69th BEST FISHING-RETIREMENT LOCATION, VALENTINE,NE


Home \| Discussion Forum \| Tell a Friend \| Text Size \| Search \| Member Area

home | Locations | 69th BEST FISHING-RETIREMENT LOCATIO . . .

69th BEST FISHING-RETIREMENT LOCATION, VALENTINE,NE

Ivan Gillis

200 Best Fishing in Retirement Locations

Location Number 69:

Valentine, NE

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 County.

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

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 15 miles (24 km) east of Valentine in Smith Falls State Park.

Valentine experiences extremes of heat and cold annually. Typically, temperatures in the town exceed 100 °F (38 °C) for a few summer days and drop below zero for a few winter nights. Summer afternoon temperatures average around 90 °F (32 °C) with lows near 60 °F (16 °C). In the wintertime, highs are typically about freezing, with lows in the single digits.

Odds & Ends

Valentine is nicknamed "America's Heart City.
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.
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.
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 3,000 acres (12 km²) of land.