Valentine, Nebraska

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Valentine, Nebraska
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Valentine, Nebraska


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Nebraska
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Cherry
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 5.2
area_land_km2 = 5.2
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.0
area_land_sq_mi = 2.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2820
population_density_km2 = 541.0
population_density_sq_mi = 1401.1

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 787
elevation_ft = 2582
latd = 42 |latm = 52 |lats = 25 |latNS = N
longd = 100 |longm = 33 |longs = 1 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 69201
area_code = 402
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 31-49950GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0834323GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Valentine is a city in Cherry County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,820 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cherry CountyGR|6.

In 2007 National Geographic Adventure Magazine included Valentine in its list of the best ten wilderness towns and cities.

Geography

Valentine is located at coor dms|42|52|25|N|100|33|1|W|city (42.873686, -100.550308)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.

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 about 48 km (30 mi.) southwest of Valentine. Snake Falls, the largest falls in Nebraska, is located on the Snake River between the reservoir (a few miles downstream) and Valentine. Smith Falls, the tallest falls in Nebraska, is located on a small stream tributary to the Niobrara River about convert|15|mi|km east of Valentine in Smith Falls State Park.

Climate

Valentine experiences extremes of heat and cold annually. Typically, temperatures in the town exceed convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on for a few summer days and drop below zero for a few winter nights. Summer afternoon temperatures average around convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on with lows near convert|60|°F|°C|abbr=on. In the wintertime, highs are typically about freezing, with lows in the single digits. [http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNE0494?from=tenDay_bottomnav_undeclared]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,820 people, 1,209 households, and 733 families residing 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/sq mi (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 $27,359, and the median income for a family was $39,138. Males had a median income of $26,549 versus $18,285 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,101. About 8.3% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

* Valentine Rural High School
* Valentine Middle School
* Valentine Elementary School
* Grace Lutheran School

Notable residents

* James Dahlman worked as a brand inspector for the Wyoming Stock Association in Valentine in the 1890s. Later he became the eight-term Omaha mayor from 1906 to 1930.

Trivia

* Valentine is nicknamed "America's Heart City." [ [http://www.heartcity.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 Home] Valetine municipal website, 2007. Accessed 11 May 2007.]
* 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.
* Valentine is named after Edward K. Valentine, who as a congressman from Nebraska, was the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture during his six years in office (1879–1885). He was instrumental in getting the settlers' grievances redressed by the federal government. [ [http://www.heartcity.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=63 E.K.Valentine] Valentine municipal website, 2007. Accessed 11 May 2007.]
* 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. [ [http://www.heartcity.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=69 Valentine Cachet] Valentine municipal website, 2007. Accessed 11 May 2007.]
* Valentine was nearly destroyed two years in a row: A large storm with extremely high winds caused extensive damage to trees and buildings in July 2005, and in July 2006 the "Big Rock Fire" engulfed over convert|3000|acre|km2 of land.
* The fictional character Becky Donaldson, from the TV Show Full House, was a native of Valentine.

References

External links

* [http://www.heartcity.net/ City of Valentine]
* [http://www.esu17.k12.ne.us/~valjourn/ Valentine Rural High School]
* [http://www.codyfosterandco.com/ Cody Foster and Co.]