One half of Minnesota's famed Twin Cities, Minneapolis is a combination of the Sioux word for water with the Greek word for city. With 20 lakes and wetlands plus the Mississippi River waterfront and many creeks and streams, the City of Minneapolis is known as the City of Lakes. It is governed by a mayor and city council with 13 members representing the city's wards. The mayor appoints the chief of police but has little other power. Independent boards oversee public housing, the tax office, and public parks and libraries. The city's more than 80 parks serve as a model for city park systems nationwide. Formed in 1856, Minneapolis is now home to a population of almost 400,000.