Bear Valley is an unincorporated community in Chester Township, Wabasha County, Minnesota, United States.
Bear Valley | |
|---|---|
  Bear Valley Location of the community of Bear Valley within Chester Township, Wabasha County  Bear Valley Bear Valley (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 44°18′12″N 92°28′39″W / 44.30333°N 92.47750°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Wabasha County |
| Township | Chester Township |
| Elevation | 981 ft (299 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 55956 and 55041 |
| Area code | 507 |
| GNIS feature ID | 654590[1] |
Geography
editThe community is located along Wabasha County Road 3 near Zumbro Falls. Cold Creek, a valley tributary of the nearby Zumbro River, flows through the community. 635th Street, 638th Street, and County Road 68 are also in the immediate area. Other nearby places include Zumbro Falls, Mazeppa, Oak Center, Lake City, and Bellechester.
History
editA post office called Bear Valley was established in 1857, and remained in operation until 1902.[2] The community was so named on account of a bear sighting by early settlers in the valley.[3]
The Grange association at Bear Valley was one of the earliest in Minnesota, established in 1870. The Bear Valley Grange Hall was built in 1874.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Bear Valley, Minnesota". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Wabasha County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 556.
- ^ Minnesota Place Names. Minnesota Historical Society. Accessed July 28, 2014.