Well, well, well. Doesn't Iowa think she's just too fabulous now, what with legalizing same-sex marriage and grabbing headlines that might have been -- sob! -- that might have been ours.
After all, Minneapolis consistently ranks among the top 10 U.S. cities for gay couples. Sure, Iowa has its own musical, but when "The Music Man" ends, the boy gets the girl.
Is Iowa's cutting edge now sharper than Minnesota's? A UCLA study suggests that a gay marriage tourism industry in Iowa could have an economic impact of more than $50 million a year. Our newest tourist attraction is Underwater Adventures' Seahorse Kingdom at the Mall of America.
Over the years, there's been a lot of sniping between us and that flatland to the south. Who's on top now? Take a look at the evidence on E5.
Here's how minnesota and Iowa stack up:
POPULATION
There are, as of July 1, 2008, an estimated 3,002,555 Iowans compared with 5,220,393 Minnesotans. Advantage: Us.
State Fair
Total attendance at last year's Minnesota State Fair was just shy of 1.7 million people. The Iowa State Fair ended its run busting its buttons over its 1.1 million fairgoers. Advantage: Us.
Murder
According to FBI statistics, Iowa has 1.3 murders per 100,000 population. Minnesota's rate is 2.3 per 100,000 -- almost double. Advantage: Them.
Disc golf courses
Call it disc golf or Frisbee golf, it's among the fastest growing sports in the country. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, Minnesota's 139 courses are bested by Iowa's 142. Advantage: Them.
