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Sibley County, Minnesota

34 topographic sheets cover 13 settlements here, and 7 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

7 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Minnesota within the United States
Sibley County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 140 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 7 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 5 buildings, 1 site and 1 district.
  • 1 of the 7 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 13 populated places in this county; 13 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

7

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
Church of St. Thomasbuilding199188003085
Gaylord City Parksite201211001085
Gibbon Village Hallbuilding198282003036
Henderson Commercial Historic Districtdistrict198888002834
August F. Poehler Housebuilding198282003037
Sibley County Courthouse and Sheriff's Residence and Jailbuilding198888003071
Sibley County Courthouse-1879building197979001255

Wildfire, 2000 to 2016

12 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 12 of them, burning about 258 acres. None started naturally and 4 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism4
Missing data/not specified/undetermined3
Recreation and ceremony2
Debris and open burning2
Equipment and vehicle use1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 October 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined75 acresMinnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeHENDERSON ASSIST
30 October 2011Equipment and vehicle use61 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
29 July 2006Debris and open burning50 acresMinnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMUD LAKE
24 April 2002Arson/incendiarism40 acresMinnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMUD1
19 April 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined10 acresMinnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeREDHEAD
15 December 2006Arson/incendiarism9.0 acresMinnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMUD LAKE 2
30 April 2013Arson/incendiarism8.0 acresMinnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeJESSENLAND
9 April 2000Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresMinnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeMUD LK. 3

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

Storms, 1957 to 2025

60 of 319 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 319 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 77 injuries and about $56,373,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind120
Hail119
Tornado36
Funnel Cloud14
Heavy Rain12
Flash Flood10
Flood8

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
May 1965Tornado (F2)not stated1 killed, 75 hurt, $25,000,000no account filed
May 2016Thunderstorm WindGreen Isle1 killedSeveral media outlets and local officials indicated that an individual died from a fallen tree north of Arlington near Highway 15. The individual was on a four-wheeler in the pasture of his farm and attempted to herd his cattle to safety during a storm. Thats when a tree fell on him, officials indicated.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindWinthrop2 hurtSevere thunderstorms dropped golf ball-size hail at Gaylord and strong thunderstorm winds tore a canopy from a local Inn and debris was blown onto several homes. Two persons were injured and damage to three homes was reported.
May 1965Tornado (F3)not stated$25,000,000no account filed
June 2014FloodHenderson$3,900,000Several sources in Sibley County compiled a summary of flood related damages and locations for the flood of June 2014. Mudslides were going into some residences along the Minnesota River Valley. The City of Henderson was inundated with flood waters with businesses and local residence sandbagging. Scenic Highway 6 along the Minnesota River near Faxon Township was washed out due to the swollen river and heavy rainfall. There were also numerous county and secondary roads closed, along and near the Minnesota River.
June 2003Tornado (F2)Gibbon$1,000,000The third tornado in a series touched down in Sibley County and moved straight north, occasionally stalling in place for minutes at a time. It heavily damaged two farmsteads, where all outbuildings and sheds were destroyed, and the houses sustained significant damage. It entered Renville County at 1845 CST and then into Buffalo Lake.
March 2007FloodRush River$400,000Spring snow melt and rapid warming brought ice jams and flooding to portions of central and southern Minnesota. On the 14th, large ice chunks were pushed into the pilings of an old bridge on County Road 18 in eastern Sibley County, and the bridge was deemed beyond repair.
July 2017HailWinthrop$250,000Very large hail fell around the city of Winthrop, including the local golf course that sustained a heavy loss of trees and significant damage to their greens. Hail also damaged homes and barns.
June 1979Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
August 2006HailGreen Isle$100,000Vehicles, siding, and roofs damaged.
March 2010FloodHenderson$60,000Highway 93 was closed from Highway 169 to Henderson, due to flood waters of the Minnesota River. Monetary costs were based on FEMA, State, and Local assistance which includes the following categories; debris removal, emergency protective measures, and road systems and bridges.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindArlington$60,000Barn and sheds down. Three grain bins tipped over. Semi blown over. Several dozen trees toppled.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindWinthrop$50,000Shed, barn and tree damage was noted on a social media posted in the city of Winthrop.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindGaylord$50,000A machine shed was completed destroyed on a farm 3 miles southeast of Gaylord, near the intersection of County Road 13, and 62. There were also power lines blown down in Gaylord. Two cows also perished at this farm.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindNew Rome$50,000Numerous power lines and trees were blown down across the eastern part of the county.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindHenderson$40,000Barn down. Several sheds and outbuildings collapsed. Grain auger tipped over and smashed car. Numerous trees down.
May 1985Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1983Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1983Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1965Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 2019Thunderstorm WindArlington$20,000A NWS Storm Survey indicated no area of concentrated damage in Arlington, Minnesota. There was damage to several dozen trees around town. In addition, a small portion of a roof was blown off in Arlington. Damage was not concentrated in any area, and was deemed most likely to have occurred from downburst winds.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindGaylord$15,000A 20 foot tall tree was snapped, and fell onto a minivan in Gaylord.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindGaylord$15,000Several trees and power lines were blown down near Gaylord, Minnesota.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindGreen Isle$10,000Numerous large 12-18 inch diameter trees were blown down along Highway 25 and near the intersection of Highway 25, and 158th Street. Also, a few power lines were knocked down due to the trees.
September 2021Tornado (EF0)Henderson$2,000An EFO tornado tracked through a corn field and knocked down a few large branches in a grove of trees toward the end of the path. The path length was 1.6 miles with a width of 50 yards. Maximum wind speeds were 70 mph.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindGaylord$1,000A 10 inch diameter tree was snapped and landed on a power line.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindArlington-Many 3 to 4 inch branches down, and one tree knocked down west of Arlington.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindArlington-Report of trees down in Arlington.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindGaylord-Report of trees down in the town of Gaylord.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindGaylord-Multiple trees and branches up to 20 inches in diameter were down.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindWinthrop-Several trees and numerous large branches were down across Winthrop.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindHenderson-A trained spotter reported numerous 3 inch diameter branches down as well as a 10 inch diameter pine tree that was uprooted.
June 2024Flash FloodNew Auburn-There were multiple reports of flooding via the Sibley County dispatch center. Township roads and culverts were damaged.
June 2024Heavy RainArlington-A total of 3.25 to 3.50 inches of rain fell in Sibley County near Arlington, MN.
June 2024FloodArlington-The county ditch system was damaged during the 6-2-24 event.
June 2024Heavy RainWinthrop-The storm total was 4.95 inches of rainfall.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindNew Auburn-Several trees were uprooted or snapped in New Auburn.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindWinthrop-The local emergency manage indicated that numerous trees were blown down or uprooted between Winthrop and Gaylord.
May 2022Tornado (EF0)Green Isle-A tornado broke several dozen trees and ripped part of a tin roof off a shed. The tornado traveled into southwestern Carver County, dissipating about one mile northeast of Assumption Lake. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.
April 2022HailGibbon-Although half dollar size hail was reported west of Gibbons, based on radar, the hail was likely larger between Gibbon and Lafayette.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindGibbon-A trained spotter noted that a few trees were blown down around her farm.
June 2020Flash FloodGaylord-Several local officials and trained spotters indicated the excessive rainfall caused numerous roads to flood between Gibbon, Winthrop, and Gaylord. Flood waters came out of the middle branch of the Rush River, and over the golf course in Winthrop. Even as the flood waters receded several roads were closed or partially reopened.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindGibbon-A power pole was blown down on County Road 2 in Gibbon.
July 2020HailGibbon-The swath of large hail, up to 2.5 inches in diameter, and the continued wind driven hail, occurred in the northern part of Sibley County, southwest and south of Stewart. Major crop damage continued along this path.
July 2020Tornado (EF1)Gaylord-Large branches were lofted when the tornado went through a line of trees, but otherwise the tornado moved across corn and bean fields. The tornado was captured on video by a storm chaser and a local resident.
July 2020Flash FloodGibbon-There were numerous roads that had water flowing over them, some up to one foot high. This occurred across southern Sibley County, mainly south of Highway 19, south to the Nicollet County line.
July 2020Funnel CloudWinthrop-Three different trained spotters saw a funnel cloud just northwest and north of Lafayette.
July 2020Tornado (EF0)Gaylord-A brief tornado was filmed by a storm chaser. It hit a few trees and knocked down some large branches.
July 2020HailWinthrop-The final swath of large hail, up to 1.75 inches in diameter, moved across central Sibley County between Fernando, and southeast of Winthrop.
March 2019FloodHenderson-Numerous roads were closed for several days due to snow melt, and the flood waters that develop from it. Rapidly runoff led to impassable roads, especially along streams and creeks along county roads.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindArlington-In the city of Arlington, a large tree blew down on power lines on Meadowbrook Lane.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindArlington-Power lines were blown down in the city of Arlington.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindWinthrop-The Minnesota Department of Transportation wind sensor west of Winthrop measured a wind gust of 62 mph.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindWinthrop-Power lines were blown down northeast of Winthrop.
July 2019Tornado (EF0)Henderson-A storm chaser filmed a brief tornado that touched down in an open field.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindArlington-A large tree blew down in Arlington.
August 2017Funnel CloudGreen Isle-Numerous funnel clouds were reported near Green Isle, Minnesota.
August 2017Tornado (EF0)Gaylord-A tornado developed east-northeast of Winthrop and tracked toward the west-northwest. It flattened some corn, uprooted trees, and caused other tree damage. Near the end of its path, it destroyed a structurally compromised barn. The maximum wind speed is estimated to have been 80 mph. Most of the path was determined through a combination of NWS storm survey and reviewing high-res satellite imagery.
August 2017Tornado (EF0)Gibbon-A storm chaser provided video of a brief tornado that moved across some fields before it dissipated. No crop damage was noted.
August 2017Funnel CloudGibbon-A storm chaser filmed a separate funnel cloud prior to a tornado at 1821 CST. The funnel might have touched down, but it was not possible to determine this.

Mines and quarries

1 recorded

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

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Bergs Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

13

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.