The extent and severity of poverty in Minnesota were studied, and the changes occurring over the 1980s were noted. Also studied were the factors affecting the probability that a Minnesota household will be in poverty. Data addressing these questions are from the Minnesota Public Use Micro Sample of the 1980 and 1990 censuses of the United States. The 1980 sample contained data for 72,241 households, and the sample for 1990 contained data for 83,871 households. Both the number and percentage of Minnesotans in poverty rose through the 1980s. In 1979, 9.5% of Minnesotans lived in poverty, while in 1989, 10.2% (440,845 people) lived in poverty. This was mirrored throughout the state as a whole. The majority of those in poverty were white, since whites make up the overwhelming bulk of Minnesota's population. As a group, white citizens of Minnesota have the lowest poverty rate, about one quarter the rate of African Americans and about one-fifth the rate of Native Americans. Education was one of the most significant factors in determining the likelihood of poverty. Each extra year of education possessed by the householder reduced the probability of the household being in poverty by 1.1 percentage points. Speaking English well or very well also had a significant impact on the incidence of poverty. Other differences were noted with regard to household structure, employment status, and racial differences. Educational attainment was particularly important for households headed by a single mother. An analysis shows that it would take about 0.7% of 1990 state income to move all Minnesotans out of poverty, both a lower percentage and a lower dollar amount than a decade earlier. (Contains 8 tables and 20 references.) (SLD)