Green Valley was established when the Wilmar & Sioux Falls Railway laid tracks there in 1888. The Willmar and Sioux Falls Railway ran between Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Willmar, Minnesota. The railroad was built by E. A. Sherman and John M. Spicer of Willmar, under the direction of James J. Hill of the Great Northern Railway. Sherman and Spicer located, named, and platted all of the towns along the line for a distance of 149 miles. The line was sold to the Great Northern Railway on July 1, 1907.

In May, 1888, the announcement was made for the location and the name of the Green Valley station. However, the location of the station was made known the previous fall. According to The News Messenger of Lyon County on Nov. 11, 1887, “While we have not official authority for locating the stations in this county, we have sufficient locations as quite certainly decided upon: The next station, coming towards Marshall is somewhat in doubt, but will probably be near Robinsons, in Fairview, or in the southeast corner of Vallers, making it from 5 to 6 miles from Marshall and Cottonwood Lake.”

According to Minnesota Place Names by Warren Upham, Green Valley received its name due to the vast green prairie by the Redwood River.

The track was laid to the site on Aug. 18, 1888, and the sidetrack was laid the next day and a platform was built. The Northwestern Elevator Company built an elevator, which was the first building on the site. In February, 1889, the Post Office was established and conducted at the home of G.M. Robinson. Robinson served as postmaster until February, 1890.

Just before Lyon County’s centennial in 1970, the business establishments in Green Valley in 1969 were written down for the centennial book. The establishments included: Bue Lumber Company, Cottage Grocery, Green Valley Grain Company, George Jerpbak Construction & Repair Shop, Upholstery Shop, Recreation Parlor, George’s Grocery, Vierstraete Roofing Company, and the Post Office.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection shows a part of Green Valley during a flood on May 9, 1944.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.