Valentine, Nebraska

Valentine is a city in and the county seat of Cherry County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,737 at the 2010 census.^[4] It is the hometown of former vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz.

Valentine was founded in 1882 following the arrival of the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, and the post office opened December 4, 1882.^[5][5] The town’s name honors U.S. Rep. Edward K. Valentine.^[6] Cherry County was organized in 1883, named after Lt. Samuel A. Cherry of nearby Fort Niobrara.^[6]

Fort Niobrara was established in 1880, just east of present-day Valentine, offering vital military protection. Railroad expansion in 1882–83 and the Fort's commissary created a thriving local market for hay, grain, cattle, and other goods, and brought soldiers and civilian jobs to the region.^[7][8]

Valentine was officially incorporated on January 8, 1884 and gained a reputation as a “wild” frontier town before quickly establishing law and order as families and businesses moved in.^[9]

In December 1890, during tensions surrounding the Ghost Dance and Wounded Knee Massacre just 30 miles north, Fort Niobrara and Valentine served as mobilization hubs. The army staged troops and supplies here, and local wagons were used to transport casualties.^[10][11]

The 1904 Kinkaid Act opened up 640-acre homesteads across the Sandhills. This led to an influx of new settlers, including the African American DeWitty (later “Audacious”) community founded in 1906–07 — Nebraska’s largest Black rural settlement, sustained until the mid-20th century.^[10][12][13]

A Valentine fish hatchery was built in 1908, overcame early setbacks, and by 1912 produced tens of thousands of fish—continuing to operate into the present day.^[11]

Following Fort Niobrara’s decommission in 1906, a segment of its reservation was made into a national game preserve in 1912 and later became the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. In 1935, the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge was also established to protect tallgrass prairie and wildlife.^[10][8]

Civic growth continued through the early 20th century: the original public school (now Centennial Hall, built 1897) and the U.S. Post Office (1939, featuring a New Deal-era mural) were constructed; important bridges such as the 1932 Bryan Bridge were built.^[14][15]

Other notable structures include the Cherry County Courthouse (Romanesque, 1901) and the F.M. Walcott House (Classical Revival, 1892), both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[16][17]

In mid-20th century, Valentine resolved its dual time-zone quirk by standardizing on Central Time after Main Street had straddled both zones until 1967.^[5]

From the 1970s onward, outdoor recreation—canoeing the Niobrara River, visiting waterfalls like Smith Falls, birding, and wildlife viewing—helped reshape Valentine into a destination for nature tourism and conservation-minded small businesses.^[18][19][5]

Thus, Valentine’s evolution spans from its frontier and military origins to becoming a ranching center, conservation hub, and cultural landmark—honoring its historical architecture, wildlife heritage, and unique place in Nebraska history.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an 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.^[20]

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 about 50 km (31 mi) southwest of Valentine. Snake River Falls, Nebraska's largest waterfall, is on the Snake River between the reservoir (a few miles downstream) and Valentine. Smith Falls, Nebraska's tallest waterfall, is 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.^[21] A large red neon heart (a star during the Christmas season) is on the pine-covered Minnechaduza Creek canyon wall at the north end of Main Street.

With a humid continental climate (Köppen Dwa), Valentine experiences extremes of heat and cold annually; it is part of USDA Hardiness zone 4b.^[22] The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 24.5 °F (−4.2 °C) in January to 75.7 °F (24.3 °C) in July.^[23] In an average year, seven afternoons reach 100 °F (37.8 °C) or higher, 41.3 days reach 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher, 41.2 afternoons do not climb above freezing, and 17.9 mornings reach 0 °F (−17.8 °C) or lower.^[23] The average window for freezing temperatures is September 25 thru May 11,^[23] allowing a growing season of 136 days. Extreme temperatures officially range from −39 °F (−39.4 °C) on December 22, 1989, to 114 °F (45.6 °C) on July 2, 1990, with temperatures reaching 110 °F (43.3 °C) as recently as July 21, 2012; the record low daily maximum is −17 °F (−27.2 °C) on January 12, 1916, while the record high daily minimum is 81 °F (27.2 °C) on July 24, 1940, and July 25, 1899.^[23]

Precipitation is low, with an annual average of around 20.90 inches (530.9 mm), but not quite low enough for the climate to be classified as semi-arid; it has ranged from 10.14 inches (257.6 mm) in 1894 to 32.68 inches (830.1 mm) in 1977.^[23] The very dry winters—as dry as the driest desert areas of the Southwest—mean snowfall is modest, averaging 34.2 inches (87 cm) per season (peaking in February and March), and ranging from 12.7 inches (32 cm) in 1984–85 to 88.5 inches (220 cm) in 1919–20;^[23] the average window for measurable (≥0.1 inches (0.25 cm)) snowfall is October 27 thru April 11, with May snow being rare.^[23]

As of the census^[29] 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.

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 inhabitants per square mile (541.0/km²). There were 1,373 housing units at an average density of 682.2 per square mile (263.4/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.^[29]

Valentine is in Valentine Community Schools.^[30]

Valentine City Schools was the school district until it merged into Valentine Community Schools in 2006.^[31]

Schools include:

• Valentine Elementary School
• Valentine Middle School
• Valentine High School

Private schools:

• Grace Lutheran School
• Zion Lutheran School

Valentine Bike Share operates a bikeshare station along the Cowboy Trail.^[32] Open Plains Transit provides dial-a-ride transit service on weekdays.^[33]

Valentine historically has depended on a blend of road, rail, air, trail, and river networks for transportation and tourism:

• Highways: U.S. Routes 20 (east–west) and 83 (north–south) intersect in Valentine, serving as the principal motor routes. To the southeast, the Bryan Bridge (built 1932) carries US‑20/83 over the Niobrara River and is recognized for its architectural and scenic significance.^[34][35]

• Miller Field airport: Located just south of the city, Miller Field (FAA: VTN) has two concrete runways (4,704 ft and 3,701 ft) and averages about 4,900 aircraft operations annually, primarily general aviation with some air‑taxi service. Frontier Airlines once served the airport via DC‑3s in the late 1950s.^[36]

• Cowboy Trail rail‑trail: The abandoned Chicago & Northwestern “Cowboy Line” railway has been converted into Nebraska’s premier multi-use trail. Passing through Valentine, its quarter-mile-long, 148‑ft-high bridge spans the Niobrara River and provides panoramic views of the Sandhills canyon.^[37][38]

• Niobrara River float trips: The nearby Niobrara National Scenic River supports canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and tubing. Local outfitters like Brewers Canoers, Outlaw Canoe, and Sharp’s offer trips ranging from short floats to full-day excursions, using shuttle services from Valentine. The river’s access via Berry Bridge, Brewer Bridge, and Smith Falls makes it a recreation hub.^[39][40][41]

• Public transit & bikeshare: Open Plains Transit provides weekday dial‑a‑ride bus service within Valentine, and a bikeshare station is available along the Cowboy Trail near Main Street.

• Regional access: Valentine is approximately 76 miles south of Interstate 90 (Murdo, SD) and 130 miles north of Interstate 80 (near North Platte, NE), accessible via Highway 83. The nearest major airports are Rapid City (SD), Denver (CO), and Omaha (NE), all requiring rental cars to reach the city.^[42]

• Lyman Lloyd Bryson, CBS Radio broadcaster and American educator. Bryson moderated CBS Radio's The American School of the Air during the 1940s.
• Edward Day Cohota was a Chinese-born and ethnic Chinese veteran who fought in the American Civil War and later served thirty years in the Army.
• James Dahlman was mayor of Omaha from 1906 to 1930.
• Clayton Danks, model of the Wyoming state symbol of the cowboy on a bucking horse, homesteaded near Valentine.^[43]
• Patrick Deuel was formerly among the world's heaviest people.^[44]
• Rebecca Donaldson, fictional character on Full House, states that her hometown was Valentine.
• Deb Fischer, U.S. Senator, operates a ranch near Valentine.
• Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, former U.S. Representative and 2024 Democratic nominee for Vice President.^[45]

In 2011/2012, an independent feature film, The Aviation Cocktail, had its principal photography in Valentine.^[46]

In popular culture, Valentine gained renewed attention as the apparent inspiration for the fictional town of Valentine in Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar Games’ critically acclaimed 2018 Western action-adventure game. Fans have noted that while the fictional Valentine is positioned in a mountainous region—reflective of Wyoming or Colorado—the town’s name, cattle‑town character, building styles, and role as a livestock auction hub closely resemble the real Valentine on Nebraska’s Great Plains . According to the Red Dead Wiki, “the actual town … that most closely resembles the town in the game is Valentine, Nebraska”, due to its typical frontier-era layout and regional setting .

Valentine is known for several unique cultural and geographic distinctions:

• Cross-time-zone Main Street: Until 1967, the town's Main Street straddled both the Mountain and Central Time Zones. This dual-time setup was resolved when the entire town officially adopted Central Time.^[47]

• Awarded adventure destination: In 2007, National Geographic Adventure named Valentine one of its “Top 100 Adventure Towns” for its access to canoeing, waterfalls, river valleys, and the surrounding Sandhills landscape.^[48]

• Portal to Nebraska’s tallest waterfall: Just 15 miles east of town, Smith Falls State Park is home to Smith Falls, the tallest waterfall in Nebraska at approximately 70 feet.^[49]

• Wildlife refuge nearby: The nearby Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge hosts free-roaming herds of bison and elk, visible to visitors from public driving routes.^[50]

• Historic structural legacy: Valentine features several structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the 1932 Bryan Bridge—a steel cantilever arch bridge awarded “Most Beautiful Steel Bridge” in its category—the 19th-century Brewer Bridge, and the Romanesque-style Cherry County Courthouse.^[51]

• Valentine’s Day postmark tradition: Each February, thousands of Valentine’s Day cards are sent to the town to be re-mailed with the special “Valentine, Nebraska” postmark and cachet, a tradition that has made the town nationally recognized during the holiday.^[52]

• Valentine’s ZIP Code is **69201**, and it lies within area code **402**, serving a wide rural region of the Sandhills.^[5]

• The region experiences a **humid continental climate** typical of the Great Plains, with an average annual temperature of approximately 49 °F (9.4 °C). Recorded extremes range from a low of −39 °F (−39.4 °C) in December 1989 to a high of 114 °F (45.6 °C) in July 1990. Summers are hot and mostly clear, while winters are cold, snowy, and frequently windy.^[53][54]

• The **Niobrara River Valley** adjacent to Valentine supports diverse flora and fauna, and is designated a National Scenic River—making Valentine a popular launching point for float trips, waterfall visits (like Smith Falls and Snake River Falls), and wildlife viewing.^[55][56]

• Southwest of Valentine, **Merritt Reservoir** was declared an **International Dark Sky Park** in 2022, making the area one of the best locations in the U.S. for stargazing and astronomical tourism.^[57]

• The town gives its name to the **Valentine Formation**, a Miocene-age geologic sandstone unit within the Ogallala Formation. Notably, its green-gray opaline sandstone serves both as an aquifer conduit and historically as building and riprap material.^[58]

• City of Valentine
• Valentine Community Schools