Valley City, North Dakota

Valley City, North Dakota
City
City of Valley City
Central Ave and Main Street in Valley City
Motto:  "City of Bridges"
Location of Valley City, North Dakota
Coordinates: 46°55′29″N98°0′20″W / 46.92472°N 98.00556°W / 46.92472; -98.00556
Country	United States
State	North Dakota
County	Barnes
Founded	1872
Established	1874
Incorporated (village)	1881
Incorporated (city)	1883
Government
•  Mayor	Dave Carlsrud (D)
Area [1]
•  City	4.21 sq mi (10.90 km2)
• Land	4.21 sq mi (10.89 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	1,217 ft (371 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
•  City	6,575
• Estimate  (2022) [3]	6,566
• Density	1,563.61/sq mi (603.73/km2)
•  Urban	6,547
•  Metro	10,758
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	58072
Area code	701
FIPS code	38-81180
GNIS feature ID	1032618 [4]
Highways	I-94, I-94 Bus.
Website	valleycity.us

Valley City is a city in Barnes County, North Dakota, United States. It is the county seat of Barnes County. ^[5] The population was 6,575 during the 2020 census, ^[2] making it the 12th largest city in North Dakota. Valley City was founded in 1874.

Valley City is known for its many bridges over the Sheyenne River, including the Hi-Line Railroad Bridge. These bridges have earned it the nickname "City of Bridges". The city is also the home of Valley City State University and the North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA).

History

Valley City was established in 1874 with the building of a railroad station. The town was originally named Worthington after the town's promoter, George Worthington. ^[6] The present name is for the city's location in the valley of the Sheyenne River. ^[7] A post office was established under the name Worthington in 1874, and has continued to operate under the name Valley City since 1878. ^[8] A Carnegie Library opened in 1903 ^[9] through the efforts of the "Tuesday Club," a local women's organization. ^[10] The inception of the nation's first barber association occurred in Valley City during a state barber convention in February, 1909. ^[11]

Geography

Valley City is located at 46°55′29″N98°0′20″W / 46.92472°N 98.00556°W / 46.92472; -98.00556 (46.924632, −98.005438). ^[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.46 square miles (8.96 km²), all land. ^[13]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	302		—
1890	1,089		260.6%
1900	2,446		124.6%
1910	4,606		88.3%
1920	4,686		1.7%
1930	5,268		12.4%
1940	5,917		12.3%
1950	6,851		15.8%
1960	7,809		14.0%
1970	7,843		0.4%
1980	7,774		−0.9%
1990	7,163		−7.9%
2000	6,826		−4.7%
2010	6,585		−3.5%
2020	6,575		−0.2%
2022 (est.)	6,566	[3]	−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [14] 2020 Census [2]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,585 people, 2,986 households, and 1,563 families living in the city. The population density was 1,903.2 inhabitants per square mile (734.8/km²). There were 3,307 housing units at an average density of 955.8 per square mile (369.0/km²). The racial makup of the city was 95.2% White, 1.2% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5%.

Of the 2,986 households 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.7% were non-families. 39.4% of households were one person and 17.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age was 42.1 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 22% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families living in the city. The population density was 2,062.5 inhabitants per square mile (796.3/km²). There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982.0 per square mile (379.2/km²). The racial makup of the city was 97.39% White, 0.73% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

The top 6 ancestry groups in the city are German (45.5%), Norwegian (38.8%), Irish (9.1%), Swedish (5.2%), French (4.8%), English (3.8%).

Of the 2,996 households 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 38.3% of households were one person and 19.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.77.

The age distribution was 18.8% under the age of 18, 15.3% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median household income was $28,050 and the median family income was $41,604. Males had a median income of $30,035 versus $17,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,257. About 5.5% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Local media

AM radio

AM radio stations
Frequency	Call sign	Name	Format	Owner	City
1490 AM	KOVC	Dakota Country Radio	Full Service/Country	i3G	Valley City

FM radio

FM radio stations
Frequency	Call sign	Name	Format	Owner	Target city/market	City of license
102.7 FM	K274BH	Sunny 98.3	Adult Contemporary KXGT-FM translator	Ingstad Family Media	Valley City	Valley City

• CSiCable

The local newspaper is the Valley City Times-Record .

Education

K–12

Valley City is served by the Valley City Public School District which consists of Jefferson Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, and Valley City Junior/Senior High School. St. Catherine's Catholic School for grade K–6 also serves students in Valley City.

Higher education

• Valley City State University

Sites of interest

Hi Line Railroad Bridge as seen from Chautauqua Park, Valley City, ND

• Hi-Line Railroad Bridge
• North Dakota Winter Show
• North Country Trail
• The Rosebud Visitor Center contains a restored railway passenger car. ^[15]

The Vault honor system coffee shop in Valley City, ND.

• The Vault (Coffee Shop)

Transportation

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines. ^[16]

Notable people

• Jeff Boschee, professional basketball player
• Paul Fjelde, sculptor; professor at Pratt Institute
• John E. Grotberg, congressman
• Peggy Lee, jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress
• George W. Mason, chairman and CEO of Kelvinator and American Motors Company
• James M. McPherson, Civil War historian; Pulitzer Prize winner
• Gerhard Brandt Naeseth, genealogist; founder of the Norwegian-American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library
• Earl Pomeroy, congressman
• Ann Sothern, film and TV actress with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Herman Stern, proprietor of Straus Clothing, businessman, humanitarian, social and economic activist
• Tyrell Terry, NBA player
• Carol Thurston, actress
• Frank White, eighth governor of North Dakota and treasurer of the United States (1921–1928)
• Michael Wobbema, member of the North Dakota Senate
• George M. Young, congressman, judge

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system Valley City has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. ^[17]

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 13, 2023.
3. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. North Dakota: Counties, Towns and People. Watchmaker Publishing, Ltd. 2008. p. 14. ISBN   978-1-60386-115-1.
7. Federal Writers' Project (1938). North Dakota, a Guide to the Northern Prairie State. WPA. p. 280. ISBN   978-1-62376-033-5.
8. "Barnes County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
9. "About us". www.vcbclibrary.org. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
10. "Tuesday Club Credited for Start of Library in Valley City". barnescountyhistoricalsociety. May 11, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
11. Jackson, William (2008). Almanac of North Dakota mysteries & oddities, 2009-2010. Valley Star Books. p. 16. ISBN   9780967734989. OCLC   259419005.
12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
13. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
14. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing" . Retrieved July 22, 2013.
15. Jackson, William (2021). Dakota Mysteries & Oddities, 2022 Edition. Dickinson, ND: Valley Star Publishing. pp. 43–44. ISBN   978-0-9677349-9-6.
16. "North Dakota Bus Stops" . Retrieved July 20, 2023.
17. Climate Summary for Valley City, North Dakota

External links

• Valley City, North Dakota official tourism website
• Valley City, North Dakota official city government website
• Community data for industry: Valley City, North Dakota (1980) from the Digital Horizons website