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Norman County, Minnesota

31 topographic sheets cover 21 settlements here, and 4 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

4 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Minnesota within the United States
Norman County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 190 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 4 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 21 populated places in this county; 21 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

4

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Ada Village Hallbuilding199898000154
Congregational Church of Adabuilding198484000236
Norman County Courthousebuilding198383000923
Zion Lutheran Churchbuilding199999001269

Wildfire, 1995 to 2016

18 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 18 of them, burning about 6,098 acres. None started naturally and 10 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism10
Debris and open burning4
Missing data/not specified/undetermined3
Equipment and vehicle use1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. Two of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
21 April 2010Arson/incendiarism2,425 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
1 December 2011Debris and open burning1,540 acresMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesNEAL WMA
22 April 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined640 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
23 April 2015Equipment and vehicle use631 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
11 April 2015Debris and open burning299 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
31 March 2015Debris and open burning169 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
6 May 2011Debris and open burning140 acresGlacial RidgeGODFREY 14
14 May 2008Arson/incendiarism115 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1956 to 2025

60 of 344 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 344 reports for this county, causing 3 deaths, 35 injuries and about $29,598,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail153
Thunderstorm Wind131
Tornado30
Flash Flood12
Flood12
Funnel Cloud6

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 1978Tornado (F2)not stated3 killed, 35 hurt, $25,000,000no account filed
April 2006FloodCountywide$1,320,000The Red River at Halstad (MN) rose above flood stage around 4 PM CST on March 31st and remained above flood stage until around 3 AM CST on April 17th. The river peaked at roughly 39.31 feet around 8 PM CST on April 6th. Unofficially, 39.31 feet would be the third highest modern-day river stage recorded. The second highest modern-day river stages (unofficial) were recorded on the Wild Rice River at Hendrum (32.39 feet on April 5th) and on the Marsh River at Shelly (25.03 feet on April 3rd). Overland flooding also occurred in addition to the river flooding, with over 75 roads around the county closed due to flooding. Red River bridges at Perley (MN), Hendrum (MN), and Shelly (MN) were all closed. This left the State Highway 200 bridge as the only open Red River bridge between Fargo/Moorhead and Grand Forks/East Grand Forks. U.S. Highway 75 was closed in spots in western Norman County. Roads were also closed south and west of Ada. East of Perley and Hendrum, water completely covered at least a dozen sections of land, stranding several herds of cattle. The Minnesota Governor authorized the National Guard to assist in the flood fight, working on dike patrols, security, and traffic control. Classes were cancelled from April 3rd through the 5th at Norman County West School in Halstad, for flood fighting and to make room for the Minnesota Guard troops. A mile south of Halstad, a woman drove around a barricaded (flooded) road and was swept off the road and into a nearby flooded farm field. Two people passing by rushed to her aid and rescued her. All 3 people suffered minor hypothermia from being in the cold water. After the spring flood of 1997, many communities along the Red River looked at ways to mitigate flood effects. Permanent dikes held in the Halstad and Hendrum, so most of the flood fighting took place at rural farmsteads. Norman County received a Presidential Disaster Declaration for damages caused by spring flooding.In summary, the total public and private flood losses experienced within the Red River of the North basin through late March and April 2006 were likely in excess of $20 million. This includes the following amounts. For Minnesota state and local infrastructure (this total includes the damages listed for each county), $8.5 million. For North Dakota state and local infrastructure (this total includes the damages listed for each county), $8 million. For Federal agencies (USACE, USGS, and USCG), $1.5 million. For the transportation industry costs due to traffic diversions caused by prolonged road and bridge closures, $1.5 million. For personal property losses due to floodwaters surrounding more than 500 individual farmsteads and rural homesteads, $1.0 million.
June 2000Flash FloodAda$1,000,000Numerous county and township roads were washed out from the heavy rain. Street flooding was reported in both Ada and Gary.
July 2017Tornado (EF2)Halstad$550,000This tornado originated 4 miles east-northeast of Hillsboro, in Traill County, North Dakota, at 648 pm CST. It crossed the Red River about one mile west of Halstad. The tornado snapped H-pole power poles, crushed steel grain bins, snapped numerous oak and ash trees, and toppled a barn along its path. Peak winds were estimated at 130 mph.
July 2017Tornado (EF2)Wheatville$450,000This tornado collapsed at least one shed, snapped numerous trees, and tossed large round hay bales across a sugar beet field. It also snapped at least a half dozen wooden power poles. Peak winds were estimated at 125 mph. The tornado continued into Clay County, where it ended two miles north of Ulen, at 806 pm CST.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindHalstad$300,000Numerous trees were blown down in farmsteads and communities across western Norman County. In Halstad and Ada, broken tree limbs crushed vehicles and severly damaged roofing on numerous homes.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindAda$200,000Power was out in the Ada area with damaged transformers and trees down.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindHendrum$100,000The wind damaged local transformers and knocked out the power.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindTwin Vly$100,000Steel power transmission poles were blown down.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindBorup$50,000The roof was blown off a pole shed and large trees were uprooted.
July 2008HailFlom$50,000The hail caused extensive crop damage.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindAda$50,000The strong wind peeled off the roof on the city's public works building. Debris from the falling roof damaged 4 vehicles inside. Another city building was also damaged, as well as many trees around town.
April 2019FloodShelly$50,000no account filed
September 1996Thunderstorm WindFaith$50,000no account filed
June 2008Tornado (EF1)Halstad$40,000A persistent rotating wall cloud produced a short lived funnel and brief tornado. Some metal roofing was torn off a farm building and several 8 to 10 inch diameter trees were snapped off at one farmstead. Peak winds were estimated at 90 mph.
April 1974Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 2022Flash FloodHendrum$20,000Water from local runoff of from 2 to 3 inches of heavy rain and from the snowmelt swollen Wild Rice River spilled over Highway 75, south of Hendrum.
June 2008HailRanum$20,000Penny sized hail covered the deck and did a lot of damage to the local crops. Wind gusts reached up to fifty miles per hour.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindAda$20,000Corn fields were churned and flattened by strong winds.
June 2002Tornado (F1)Ada$20,000A roof was torn off a farm building and scattered in nearby trees.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindGary$20,000A church steeple was blown off.
July 2001Thunderstorm WindHalstad$20,000Power poles were blown down.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindHendrum$20,000Trees and powerlines were blown down causing a power outage of 12 hours.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindHalstad$20,000Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down and the roof was torn off a potato warehouse.
July 2001Thunderstorm WindAda$20,000Large branches were blown down in Ada.
July 2001Thunderstorm WindTwin Vly$20,000Branches were blown down in Twin Valley.
October 1997Thunderstorm WindHendrum$10,000The strong wind blew the roof off a school bus garage.
May 2013FloodSyre$5,000Several sections of farm fields and portions of township roads were flooded.
June 2008HailBorup$5,000Dime to nickel sized hail covered the ground in spots.
August 2001Flash FloodAda$5,000Basement flooding was reported.
March 2009FloodShelly$5,000no account filed
April 2009FloodShelly$5,000no account filed
June 2014Thunderstorm WindShelly$4,000A few 8 inch diameter trees were snapped near the ground in a cemetary.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindAda$3,000Trees were blown down and a window was blown out.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindAda$3,000Trees were blown down in Ada.
June 1981Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
September 2017Tornado (EF1)Lockhart$2,000This tornado began in Norman County, Minnesota, about three miles north-northeast of Lockhart. It tracked about a mile in Norman County, before it crossed into Polk County, where it continued about another three miles. The tornado ended at 701 PM CST, just past the community of Beltrami, Polk County. Peak winds were estimated at 105 mph.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindFlaming$2,000Several pine and poplar trees were either snapped off near the ground or had large four to six inch diameter branches broken off.
June 2010Flash FloodPerley$2,000Rainfall amounts of 4 to 5 inches produced widespread flooding of fields and farm access roads across southern portions of Mary Township.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindFlom$2,000Several large branches were blow down in a shelter belt.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindAda$2,000Several large trees were uprooted due to the strong wind.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindTwin Vly$2,000Large trees were blown over due to the strong wind.
August 2016Flash FloodFlaming$500Four to eight inches of rain fell in about two hours across eastern Spring Creek and Sundal townships, resulting in flooded fields and farm access roads.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindRanum$500Large trees were blown down.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindGary$500Branches were blown down.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindBorup$500Branches were blown down.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindBorup$500Branches were blown down.
June 1999Thunderstorm WindAda$500Several trees were knocked down near Ada.
June 1999Thunderstorm WindAda$500Trees were blown over in Ada. A power pole was also blown over west of town, knocking out power to the western half of the county for 7 hours.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindFlom-Large tree limbs blown down.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindFlom-Report of tree damage. Time estimated from radar.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindAda-Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 210019 1 north Ada MN.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindHadler-Measured gust at mesonet station 2438D Hadler MN.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindPerley-Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 216419 east of Perley MN.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindWaukon-Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 215012 Waukon MN.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindPerley-Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 216419 6 miles east of Perley, MN.
July 2025Tornado (EF1)Lockhart-A tornado tracked NW to SE with a final S push as it occluded. It tracked for about 5.3 miles, starting in Polk County, then continuing into Norman County. After crossing into Norman County, this tornado scoured a soybean/corn field before doing damage to some farm outbuildings. This track may be adjusted pending high resolution satellite imagery. UPDATE 7/22: Track adjusted based on Sentinel-2 imagery. EF0 damage was noted in Polk County, with EF1 damage in Norman County.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindAda-Measured gust at the Ada NDAWN 10 foot sensor.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindGary-Public relays report of mature choke cherry tree blown down.
June 2024HailFlaming-Broadcast Media relays report of golf ball sized hail east of Lockhart. Hail damage to the house, and 2 windows blown out.

Mines and quarries

6 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 6 workings inside this county. 5 still produce and 1 is closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction6

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Anderson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Cecil Black PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Jackson Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Kitchell PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Kitchell Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Sletten Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

21

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.