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Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

25 topographic sheets cover 14 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, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Minnesota within the United States
Yellow Medicine County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 125 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings and 1 district.
  • 2 of the 5 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 15 populated places in this county; 14 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
Canby Commercial Historic Districtdistrict198080002189
John G. Lund Housebuilding197878001575
Lundring Service Stationbuilding198686001356
Swede Prairie Progressive Farmers' Clubbuilding198686001331
Andrew John Volstead Housebuilding197474001046

Wildfire, 2011 to 2018

6 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 6 of them, burning about 63 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Equipment and vehicle use2
Debris and open burning2
Smoking1
Missing data/not specified/undetermined1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
13 April 2016Equipment and vehicle use40 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
25 April 2015Debris and open burning9.0 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
7 October 2011Equipment and vehicle use5.0 acresMorris National Wildlife RefugeSPELLMAN
15 May 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined5.0 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
8 April 2014Debris and open burning3.0 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 October 2012Smoking1.0 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

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

Storms, 1957 to 2025

60 of 238 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 238 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 21 injuries and about $53,841,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind99
Hail98
Tornado24
Funnel Cloud5
Flash Flood5
Heavy Rain3
Flood3
Lightning1

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 2000Tornado (F4)Granite Falls1 killed, 15 hurt, $20,000,000The tornado first touched down in rural Yellow Medicine County, 8 miles west, and 3 miles north of Granite Falls. The tornado lifted before exiting Granite Falls, leaving the most concentrated damage path two miles long, and 500 feet wide, through a primarily residential area of Granite Falls. Most of the damage in Granite Falls was caused by F2 to F3 wind speeds. However, this tornado has been classified as a minimal F4 tornado, based on the twisted wreckage of an overturned railroad car near the intersection of 9th Avenue and 14th street in Granite Falls.
April 1984Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 killedno account filed
June 1992Tornado (F3)not stated6 hurt, $25,000,000no account filed
August 2020Thunderstorm WindGranite Falls$1,800,000Widespread wind damage occurred around the city of Granite Falls. Numerous trees, power lines and structural damage occurred in the city with the Yellow Medicine East School District main building sustaining major damage. The winds tore off the heating and ventilation systems on the roofs, opening the duct work to the rain. Water poured through the ventilation system and directly into classrooms, hallways and on equipment. On the south side of the Minnesota River, the Granite Run golf course suffered significant damage to trees and their local restaurant.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindGranite Falls$1,500,000Several sources from the media, law enforcement and trained spotters reported widespread damage across the city of Granite Falls. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down along with some roof damage to businesses. The area was concentrated west and south of the Minnesota River in Yellow Medicine County.
July 2016Thunderstorm Wind(Gdb)Granite Falls Airport$1,500,000The Fagen Fighters Museum at the airport had three T-hangars destroyed, including the contents inside, and three planes.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindEcho$750,000A long-lived and complex storm moved into far southeast Yellow Medicine County around 336 PM CST, and caused considerable damage to outbuildings, a few homes, crops and trees. Based on the damage reports and radar imagery, wind speeds were likely sustained above 70 to 90 mph, for 10 to 15 minutes in any given location as the storm traversed the county.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindHanley Falls$750,000Three large grain bins dented, ham radio tower down, numerous trees down. Minor damage to roofs and windows of houses.
August 2015Tornado (EF1)Canby$500,000A tornado moved across several farmsteads, destroying several outbuildings, uprooting or breaking hundreds of trees, and damaging crops. About seven hay bales (each with a diameter of six feet) were blown apart for about 1/4 mile downwind. The damage pattern suggested this was a multiple vortex tornado. The tornado was accompanied by a damaging rear flank downdraft just to the south of the tornado.
July 2011Tornado (EF1)Echo$500,000An EF-1 tornado continued along a path across Yellow Medicine County near 100th Avenue and 600th Street, northeast to near 130th Avenue, and 370th Street where it crossed back into northwest Redwood County. Several trees were uprooted along the path along with a few homes damaged.
March 2010FloodEcho$420,000In Granite Falls, 466th Street was closed at 889th Street due to flood waters of the Minnesota River. In addition, the county roads southeast of Granite Falls, on 620th Street, from 180th to 190th Ave were flooded.||Monetary costs were based on FEMA, State, and Local assistance which includes the following categories; debris removal, emergency protective measures, road systems and bridges, water control facilities, and parks.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindCanby$250,000In addition to the Canby Airport severe wind gust, two structures had significant damage in Canby. One house had its roof torn off north of Canby, and a church in Canby had its tin roof blown off.
June 1987Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 1981Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 2022Thunderstorm WindSt Leo$100,000Significant wind damage occurred south of Boyd, Minnesota, at the Zion Lutheran Church. The church had its steeple and metal cross torn off. Several large trees were also uprooted or blown down near the church.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindCanby$100,000Strong rear flank downdraft winds accompanied a tornado. The winds tipped over two silos that landed on top of a barn about 4 miles south of Canby. The winds also toppled dozens of trees. Even after the tornado dissipated, strong winds continued eastward into the city of Porter, with occasional tree and crop damage along the way.
June 2002Tornado (F1)Clarkfield$50,000Tornado started in Lac Qui Parle County and ended in Yellow Medicine County. It destroyed one third of a turkey barn south of Clarkfield.
March 2014Tornado (EF0)St Leo$30,000The tornado struck three farmsteads, damaging barns, sheds, other outbuildings, and grain bins. Minor damage was sustained at the three houses. The tornado originated in Lyon County at 1450 LST.
June 1981Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1965Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 2022Thunderstorm WindHanley Falls$15,000There were parts of a grain bin that blew across railroad tracks near Hanley Falls.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindPorter$15,000Several eight inch diameter trees were blown down from Porter, to approximately 4 miles east of Porter, Minnesota. The City of Porter, had power outages due to power lines blown down.
June 2014Flash Flood(Gdb)Granite Falls Airport$5,000There was damage to the Upper Sioux Agency State Park hiking trails and roads. The entrance to the equestrian campground was partially washed out due to water channeling along the road; damage length was nearly 400 yards long, and averaged 6 wide and 1 deep. There was some minor washout damage in the electrical loop of the equestrian campground, and a significant washout beneath the gate to the powwow grounds. The equestrian campground was closed for one day as initial repairs were completed. Trail damage occurred in several places, mainly due to water running along the length of the trail. There were also a handful of areas in the park (3 spots along Hwy 67) that experienced minor landslides. No significant damage was caused by these slide areas, but some cleanup was required.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindHazel Run$5,000Several utility poles, north of Hazel Run, were snapped off.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindHazel Run$1,000There was damage in the city of Hanley Falls where a machine shed was blown down, with crop damage around the area. Upstream, and based on radar, isolated crop damage likely occurred from Hazel Run to Hanley Falls, and beyond as the core of the strongest winds moved across this area.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindGranite Falls$500Several large tree limbs were blown down.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindCanby Arpt-The Canby Municipal Airport recorded a 53 kt wind gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm Wind(Gdb)Granite Falls Airport-The AWOS at Granite Falls AP recorded a 75 mph wind gust.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindClarkfield-Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 58 mph snapped a large tree off a weeping willow east of Clarkfield.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindHazel Run-Thunderstorm winds estimated at 58 mph downed a large tree branch east of Clarkfield.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindHanley Falls-Mesonet station MN033 T.h.23 - Hanley Falls - Mp 94 measured a 79 mph wind gust.
June 2025Flash FloodBurr-Many county and township roadways were washed out and damaged from the round of storms on June 28th. The Emergency Manager reported that areas of Yellow Medicine County that have not historically flooded, happened in the June 28th flooding event.
September 2025Thunderstorm Wind(Gdb)Granite Falls Airport-The wind was measured at the AWOS station at Granite Falls airport.
June 2025Tornado (EFU)Burr-A tornado in far northwestern Yellow Medicine County was caught on video from three different storm chasers in three different locations. A law enforcement officer also took video of the tornado. This allowed triangulation of the approximate tornado track. It appears to have moved across a field and dissipated. Satellite imagery did not indicate any track and the tornado did not hit any damage indicators.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindHanley Falls-Mesonet station MN033 T.h.23 - Hanley Falls - Mp 94 measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 64 mph.
May 2024Funnel CloudCanby-A funnel cloud was photographed near Canby. Other funnel clouds may have occurred in the area, but additional information was not provided.
July 2024HailWood Lake-Crop damage was reported.
July 2024Funnel CloudWood Lake-Several photos of the funnel near Timm Lake were provided. It was not possible to determine if there was any ground contact.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindGranite Falls-Trees were downed.
June 2024HailClarkfield-The hail stone was photographed by a trained spotter.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindHanley Falls-A large machine shed was uplifted and blown away in Hanley Falls.
May 2022HailClarkfield-There was a social media picture of 3 inch hail.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindGranite Falls-Several trees and power lines were blown down around the city of Granite Falls.
May 2022HailPorter-There was a social media picture of golf ball size hail.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindHazel Run-A transmission line was blown down south of Hazel Run.
May 2021Tornado (EF0)Canby-A storm chaser took photos of a landspout tornado. It was mostly over an open field, but did knock down large branches of a few trees. Part of the circulation moved across a tractor being driven by a local farmer, but the vehicle remained upright. The time was based on the chaser's phone and compared with radar.
June 2020Heavy Rain(Gdb)Granite Falls Airport-The airport at Granite Falls measured 2.13 inches of precipitation in less than 3 hours.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindCanby Arpt-Several large trees were blown down or uprooted from Canby, and eastward toward St. Leo, and likely farther to the east along Highway 68. Due to the very rural area, and farmland of Yellow Medicine County, damage was isolated.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindGranite Falls-A measured wind report from a private weather station.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindClarkfield-Several trees were blown down between Clarkfield to Hazel Run. Crop damage was also noted throughout the county.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindHanley Falls-A measured wind report from the Department of Transportation wind sensor.
October 2020Thunderstorm WindCanby Arpt-A few power poles were blown down near Canby.
March 2019FloodGranite Falls-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 2019HailHanley Falls-A swath of large hail, up to quarter size, fell around Hanley Falls.
June 2019Hail(Gdb)Granite Falls Airport-A swath of large hail, up to quarter size fell south and west of Granite Falls.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindBurr-Power lines were blown down.
July 2016Heavy RainGranite Falls-A trained spotter measured 3.42 inches of rain near Granite Falls.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindBurr-Several trees were blown down southwest of Canby, Minnesota.
July 2015Thunderstorm Wind(Gdb)Granite Falls Airport-A measured 50 knot wind gust was reported by the Granite Falls County Airport wind sensor.
September 2013Thunderstorm Wind(Gdb)Granite Falls Airport-A measured wind gust of 50 knots occurred at the Granite Falls Airport. In addition, there was a measured wind gust at the Minnesota Department of Transportation Weather Station of 56 mph at 720 LST. This station is in Hanley Falls, southwest of the Granite Falls Airport.

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, Construction3
Granite2
Stone, Crushed/Broken2
Gold1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Granite Falls ProspectGoldUnknownGold
Echo QuarryGranite, Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Green Quarry and MillGranite, Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Antony Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
D and C Gravel Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Rikke Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

15

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.