US state most similar to Manitoba

[King of Kensington]

Manitoba is pretty unique.  A very urbanized province in the Great Plains (and of course a very large Indigenous population).

[kwabbit]

I was mistaken about Manitoba = Iowa in the other thread. Winnipeg’s size is most similar to Omaha or Des Moines, but it’s significantly more diverse and slightly educated than those two.

A more creative pick would be Hawaii. Honolulu and Hawaii. Exceeds diversity, matches the one city dominance, and roughly the same population. Education rate pretty similar too.

[Samof94]

Oklahoma City is similar to Winnipeg population-wise, but is obviously very different in every other way.

[King of Kensington]

Manitoba is 75% urban, with 60% of the population living in Winnipeg.

[King of Kensington]

I'd have to say Minnesota because it does share things like lakes and plains geography, a similar level of urbanization and one dominant metropolitan area that makes up a majority of the population. 

[mileslunn]

Minnesota ironically is quite similar in right vs. left split.  While more consistent as US has fewer swing voters, both are about 45% voting for parties on right.  Likewise in both about half or slightly more live in main metropolitan city.  One could argue Minnesota becoming more like Manitoba as a decade ago Democrats still competitive in much of rural Minnesota whereas in rural Manitoba only in northern parts where First Nations are majority does NDP dominate.  Rural Southern Manitoba is one of the most conservative parts of Canada.  Whereas now rural Minnesota votes heavily GOP, but is offset but Twin Cities metro area voting heavily Democrat much same way Winnipeg's left wing tilt balances out rural right wing tilt.  That is especially true provincially where you have a two party system like US while less so federally as left is split unlike provincially or in US. 

And as an added bonus Minnesota borders Manitoba.  A lot of provinces most similar to state they border be it BC most like Washington (also like Oregon and California too), Ontario most like New York (less so Michigan which is more rural) and New Brunswick most like Maine (big difference is New Brunswick has large Francophone population).  Quebec is obviously not akin to any state and Alberta is more like Colorado not Montana as Montana a lot more rural, way more white while Colorado on education, diversity, and urban/rural split more like Alberta.  Only reason Alberta more conservative is due to energy sector so in some ways like Texas which is quite urban and diverse but usually votes GOP. 

[King of Kensington]

A recent Reddit thread asked whether Manitobans felt more of a connection to Minnesota or North Dakota.  Winnipeg is pretty much right above the MN/ND border.  The closest cities of any size are in North Dakota (Grand Forks and Fargo) but Minneapolis-St. Paul is the big city (and it's not that close - 7 hours drive; MSP is also about 4 times the size of Winnipeg).  There were some who wanted nothing to do with ND because of politics.  The most popular response: urban Manitoba more like Minnesota, rural Manitoba more like North Dakota.  Another said Winnipeg and the Canadian Shield fringe = Minnesota, west of Winnipeg = ND. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Manitoba/comments/1an4tcn/does_manitoba_share_a_stronger_connection_with/