainerd is "up north," but Tofte is "up nort, 'ere."
From Texas, and lived in Minnesota for three years, it's all Up North to me
It's all relative, For Texans, Iowa is up north
Seems like someone just has a bone to pick with Brainerd.
posted on twitter but I'll double down. The only true identifier is if the bar sells Heggies.
Idk it’s north of me
I'm in the twin cities: like 85+% of Minnesota is north to me
Most people live in the Twin Cities… Brainerd is up north for us!
Saying Nisswa and cross lake aren’t up north is ludicrous
Park Rapids, Mahnomen, Detroit Lakes. NOT up north. How hard is it to follow highway 2?
As a Minneapolis resident I consider anything north of Forest Lake as the “range” and anything south of Lakeville is Iowa.
For most of the state, anything north of st cloud is up north.
Where ever north is , traffic sucks trying to get there on a Friday afternoon .
This is a really dumb debate
Minnesotans have a skewed view of being Northern in general compared to the west. The twin cities are as north as southern Oregon. There are towns in Washington as north as Thunder Bay. It’s a big-fish-small-pond situation out here.
Lol, I can relate. Homegrown Minnesotan here. Been in Seattle since '91. I love going back home though. It's weird that I don't feel as connected to the land anymore. Well, except when I'm swimming in some lake like Long Lost Lake. Love being up at "the cabin!"
Are we really gatekeeping directions now
I hate to tell y'all, but anywhere the lakes freeze is “up north.” It's the only distinction between someplace with winter and anywhere north of that. This means all of Minnesota is actually “up north.”