Browns Valley, Minnesota

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Browns Valley, Minnesota
Location of Browns Valley, Minnesota
Location of Browns Valley, Minnesota
Coordinates: 45°35′41″N 96°49′54″W / 45.59472, -96.83167
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Traverse
Area
 - Total 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²)
 - Land 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation 988 ft (301 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 690
 - Density 878.5/sq mi (339.2/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 56219
Area code(s) 320
FIPS code 27-08200[1]
GNIS feature ID 0659752[2]

Browns Valley is a city in Traverse County, Minnesota, United States, adjacent to the South Dakota border. The population was 690 at the 2000 census.

Browns Valley lies along the Little Minnesota River between the northern end of Big Stone Lake and the southern end of Lake Traverse, which is separated from the Little Minnesota River by a low and narrow continental divide that skirts the northern edge of town. The city, both lakes, and the river lie in the Traverse Gap, the bed of ancient Glacial River Warren, the outlet to Glacial Lake Agassiz which, when drained, became the valley of the Red River of the North.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²), all of it land.

The Browns Valley weather station often records some of Minnesota's highest summer temperatures. For example, on July 31, 2007, a high of 107°F (42°C) was registered [3].

Minnesota Highways 27 and 28 are two of the main routes in the community.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 690 people, 285 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density was 878.5 people per square mile (337.2/km²). There were 317 housing units at an average density of 403.6/sq mi (154.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.61% White, 15.80% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.

There were 285 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 17.8% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 31.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,563, and the median income for a family was $30,208. Males had a median income of $25,500 versus $20,139 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,062. About 10.3% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Flooding

Traverse Gap from ice-covered Lake Traverse at the bottom of frame, south to Big Stone Lake (top). The Little Minnesota River is flooding the valley floor and Browns Valley (center).
Traverse Gap from ice-covered Lake Traverse at the bottom of frame, south to Big Stone Lake (top). The Little Minnesota River is flooding the valley floor and Browns Valley (center).

In March 2007, Browns Valley was flooded from the north and west by the Little Minnesota River. 100 people had to be evacuated from their homes, a significant percentage of the town's population.[4] The damage was significant enough to warrant a visit from Governor Tim Pawlenty and Congressman Collin Peterson.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Mark Seeley (2006). Minnesota WeatherTalk for Friday, August 4, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
  4. ^ Post, Tim. "Flood recedes but tempers rise in Browns Valley", News and Features, Minnesota Public Radio, 2007-03-15. Retrieved on 2007-06-02. 
  5. ^ Post, Tim. "Pawlenty and Peterson tour Browns Valley", News and Features, Minnesota Public Radio, 2007-03-16. Retrieved on 2007-06-02. 

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 45°35′43″N, 96°50′00″W