If anyone ever doubts that the Land of 10,000 Lakes can produce great people and things, they need to remember that only people as nice as Minnesotans can make history and be too humble to brag about it! While most Minnesotans absolutely know about and pride themselves on living in the state that gave the world Prince, Bob Dylan, and many other amazing talents, there are many people who don’t realize we have tons of other famous people from Minnesota as well. Here are ten celebrities that hail from the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald (Saint Paul)
Flickr/Cliff
F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the greatest American writers of all time. His numerous works include the novel "The Great Gatsby." He was born in Saint Paul, but spent his early years in New York after his father got a job there.
2. Judy Garland (Grand Rapids)
Flickr/Insomnia Cured Here
An amazing actress and lifelong performer, Judy Garland is most famous for playing Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." She is consistently ranked among the best screen legends of all time.
3. Winona Ryder (Winona)
Flickr/pm-II Piccolo Missionario
This actress is so Minnesotan she was even named for a Minnesota city! She's been in a number of hit films, including "Little Women" (1994), "Girl, Interrupted," and "Heathers." She had an interesting childhood and lived in a California commune with no electricity for a few years.
4. Adam Young (raised in Owatonna)
Flickr/Chloe Chaplin
The electronic music project Owl City gained fame in 2009 for the single "Fireflies." Its singer and creator is Adam Young, who was born in Iowa but raised in Owatonna, Minnesota.
5. Seann William Scott (Cottage Grove)
Flickr/Eva Renaldi
Seann William Scott is best-known for his roles in the "American Pie" film series. He was born and raised in Cottage Grove.

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6. Jessica Biel (Ely)
Flickr/Disney ABC Television Group
Jessica Biel is known for her role on "7th Heaven" and a variety of film roles. This American beauty's family moved frequently throughout her childhood, but she was born in the small town of Ely.
7. Jessica Lange (Cloquet)
Flickr/Lene Dietrich
This Cloquet native has achieved the Triple Crown of acting: an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. She has had a long and storied career, with performances as varied as "King Kong" (1976), "Tootsie," and TV's "American Horror Story."
8. Josh Hartnett (Saint Paul)
Flickr/Danny Harrison
This swoon-worthy heartthrob was born in Saint Paul and graduated from Minneapolis South High School. He was a big name in the early 2000s, starring in films like "Pearl Harbor" and "Black Hawk Down." Desiring a break from the limelight, he has kept a lower profile since then. He still makes time to appear at various Minnesota fundraisers and political events.
9. Chris Pratt (Virginia)
Flickr/Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV
Another Hollywood guy known for his good looks, Chris Pratt gained fame on the small screen in "Parks and Recreation." He became a household name with starring roles in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Jurassic World." He was born in Virginia, a suburb of Duluth.
10. Vince Vaughn (Minneapolis)
Flickr/Gage Skidmore
Funnyman Vince Vaughn was born into a wealthy family in Minnesota, though his family moved to Illinois when he was young. He went on to be the star of many comedy films, including "Dodgeball" and "Old School." He is also a screenwriter and producer.

See? While Minnesota natives aren’t always easy to spot, they still exist among those we adore! What other famous people from Minnesota do you know? Share your suggestions in the comments: we love Minnesota trivia!

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Minnesota Trivia

Lisa Sammons | August 10, 2021

What are some fun facts about Minnesota?

Well, for one, we're not really the Land of 10,000 Lakes. In actuality, we have over 11,000!  Also, we produce more turkeys each year than there are people in California. We also have 3 million cows, which is more than the (human) population of 20 states. Wow! Check out more fascinating facts about Minnesota in this list.

What are some great museums in Minnesota?

If you're looking for slightly off-the-wall, we've got a list of weird museums in Minnesota.The SPAM Museum in Austin is great! One less-wacky museum is the Bell Museum. It's a natural history museum filled with fascinating dioramas.

What are some of the best beaches in Minnesota?

Iona's Beach is great and it's unique! It's covered in little pink stones that make musical sounds when the waves hit them. We've also got Black Beach, an aptly-named black sand beach that gets its color from taconite that was mined and dumped into the water years ago.

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