Mankato and North Mankato are sister cities sitting on the pretty little Minnesota river in Southern Minnesota. Mankato sits on the South side, and North Mankato on the North. (As is sensible.)

A central hub for the region, Mankato hosts lots of shopping, a State University (Minnesota State University Mankato,) a junior college (Bethany,) loads of bars, the 77 Lancers Marching Corps, and one of the finest flood walls found anywhere in the Northern Plains states.

Mankato is also reputed to be home to whale watching, deserted WWII Underwater Submarine Docks, temperate 72 degree winters, and the training camp of the Minnesota Vikings. Only the last has been verified, although there are websites that document the other items.

There is intermittent feuding between Mankato and North Mankato, though judicious use of pepper spray and large wooden paddles has stopped all but the most mendacious participants.

Mankato. Get used to it.