Geography of Minnesota - Essay Example

Geography of Minnesota Spatial distribution refers to the phenomenon of movement across the earth`s surface to different places. It consists of a graphical display showing this phenomenon. It is an essential tool in geographical and environmental statistics. A graphical display of a spatial distribution summarizes raw data that reflects the outcome of data analysis. Spatial distribution is best described by use of graphical displays by using different color schemes to represent different areas.

The Minnesota state is a prime example of how people from different ethnic groups live and co-exist. This is supported by a survey that stated that over 70% of the population in the state is made up of immigrants.Some of the ethnic groups include African Americans brought as slaves to work in fields and construct the railways. After they attained their freedom they settled in Minnesota. Pacific Islanders came from the islands of Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia. They immigrated to Minnesota to seek employment in the fields and mines.

American Indians are also referred to as Native Americans. This is because; they lived in America before its discovery by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Asian Americans are individuals of Asian descent. They immigrated to Minnesota in search of work, business and an education. Hispanics/Latinos are people of Latin descent and can trace their heritage back to Latin and South America. They immigrated to America and chose to stay in Minnesota due to its employment and business opportunities. All of these ethnic groups living and working together best illustrate spatial distribution.

These ethnic groups are distributed across the state although some of them be live in specific areas (Hart, 2008).The first major wave of immigration was between 1860 and 1870. The first immigrants were from Germany. They were soon followed by the Norwegians who were referred to as Scandinavians. German immigrants composed the largest immigration group in Minnesota while the Norwegians only represented a small portion of the immigrants. Most of the German immigrants moved to farming areas within the state while the Scandinavians tended to settle in distinctive communities most of whom had relocated due to the potato famine they experienced between 1845 and 1852.

The famine killed approximately a million people and in the process caused the immigration to the United States. ReferenceHart, J. F., & Ziegler, S. S. (2008). Landscapes of Minnesota: geography. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press.