| Official Name: | Valley City, North Dakota |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Motto: | "City of Bridges" |
| Image Blank Emblem: | City of Valley City Logo.png |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | North Dakota |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Barnes |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Dave Carlsrud |
| Leader Party: | D |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1872 |
| Established Title1: | Established |
| Established Date1: | 1874 |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated (village) |
| Established Date2: | 1881 |
| Established Title3: | Incorporated (city) |
| Established Date3: | 1883 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 11.14 |
| Area Land Km2: | 11.13 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.010 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 4.300 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 4.296 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.004 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Est: | 6551 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Total: | 6575 |
| Population Density Km2: | 588.81 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1524.99 |
| Population Urban: | 6547[2] |
| Population Metro: | 10726 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | –6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | –5 |
| Elevation M: | 372 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1221 |
| Coordinates: | 46.9233°N -98.0032°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 58072 |
| Area Code: | 701 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 38-81180 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1032618 |
| Blank2 Name: | Highways |
| Blank2 Info: | I-94, I-94 Bus. |
| Blank3 Name: | Sales tax |
| Blank3 Info: | 7.5%[3] |
Valley City is a city in and the county seat of Barnes County, North Dakota, United States.[4] The population was 6,575 at the 2020 census,[5] making it the 12th most populous 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).
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]
Valley City is located at 46.9233°N -98.0032°W (46.9233129, -98.0031547).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3sqmi, of which 4.296sqmi is land and 0.004sqmi is water.[1]
As of the 2022 American Community Survey, there are 3,039 estimated households in Valley City with an average of 1.96 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $52,224. Approximately 16.4% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Valley City has an estimated 63.9% employment rate, with 28.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 94.3% holding a high school diploma.[12]
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (95.4%), Spanish (0.7%), Indo-European (1.5%), Asian and Pacific Islander (2.0%), and Other (0.4%).
The median age in the city was 39.1 years.
| White alone (NH) | 6,603 | 6,214 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 5,890 | 96.73% | 94.37% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 89.58% | |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 50 | 79 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 173 | 0.73% | 1.20% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 2.63% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 51 | 47 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 71 | 0.75% | 0.71% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 1.08% | |
| Asian alone (NH) | 19 | 54 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 67 | 0.28% | 0.82% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 1.02% | |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 2 | 0.00% | 0.02% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.03% | |
| Other race alone (NH) | 2 | 0 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 15 | 0.03% | 0.00% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.23% | |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 45 | 94 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 211 | 0.66% | 1.43% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 3.21% | |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 56 | 96 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 146 | 0.82% | 1.46% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 2.22% | |
| Total | 6,826 | 6,585 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 6,575 | 100.00% | 100.00% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 100.00% |
As of the 2010 census, there were 6,585 people, 2,986 households, and 1,563 families living in the city. The population density was 1903.5PD/sqmi. There were 3,307 housing units at an average density of 955.8/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.22% White, 1.25% African American, 0.73% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from some other races and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.46% of the population.
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 22.0% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.
As of the 2000 census, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families living in the city. The population density was 2062.5PD/sqmi. There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.39% White, 0.73% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from some other races and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.82% of the population.
The top six 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.
| FM radio stations | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Call sign | Name | Format | Owner | City of license | |
| 96.3 FM | The Voice of the Valley KOVC | Full Service/Country KOVC translator | i3G Media | Valley City | ||
| 102.7 FM | Ted FM | Adult Contemporary KRVX-HD2 translator | i3G Media | Valley City | ||
The local newspaper is the Valley City Times-Record.
Valley City is served by the Valley City Public School District which consists of Jefferson Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, Valley City Christian School, and Valley City Junior/Senior High School. St. Catherine's Catholic School for grade K–6 also serves students in Valley City.
Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines.[19] Local dial-a-ride transit is provided by South Central Transit which operates on weekdays from 8am to 5pm and weekends from 8am to 2pm for a $2 fare.[20]
Valley City Parks and Recreation operates a bikeshare system with a single station located at the Gaukler Family Wellness Center.[21]
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.[22]