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Traverse County, Minnesota

41 topographic sheets cover 8 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

5 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Minnesota within the United States
Traverse County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 81 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings and 1 district.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 8 populated places in this county; 8 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

5

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
Browns Valley Carnegie Public Librarybuilding198585001762
Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Depotbuilding198585001818
District No. 44 Schoolbuilding201111000470
Fort Wadsworth Agency and Scout Headquarters Buildingbuilding198686001672
Larson's Hunters Resortdistrict198585001774

Wildfire, 2002 to 2019

3 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 3 of them, burning about 2 acres. 1 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural1
Missing data/not specified/undetermined1
Arson/incendiarism1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
30 April 2019Natural1.4 acresMorris National Wildlife RefugeMNBNR-FY19-WF-MURPHY WF
10 December 2002Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresMorris National Wildlife RefugeROBIN HOOD WPA
17 July 2016Arson/incendiarismunder an acreMorris National Wildlife RefugeCAR FIRE

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

Storms, 1955 to 2024

60 of 197 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 197 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $10,027,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail89
Thunderstorm Wind64
Flood21
Tornado19
Flash Flood2
Funnel Cloud2

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
March 2007Flash FloodBrowns Vly$5,000,000no account filed
May 1982Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
May 1982Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
May 1987Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
September 1969Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 2024Thunderstorm WindWheaton-The public reported both hail to the size of quarters and thunderstorm wind gusts estimated to be 60 mph. The combination of the two resulted in damage to crops as well as the homes roof and siding.
July 2024HailDumont-The trained spotter also reported winds of 50 to 60 mph.
April 2023FloodDumont-Five Mile Creek above Herman went into flood on the afternoon of April 13th, cresting at 8.37 feet, or 0.87 feet above flood stage on the morning of April 14th. Mainly agricultural lands were impacted.
April 2023FloodCollis-The West Branch of 12 Mile Creek at Dumont went into flood on the evening of April 13th, cresting 1.97 feet above flood stage on the evening of April 15th. Agricultural lands were impacted. Flood waters inundated the city of Dumont sewer system causing water to back up into streets and basements.
April 2023FloodCharlesville-Twelve Mile Creek above Wheaton crested above moderate flood stage at 19.4 feet on the afternoon of April 15th. Waters were high enough to flood portions of 670th Street, however the main impact was flooding of agricultural lands.
April 2023FloodGraceville Stnly Arp-The Mustinka River at Wheaton crested at 94.78 feet on the afternoon of April 17th, or 2.78 feet above flood stage. This high water mainly impacted agricultural lands.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindWheaton-One inch tree limbs were broken in Wheaton, Minnesota.
May 2022Tornado (EF0)Charlesville-A tornado developed 11 miles east of Wheaton along the leading|edge of a line severe thunderstorms. This tornado traveled|rapidly north-northeastward and impacted three farmsteads.|Several trees were uprooted and felled in different directions,|outbuildings were severely damaged, and both homes were damaged|as well including the partial removal of a garage roof. The|tornado continued northeast to right near the Grant County line,|and impacted another farmstead. Silo damage, trees felled in|different directions, and a small outbuilding was moved 10 yards|to the northwest.
May 2022Tornado (EF1)Dumont-A tornado developed 6 miles east of Dumont on the leading edge of|a line of severe thunderstorms, and then traveled quickly|northeast. An outbuilding took heavy damage, with debris strewn|northeast over half a mile. The majority of the 2x4 planks were|deposited directly to the east of the shed, while another single|2x4 was lodged into the ground at an angle not consistent with|straight-line winds. The tornado then destroyed several mostly|empty grain bins. Some tin from the property was thrown due west|into the trees.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindDumont-Shingles were pealed off a roof, and at least two large trees were snapped by estimated 70 mph wind gusts.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindWheaton-Estimated 80 mph wind gusts uprooted and snapped trees, and blew a roof off of a residence.
June 2022HailWheaton-Nickel hail was observed, with little wind.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindWheaton Arpt-A personal weather station measured the wind.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindDumont-One tree and a couple of poles holding a nine inch elk fence were snapped, and tree branches were downed.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindDumont-A trained spotter estimated winds at 60 mph.
October 2021Tornado (EF0)Collis-A tornado was on the groud for just shy of one mile causing minor damage to two farmsteads. The first farm had an uprooted tree, tree branches down and sheet metal tossed around the farmyard. The second farm, which was located about one half mile to the northeast, reported damage to roof and walls of a pole barn and large tree branches broken.
October 2021Tornado (EF0)Dumont-Tornado damage was first observed to the northeast of the intersection of 620th St and 760th Ave, where a single cottonwood tree in a line of trees was snapped at the base. About a mile to the northeast on 770th Ave, another cottonwood tree had a large branch broken and sporadically scattered leaves and twigs. The tornado then damaged a farmstead where an empty grain bin was removed from the base and lofted, rolled roughly 0.4 miles. Additional metal debris was also noted along the northeast path.
October 2021Thunderstorm WindDumont-An estimated wind gust of 70 mph caused damage to a barn, including a wall and roof.
October 2021Tornado (EF1)Rolsberg-The first evidence of damage by the tornado was found on the south side of a cornfield at the intersection of Traverse County Highway 9 and 740th St. The tornado tracked almost due north, damaging a farmstead south of the 750th St. A quarter of the roof of a metal pole barn was ripped from the steel rafters and tossed to the west-northwest, damaging a power line. Another pole barn was completely destroyed. The southwest side of the barn had poles lifted entirely out of the ground while the east side walls remained intact. Evidence of the tornado continued a mile north, where downed tree branches and tree debris were noted crossing 760th street. The last signs of the tornado damage were just south of 770th street, where a grain auger and hay trailer were flipped over. The total length was shy of three miles from beginning to end.
October 2021Tornado (EF0)Dumont-An eyewitness observed a tornado touch down in a corn stubble field east of MN Highway 27 and 760th Ave. The tornado tracked north across MN Highway 27, damaging a farmstead. A tree was uprooted and fell toward the house, damaging the deck. Minor shingle damage occurred to both houses on the property. Several farm implements were slid or moved several feet from their original locations. A large machine shed lost a quarter of the roof. Debris from the roof was tossed to the north, northwest about 80 yards. Damage was also evident in a corn crop field north of the farm, ending roughly a half-mile-long path.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindRolsberg-Estimated winds to sixty mph took some pieces of siding off the house along with downing several tree limbs.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindWheaton Arpt-Estimated seventy mph winds uprooted a large tree which fell onto a cabin with no injuries reported.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindDumont-Sixty mph winds were estimated.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindRolsberg-Estimated seventy-five mph winds downed a large tree along with severely damaging an old barn.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindRolsberg-Estimated sixty mph winds along with hail caused some crop damage along with damaging some of the siding on the house.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindBrowns Vly-Estimated seventy mph winds.
July 2019Funnel CloudCollis-Two brief funnel clouds were reported north of Johnson.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindCollis-Large tree branches were downed by sixty-five mph winds.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindTintah-Many large tree limbs were downed by an estimated sixty-five mph winds.
June 2017Tornado (EF1)Collis-A resident watched a tornado touchdown in an open field before moving over their farmstead. Minor damage to a garage door and garage siding occurred along with multiple uprooted trees and snapped trunks. Tree limbs and branches were tossed in multiple directions.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindTintah-Estimated seventy mph winds brought many large tree branches down in Tintah.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindBrowns Vly-Sixty mph winds downed some large tree branches in Browns Valley.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindBrowns Vly-Two outbuildings were severely damaged by eighty mph winds.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindTintah-Seventy mph winds brought down many large tree branches.
June 2016Tornado (EF0)Collis-A tornado touched down briefly to the northeast of Barry with no damage reported.
July 2016HailCollis-Quarter size hail along with strong winds resulted in crop damage.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindBrowns Vly-Eighty mph winds brought many trees down in Browns Valley along with snapping a dozen or more power poles. Some house roofs along with some sheds were damaged.
June 2015HailWheaton Arpt-Quarter size hail caused some damage to bean and corn crops.
June 2015HailWheaton Arpt-Large hail damaged a deck and some crops.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindBrowns Vly-Winds measured close to 100 mph damaged several campers at the Rosebud Park with several boats overturned on Lake Traverse. Several buildings were also damaged along with many trees snapped off or uprooted. A large oak tree had fallen over State Highway 27.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindWheaton-Seventy mph winds downed some trees along with some large branches in Wheaton.
October 2013Tornado (EF1)Charlesville-A low topped thunderstorm tracked from south to north across central and east central Traverse county producing a brief tornado touchdown. The tornado touched down in a soybean field and tracked from south to northwest for about a half mile with a maximum path width of 70 yards. The tornado struck a grove of tall pine trees with most of them uprooted and then moved near a residence causing damage to the siding and roof damage. Three other large pine trees were twisted at their bases and fell into the home damaging the side of the house and breaking a window. The tornado hit a farm building lifting it off of its concrete foundation and twisting it to the northwest with all four walls destroyed. An electric pole was also downed and fell onto two pickup trucks breaking the window on one of them. The tornado then tracked to the northwest where it downed several more large trees. The tornado also took a large piece of tin from the outbuilding and stuck it eight inches deep into the ground. The tornado then tracked into a corn field and dissipated.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindCollis-Seventy mph winds downed a twelve inch diameter tree.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindTintah-An estimated thunderstorm wind gust of sixty mph was reported.
June 2012Tornado (EF0)Charlesville-Brief touchdown in a field.
July 2011Tornado (EF0)Collis-The tornado touched down in a corn field near Collis and traveled slowly southeast through a tree grove. The tornado damaged the corn along with many trees with several trees uprooted.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindDumont-Sixty mph winds were estimated east of Dumont.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindTintah-Seventy mph winds blew over several grain bins.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindWheaton-Large branches were downed by high winds.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindWheaton-Large branches were downed by high winds.
June 2005Flash FloodWheaton-Heavy rains of 3 to 5 inches fell in and around the city of Wheaton causing flash flooding. Many roads had water running over them with several of them closed.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindWheaton-Seventy mph winds brought down several trees along with some power lines.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindDumont-Many large branches were downed by the high winds.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindBrowns Vly-High winds downed several trees in and around Browns Valley.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindWheaton-Large branches were downed in Wheaton. One branch took down a power line.

Mines and quarries

1 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 1 working inside this county. It still produces. 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
Jacobsen PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

8

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.