Editing Browns Valley, Minnesota

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Browns Valley
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Browns Valley Carnegie Library.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Browns Valley Carnegie Library 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Traverse_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Browns_Valley_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Browns Valley<br>within Traverse County, Minnesota
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Traverse County, Minnesota|Traverse]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 2.02
|area_land_km2            = 2.02
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.78
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.78
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 546
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2021"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 558
|population_density_km2   = 275.87
|population_density_sq_mi = 714.47
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 301
|elevation_ft             = 988
|coordinates              = {{coord|45|35|41|N|96|49|54|W|region:US-MN|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 56219
|area_code                = [[Area code 320|320]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-08200<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0659752<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.brownsvalleymn.com/|brownsvalleymn.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Browns Valley''' is a city in [[Traverse County, Minnesota|Traverse County]], [[Minnesota]], United States, adjacent to the [[South Dakota]] border. The population was 558 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2708200 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 1, 2022}}</ref>
 
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, south-flowing [[Glacial River Warren]], the outlet to [[Glacial Lake Agassiz]] which, when drained, became the valley of the north-flowing [[Red River of the North]].

==History==
Browns Valley was first settled in 1867 by [[Joseph R. Brown]], and named for him.<ref name="Upham 551">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShcLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA551 | title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance | publisher=Minnesota Historical Society | last=Upham | first=Warren | year=1920 | page=551}}</ref> The settlement was [[plat]]ted in 1878.<ref name="Upham 551" /> A post office was established in the community in 1867 under the name Lake Traverse.<ref name="Upham 551" /> The post office was renamed Browns Valley in 1872.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Traverse | title=Traverse County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=August 10, 2015}}</ref> Two properties in the city are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]: the 1864 Fort Wadsworth Agency and Scout Headquarters Building within [[Sam Brown Memorial State Wayside]], and the 1916 [[Browns Valley Carnegie Library]].<ref>{{NRISref|2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.79|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land. Browns Valley is rested in an old glacier path.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012 }}</ref>

Browns Valley Lies in the center of [[Traverse Gap]], a valley and ancient riverbed. This valley is also home to a continental divide. The divide is the southernmost point of the Northern Divide between the watersheds of the [[Arctic Ocean|Arctic]] and [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] oceans. The area is also home to [[Browns Valley Man]], the oldest human remains found in Minnesota. The remains were found in Traverse Gap and carbon dated to about 9,000 years ago.

Minnesota Highways [[Minnesota State Highway 27|27]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 28|28]] are two of the main routes in the community.

===Climate===
The Browns Valley weather station records some of Minnesota's highest summer temperatures; on July 31, 2007, a high of 107&nbsp;°F (42&nbsp;°C) was registered.<ref name="wt">{{Cite web|url=http://climate.umn.edu/weathertalk/060804.txt|title=Minnesota WeatherTalk for Friday, August 4, 2006|access-date=July 21, 2007|year=2006|author=Mark Seeley|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713173604/http://climate.umn.edu/weathertalk/060804.txt|archive-date=July 13, 2007}}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Browns Valley, Minnesota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1973–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 63
|Feb record high F = 65
|Mar record high F = 83
|Apr record high F = 100
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 110
|Jul record high F = 109
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 67
|year record high F = 110
|Jan high F = 22.3
|Feb high F = 27.1
|Mar high F = 39.5
|Apr high F = 55.3
|May high F = 69.4
|Jun high F = 78.8
|Jul high F = 83.6
|Aug high F = 81.7
|Sep high F = 73.5
|Oct high F = 58.4
|Nov high F = 41.8
|Dec high F = 27.7
|year high F = 54.9
|Jan mean F = 11.4
|Feb mean F = 16.1
|Mar mean F = 28.4
|Apr mean F = 42.7
|May mean F = 56.3
|Jun mean F = 66.5
|Jul mean F = 71.1
|Aug mean F = 68.7
|Sep mean F = 59.8
|Oct mean F = 46.1
|Nov mean F = 31.1
|Dec mean F = 17.9
|year mean F = 43.0
|Jan low F = 0.5
|Feb low F = 5.1
|Mar low F = 17.3
|Apr low F = 30.1
|May low F = 43.2
|Jun low F = 54.3
|Jul low F = 58.6
|Aug low F = 55.6
|Sep low F = 46.1
|Oct low F = 33.8
|Nov low F = 20.5
|Dec low F = 8.1
|year low F = 31.1
|Jan record low F = −40
|Feb record low F = −41
|Mar record low F = −20
|Apr record low F = −3
|May record low F = 18
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 43
|Aug record low F = 34
|Sep record low F = 19
|Oct record low F = 5
|Nov record low F = −19
|Dec record low F = −32
|year record low F = -41
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.93
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.89
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.28
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.49
|May precipitation inch = 2.82
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.75
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.97
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.67
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.43
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.31
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.00
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.81
|year precipitation inch = 25.35
|Jan snow inch = 8.8
|Feb snow inch = 9.0
|Mar snow inch = 5.7
|Apr snow inch = 4.9
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.9
|Nov snow inch = 5.4
|Dec snow inch = 9.5
|year snow inch = 44.2
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.1
|Feb precipitation days = 5.1
|Mar precipitation days = 5.5
|Apr precipitation days = 6.6
|May precipitation days = 9.5
|Jun precipitation days = 9.3
|Jul precipitation days = 8.7
|Aug precipitation days = 7.2
|Sep precipitation days = 7.1
|Oct precipitation days = 6.9
|Nov precipitation days = 4.0
|Dec precipitation days = 5.3
|year precipitation days = 80.3
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 4.9
|Feb snow days = 4.5
|Mar snow days = 3.1
|Apr snow days = 1.6
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.5
|Nov snow days = 2.2
|Dec snow days = 5.1
|year snow days = 21.9
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=abr
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 23, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00211063&format=pdf
| title = Station: Browns Valley, MN
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 23, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 64
|1890= 498
|1900= 721
|1910= 1058
|1920= 1073
|1930= 981
|1940= 1075
|1950= 1117
|1960= 1033
|1970= 906
|1980= 887
|1990= 804
|2000= 690
|2010= 589
|2020= 558
|estyear=2021
|estimate=546
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=September 1, 2022|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 1, 2022}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 23, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 589 people, 247 households, and 141 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|745.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 288 housing units at an average density of {{convert|364.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 75.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 21.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 247 households, of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.9% were non-families. 40.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 48.3 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64; and 30.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.0% male and 54.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 690 people, 285 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|878.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 317 housing units at an average density of {{convert|403.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.61% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 15.80% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.43% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.14% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.14% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.87% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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.

==Politics==
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#ccccff|title=Presidential election results}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ 2020 Precinct Results Spreadsheet<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2020/2020-general-election-results/2020-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2020 Precinct Results Spreadsheet|website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>
|+ '''2016 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2016/2016-general-election-results/2016-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2016 Precinct Results Spreadsheet|website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>
|+ '''2012 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2012/2012-general-election-results/2012-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2012 Precinct Results Spreadsheet|website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>
|+ '''2008 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2008/2008-general-election-results/2008-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2008 Precinct Results Spreadsheet|website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>
|+ '''2004 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2004/2004-general-election-results/2004-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2004 Precinct Results Spreadsheet|website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>
|+ '''2000 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2000/2000-general-election-results/2000-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2000 Precinct Results Spreadsheet|website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.6% ''91''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.8%''' ''97''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.6% ''3''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.8%''' ''104''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.7% ''91''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|8.5% ''18''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.3% ''81''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.7%''' ''131''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|5.0% ''11''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.8% ''102''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.8%''' ''156''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|4.4% ''12''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.3% ''117''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.0%''' ''170''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|3.7% ''11''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.9% ''116''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.5%''' ''144''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|10.6% ''31''

|}
{{Hidden end}}

==Notable people==
*[[Charles Burnett (RAF officer)|Charles Burnett]], officer in [[Royal Air Force]] and [[Royal Australian Air Force]] during World War I and World War II<ref name="air_of_auth">{{cite web | last =Barrass | first =Malcolm | title =Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett | work =Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation | url =http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Burnett_C.htm | access-date = July 7, 2011}}
</ref>
*[[Osborne Cowles]], basketball coach
*[[Charles M. Dale]], 66th governor of [[New Hampshire]]
*[[Kathy Skroch]], member of the [[North Dakota House of Representatives]]
*[[Arthur C. Townley]], politician

==Flooding==
[[Image:Browns Valley flood 07.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[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]]. One hundred people had to be evacuated from their homes, a significant percentage of the town's population.<ref>{{cite news 
  | last = Post
  | first = Tim
  | title = Flood recedes but tempers rise in Browns Valley
  | work = News and Features
  | publisher = Minnesota Public Radio
  | date = March 15, 2007
  | url = http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/03/15/brownsvalleyday2/
  | access-date = June 2, 2007 }}
</ref> The damage was significant enough to warrant a visit from [[List of Governors of Minnesota|Governor]] [[Tim Pawlenty]] and [[List of United States Representatives from Minnesota|Congressman]] [[Collin Peterson]].<ref>{{cite news 
  | last = Post
  | first = Tim
  | title = Pawlenty and Peterson tour Browns Valley
  | work = News and Features
  | publisher = Minnesota Public Radio
  | date = March 16, 2007
  | url = http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/03/16/govebrownsvalley/
  | access-date = June 2, 2007 }}
</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.brownsvalleymn.com/ Official site of the City of Browns Valley, MN 56219]
* {{cite web
  | title =Browns Valley, MN Spring 2007  
  | work =Flooding
  | publisher =JOR Engineering, Inc.
  | date = March 14, 2007
  | url = http://www.joreng.com/f_bv_3_07.htm
  | access-date = May 10, 2007 }} Aerial photographs of March 2007 flooding of Traverse Gap, showing flooding of Browns Valley.

{{Traverse County, Minnesota}}

{{coord|45|35|43|N|96|50|00|W|type:city_region:US-MN|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Traverse County, Minnesota]]