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Introduction <br />Hennepin County Overview <br />Hennepin County is the largest of Minnesota's 87 <br />counties in terms of population, budget, and <br />estimated market value. It encompasses 611 square <br />miles, more than 100 lakes, 45 cities, 22 school <br />districts, and one unorganized territory (Fort <br />Snelling). Each has varying levels of partnership and <br />jurisdiction with the county. <br />The diversity of land and communities in Hennepin <br />County makes us unique, as well as a great place to <br />live and work. We have a high -density downtown, <br />growing suburbs, and rural areas where farms, <br />lakes, and open spaces prevail. Residents have a <br />wide variety of choices in housing, transportation, <br />and lifestyle. Almost a quarter of Minnesota's <br />residents have chosen Hennepin County as home. <br />The county has more than 1.2 million residents, <br />including approximately 40 percent of the state's <br />residents of color. Almost 17 percent of county <br />residents ages five or older speak a language other <br />than English at home, and nearly 13 percent of the <br />county's population is foreign -born. Along with that <br />diversity comes significant disparities by race and <br />ethnicity — some of the largest in the nation — in <br />employment, educational attainment, health, and <br />socioeconomic status. <br />The county has one-third of the state's jobs and <br />approximately 42,000 businesses including some of <br />Minnesota's largest employers — Allina Health <br />System, Best Buy, Cargill, Carlson Companies, <br />General Mills, Mall of America, Medtronic, Super <br />Valu, United Health Group, University of Minnesota, <br />US Bank, and Target Corporation. <br />In addition, the county is home to the Minneapolis - <br />St. Paul International Airport, the prestigious <br />University of Minnesota, and the Mall of America — <br />the largest shopping center in the United States. <br />Ul <br />A CT, <br />J V Vt 0 Vt tD <br />OOi, 0 FynD <br />O O 0 O O O <br />Population +22% Households +26% Jobs +28% <br />0 <br />Hennepin County Forecasts 2040 <br />(Source: Metropolitan Council) <br />Strategic investments and partnerships that <br />leverage geographic diversity, infrastructure, the <br />strength of the local economy, and increasingly <br />diverse human capital are essential to the continued <br />success and wellbeing of Hennepin County and its <br />residents. <br />1 <br />