Minnesota leads Midwest in cremation
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Minnesota is leading Midwest in a hot trend: cremation.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Sunday about 45 percent of the people who died in Minnesota last year were cremated.
While that's not as high as some Western and New England states, where half to two-thirds of the dead are cremated, the Pioneer Press says it's the highest rate in the Midwest and well above the national average of about 35 percent.
But cremation rates within Minnesota vary widely. They're as low as 12 percent in the northwest and southwest corners of Minnesota. But more than half the people who die in the Arrowhead and Iron Range regions of northeastern Minnesota are cremated.
Experts say income, education, religion and attitudes toward land all affect people's decisions.
---
Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press
Support Local News
When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.