Guide to Browns Valley Minnesota

Browns Valley is a city in Traverse County, Minnesota, United States, adjacent to the South Dakota border. Minnesota Highways 27 and 28 are two of the main routes in the community. 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 Glacial River Warren, the outlet to Glacial Lake Agassiz which, when drained, became the valley of the Red River of the North. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.79 square miles (2.05 km2), all of it land. The elevation is 988 feet (301 m).

BROWNS VALLEY, in sections 32 and 33 of Folsom Township, a city founded in 1866-67 by Joseph R. Brown, platted in 1878, was the first village in the county and the first county seat, being succeeded by Wheaton in 1886. The settlement and post office, established in 1867, were at first called Lake Traverse but were renamed Browns Valley after the death of the founder in 1870. Biographic notes of him are presented in the chapter on Brown County, which also was named in his honor. His son, Samuel J. Brown, who during 50 years was a resident of this village, was its first postmaster, 1867-78. A vivid sketch of Joseph Renshaw Brown was given in the pamphlet history of this county by J. O. Barrett in 1881. The city was incorporated as a village on February 23, 1881; it had a station of the Great Northern Railway.

Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

Broadway Street, Browns Valley Minnesota, 1909
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Browns Valley Man On October 9, 1933, Wm. H. Jensen discovered the partially fossilized skeleton of a man buried in a gravel pit on the Plateau Addition of Browns Valley. With the help of Wm. L. Paul, photographs were taken of the grave and the strata above it. After investigating the site and examining the bones, it was determined the age of the grave to be between 8000 and 12000 years and the skeleton to be one of the three oldest ever found in the United States. The skeleton is no longer available for viewing, however the family of Wm. Jensen has dedicated a plaque to the Browns Valley Historical Society to commemorate Mr. Jensen's work in the archaeological field. The plaque is now being displayed in the Sam Brown Museum.
Continental Divide The water flow is dependent upon which watershed the water is in. Depending on the lie of the continental divides, Minnesota waters flow either to Hudson Bay, the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean. Browns Valley, although only about 984 feet above sea level and situated in a deep valley, is nevertheless on the Continental Divide. Lake Traverse drains north into the Red River and on into Hudson Bay while Lake Big Stone flows south by way of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers and on to the Gulf of Mexico. Theoretically a raindrop could split on Browns Valley's main street and half of it flow north and half south. There have been times during floods when the two lakes have temporarily joined.
Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway Located along the meandering Minnesota River, the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway is a destination in itself. Close your eyes and imagine becoming an explorer for a day. Relax in the tranquility of Big Bluestem prairie grasses. Watch for Dakota skipper butterflies among purple cornflowers. Scan the expansive blue sky for bald eagles or wait quietly at the river’s edge to catch a glimpse of a deer at sunset.
Sam Brown's Cabin The Log Cabin was originally built in 1863 near Fort Wadsworth, which is now knowns as Fort Sisseton. In 1866 major Joseph Brown purchased the house and moved it to Browns Valley. The Cabin was used as a trading post, a post office, family home, stage stop and hotel. In 1986, Sam Brown's Memorial Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today the Cabin is opened as a museum from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weekends only, 1:00-6:00pm.

Abundant Light Skylights PO Box 53 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 305-1515
American Legion - William Krensing Post 58 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2361
Ben's Service & Bait 524 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2175
Beumer Repair Service 46926 128th Street Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (605) 694-2691
BJ's Family Restaurant 414 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2350
Border States Cooperative 23 4th Street N Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2576 Web: www.bscoop.com
Browns Valley Ambulance 19 Third Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2110
Browns Valley Auto Salvage 5060 County Road 4 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2107 Web: www.brownsvalleysalvage.com We offer a wide selection of makes and models: Foreign and domestic, Auto and Truck. We also have a large selection of new and aftermarket parts. We specialize in glass and windshield replacement and engine and transmission installment. Browns Valley Auto Salvage has been serving the area for over 50 years! We have a 30-60 day warranty!
Browns Valley City Hall 19 Third Street S PO Box 334 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2110 Web: www.brownsvalleymn.com
Browns Valley Clinic 106 4th Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2105
Browns Valley Community Elevator 204 2nd Avenue N Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2327
Browns Valley Fire Department Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: n/a
Browns Valley Health Center 114 Jefferson Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2600 Web: www.sfhs.org Nursing home care has changed greatly in recent years and the Browns Valley Health Center is deeply committed to meeting the challenge of today's demands. As a small facility, staff are able to provide more personal care in our remarkable neighborhood environment. At the Browns Valley Health Center, we strive to enhance each individual's life with professional and caring services, and to help each resident achieve his or her highest potential.
Browns Valley Liquor Store 334 E Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2380
Browns Valley Nursing Home 114 Jefferson Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2165
Browns Valley Police Department 21 3rd Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2411
Browns Valley Public Library 15 3rd Street S PO Box 307 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2318 Web: www.viking.lib.mn.us
Browns Valley School 118 Church Street Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2296
Browns Valley Seniors Center 308 West Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2605
Butch's Place 306 West Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2226
Buyah's Night Club 328 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2505
BW Incorporated 316 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2899 Web: www.bwincorporated.com For more information on our products and services, please see any of the following websites. Contact information is located on each site if you wish to email or call us. We have been in business for more than 21 years providing high quality products and service to satisfied customers. "To our team, customer service is not a marketing buzz word, it is a tradition and a way of life." - BW Inc.
Cenex Convenience Store 521 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2452
Circle K Resort 11854 Lake Road Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (605) 694-2676
Connie's Cut & Curl 5058 Saint Anthony Drive Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2137
Creative Safe Results PO Box 150 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2899
Dave Reed Fish Company 5357 County Road 2 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2474
Dorothy Fiala Reflexology 307 Blaine Avenue N Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2584
Despiegler Brothers 46483 Eastman Road Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (605) 694-2650
Dyer Cleo Insurance Agency 511 West Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (605) 694-2250
Eastman Trucking 46957 117th Street Browns Valley, MN 56219-4059 Phone: (605) 694-2680
Gettman's Auto Supply 23 4th Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2544
Glenda Keye Johnson Sales 47024 130th Street Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 694-2696 Web: www.gkjpromo.com
Goodhart Brothers Shop 601 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2200
Greg Cheney Fire Extinguishers 106 Blaine Avenue NE Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 304-2816
Hansen Accounting & Tax Service 409 Oak Street SE PO Box 207 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2316
Hansen Pole Buildings 46891 Chambers Road Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone:(605) 694-2805 Web: www.hansenpolebuildings.com Experience the convenience and ease of a Hansen steel building package – offering storage buildings, metal carports, metal garage kits, pole barns and pole barn kits customized for your needs. Our pole building packages are designed to fit your specific plans, wishes and dreams. With the help of a building designer you select the options and we put together quality components - at the best possible price. HansenPoleBuildings.com will answer all of your metal building questions and allow you to plan a layout that will stay in your budget. We are committed to providing you only the highest quality steel buildings with first rate customer service. If you're in the market for your own steel building, we've got what you need at competitive prices with technical support available seven days a week.
Hansen Pole Bldg Productions 12167 Lake Road Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone:(605) 694-2618
Hansen Service & Repair 202 2nd Avenue NW Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2491
Hardware Hank 16 3rd Street N Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2351
Hein Floral and Taxidermy 12621 467th Avenue Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 694-2719
Hoffman Electric 206 1st Avenue SE Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2461
Jeff Backer Auto 124 4th Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2147
Jim Burg Storage Sheds 121 2nd Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2227
K & D Carpet Cleaning 4989 State Highway 28 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2163
Lake Traverse District Center 11691 Lake Road Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (605) 694-2874
Larson Funeral Home 222 Ash Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2283 Web: www.larsonfuneral.com At Larson Funeral Homes, we believe it is your right and our first priority to provide the very best in caring and professional service to every family that we serve. Our goal is to help each family honor the life of their loved one with a service offering dignity, integrity, and respect…allowing family and friends to come together the remember, to honor, to support each other and to celebrate a life that has lived.
Liebe Drug 332 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2331 Web: www.liebedrug.com Located in both Minnesota and South Dakota, Liebe Drug has been servicing its communities for over 40 years. Specializing in providing services for those with complex medication needs, Liebe Drug locations are staffed with highly trained full time pharmacists, technicians, and pharmacy staff. In addition, all of our locations provide the convenience of local courier home-delivery, and delivery by US Mail. Liebe Drug has always understood the need of our clients to adhere to their medication therapy.
Maynard's Food Center 409 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2252
Me Clean Laundromat Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: n/a
Mike's Alignment & Brake 115 4th Avenue N Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2372
Miller Fish Company 320 Jackson Street Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2376
Minn-Dak Mechanical Broadway & Park Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2322
Open Seasons Art Gallery 329 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2570
Park Region Telephone 13 4th Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2111 Web: www.parkregion.com We are working hard to provide you with the latest communications technology available. Our services include a variety of local, long distance, internet, television and wireless plans and packages." We invite you to browse our web site to learn more or call us anytime with your telecommunications questions.
Pistorius Brothers Farms 11212 468th Avenue Browns Valley, MN 56219-4055 Phone: (605) 694-2744
R & R Fish 18 Main Street Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2206
Rachels Beauty Nook 786 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2425
Rainbow Rider Public Transit 249 Poplar Avenue Lowry, Minnesota 56349 Toll Free: 800 (450) 7770 Web: www.rainbowriderbus.com Rainbow Rider is the public transit system serving the West Central Minnesota counties of Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens, Todd, and Traverse with handicapped accessible buses as well as a Volunteer Driver Program. It is available to all people in the six county area with no income or age restrictions and no forms to fill out. Our service is funded by passenger fares, service contracts, state and federal taxes, sales of advertising space, donations, and is governed by the Rainbow Rider Transit Board.
Ray Andrews Construction Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2143
Reed Fish Company 506 E Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2413
Rite Way Vending 1 Day County Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (605) 694-2815
Riverside Lodging 4989 State Highway 28 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2163
Sam Brown Log Cabin West Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2608
Serocki Excavating Inc 318 Washington Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2589
St. Anthony's Church 122 2nd Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2622 Pastor: Father Joe Vandeberg Sunday Mass: 10:30am
Swift & Company 5154 State Highway 28 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone : (320) 695-2234
Synergy Advantage 201 West Broadway Street Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2000
Traverse Cafe 305 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2777
Tropical Tanning and Fitness 318 E Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2850
Twin Valley Tire Inc 112 4th Street Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2551
Union State Bank 325 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2101
United Methodist & Presbyterian Church 418 Ash Street SE Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2516
US Post Office 314 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219-5000 Phone: (320) 695-2620 Toll Free: (800) ASK-USPS Web: www.usps.com
Valley Clinic 404 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2526 Web: www.cdphospital.com/cdpclinic The Brown's Valley Clinic is staffed Monday & Wednesday-Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Tuesday mornings 9:00 am to Noon.
Valley Grain Trucking County Road 2 PO Box 299 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (605) 694-2800
Valley News 4984 State Highway 27 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2300
Valley Soft Water Service 3rd Street & Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (605) 694-2309
Valley Telephone Company 13 4th Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2112
Valley Veterinarian Clinic 24 4th Street S Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2513
Valley Vista Apartments 317 2nd Street N # 102 Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2556
Walls Investment Group 5651 Rosies Drive Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2216
Wing N Fin Traverse Lodge 5473 Wing and Fin Drive Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2450 Web: www.wingnfintraverse.com At Wing N Fin Resort we offer first class accommodations year round for all of your outdoor activity needs in western Minnesota. Owners Todd and Ellen Johnson have dedicated their lives to offering their customers a modern, clean and diverse lodging establishment on the shores of Lake Traverse. This is what Todd refers to as “One Of the best kept, secluded secrets in Minnesota”. Being the 12th largest lake out of 10,000 that Minnesota has to offer and being less than 3 ½ hours away from the Twin Cities, Wing N Fin Resort can meet and exceed all of your outdoor vacation needs.
Zabel Insurance 325 W Broadway Browns Valley, MN 56219 Phone: (320) 695-2101

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Browns Valley Minnesota Community Guide