Valentine, Nebraska

Valentine is a city in Cherry County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,737 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cherry County.[6]

Valentine, Nebraska
City
Main Street
Nickname(s): 
America's Heart City[1]
Location of Valentine, Nebraska
Coordinates: 42°52′25″N 100°33′1″W
CountryUnited States
StateNebraska
CountyCherry
Area
 • Total2.65 sq mi (6.85 km2)
 • Land2.63 sq mi (6.82 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation2,582 ft (787 m)
Population
 • Total2,737
 • Estimate 
(2019)[5]
2,706
 • Density1,026.94/sq mi (396.54/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
69201
Area code(s)402
FIPS code31-49950
Websiteheartcity.com

History

Valentine was founded in 1883 when the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad was extended to that point.[7] It was named for Edward K. Valentine, a Nebraska representative.[8][9]

As late as 1967, Valentine was split between two time zones. As described in one news report, "The mountain and central time zones meet at the center of Main Street, so an hour separates the two curb lines." According to the report, when clocks were required to be set back one hour for daylight saving time, Valentine's post office (which was in the central zone) split the difference and turned back its clock by only half an hour.[10]

Valentine participates in an annual re-mailing program where thousands of pieces of mail flow into the local United States Post Office so that they can be re-mailed with a special Valentine's Day postmark and verse.[11]

In 2007, National Geographic Adventure magazine included Valentine in its list of the best ten adventure towns and cities.[12]

In the Lakota language, Valentine is known as Oínažiŋ or Mnináȟaȟa Otȟúŋwahe, meaning "station stopping place" or "water and waterfall city".[13]

Geography

Valentine is located at 42°52′25″N 100°33′1″W (42.873686, −100.550308).[14] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.25 square miles (5.83 km2), of which 2.22 square miles (5.75 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) is water.[15]

Valentine is immediately north of the Niobrara River, on the northern edge of the Sandhills physiographic region. Merritt Reservoir, created by a dam on the Snake River, is located approximately 48 km (30 mi) southwest of Valentine. Snake River Falls, the largest waterfall in Nebraska, is located on the Snake River between the reservoir (a few miles downstream) and Valentine. Smith Falls, the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, is located on a small stream tributary to the Niobrara River about 15 miles (24 km) east of Valentine in Smith Falls State Park.

Just south of Valentine, a pair of bridges span the Niobrara River. The modern bridge carries traffic north and south along U.S. Route 83. Just to the west, an arched cantilever truss bridge named the Bryan Bridge is also open to through traffic. Designed by Josef Sorkin and built in 1932, the Bryan Bridge is made of steel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[16] A large red neon heart (a star during the Christmas season) is found on the pine-covered Minnechaduza Creek canyon wall at the north end of Main Street.

Climate

With a humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa), Valentine experiences extremes of heat and cold annually; it is part of USDA Hardiness zone 4b.[17] The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 23.6 °F (−4.7 °C) in January to 74.5 °F (23.6 °C) in July.[18] On average, there are 6.7 afternoons that reach 100 °F (37.8 °C) or higher, 41 days that reach 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher, 42 afternoons that do not climb above freezing, and 21 mornings with a low of 0 °F (−17.8 °C) or below.[18] The average window for freezing temperatures is September 25 thru May 11,[18] allowing a growing season of 136 days. Extreme temperatures officially range from −39 °F or −39.4 °C on December 22, 1989 to 114 °F or 45.6 °C on July 2, 1990, with temperatures reaching 110 °F or 43.3 °C as recently as July 21, 2012; the record cold daily maximum is −17 °F (−27.2 °C) on January 12, 1916, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 81 °F (27.2 °C) on July 24, 1940 and July 25, 1899.[18]

Precipitation is low, with an annual average of around 20 inches or 508 millimetres, but not quite low enough for the climate here to be classified as semi-arid; it has ranged from 10.14 inches or 257.6 millimetres in 1894 to 32.68 inches or 830.1 millimetres in 1977.[18] The very dry winters – as dry as the driest desert areas of the Southwest – mean snowfall is modest, averaging 33.3 inches or 0.85 metres per season (peaking in February and March), and has historically ranged from 12.7 inches or 0.32 metres in 1984–85 to 88.5 inches or 2.2 metres in 1919–20;[18] the average window for measurable (≥0.1 inches or 0.0025 metres) snowfall is October 27 thru April 11, with May snow being rare.[18]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1900811—
19101,09835.4%
19201,59645.4%
19301,6724.8%
19402,18830.9%
19502,70023.4%
19602,8756.5%
19702,662−7.4%
19802,8296.3%
19902,826−0.1%
20002,820−0.2%
20102,737−2.9%
2019 (est.)2,706[5]−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
2012 Estimate[23]

2010 census

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 2,737 people, 1,259 households, and 719 families living in the city. The population density was 1,232.9 inhabitants per square mile (476.0/km2). There were 1,430 housing units at an average density of 644.1 per square mile (248.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.3% White, 0.1% African American, 9.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 1,259 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.9% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 46 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 27.2% were from 45 to 64; and 24% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,820 people, 1,209 households, and 733 families living in the city. The population density was 1,401.1 people per square mile (541.7/km2). There were 1,373 housing units at an average density of 682.2 per square mile (263.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.20% White, 0.04% African American, 5.78% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.

There were 1,209 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,639, and the median income for a family was $52,632. Males had a median income of $38,188 versus $24,636 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,715. About 1.6% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.[4]

Education
  • Valentine Elementary School
  • Valentine Middle School
  • Valentine Rural High School
  • Grace Lutheran School
  • Zion Lutheran School

Notable people

Culture

In 2011/2012, an independent feature film, The Aviation Cocktail, had its principal photography in Valentine.[26]

Notes
  1. Official records for Valentine kept at the Weather Bureau Office from July 1889 to July 20, 1955 and at Miller Field since July 21, 1955.[19]

References
  1. Home Valentine municipal website, 2007. Accessed 11 May 2007.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. "Valentine, Cherry County". Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. University of Nebraska. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  8. Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 40. ISBN 0803250606.
  9. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 132.
  10. "News Briefs— National", Chicago Tribune, November 9, 1967, p2
  11. Valentine Cachet Valentine municipal website, 2007. Accessed 11 May 2007.
  12. "Best Adventure Towns". National Geographic Adventure. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  13. Ullrich, Jan F. (2014). New Lakota Dictionary (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Lakota Language Consortium. ISBN 978-0-9761082-9-0.
  14. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  15. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  16. Bryan Bridge description nebraskahistory.org. Retrieved on 03-16-2009.
  17. "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  18. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  19. ThreadEx
  20. "Station Name: NE VALENTINE MILLER FLD". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  21. "WMO Climate Normals for VALENTINE/WSO AP NE 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  22. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  23. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  24. "Frontier Days: Clayton Danks". wyomingtalesandtrails.com. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  25. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2011-04-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. "The Aviation Cocktail (2012) Trivia". www.imdb.com. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
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