Valley City was originally called Worthington, and under the latter name was laid out in 1874 when the railroad was extended to that point. The present name is for the city's location in the valley of the Sheyenne River. A post office was established under the name Worthington in 1874, and has continued to operate under the name Valley City since 1878. A Carnegie Library opened in 1903, through the efforts of the "Tuesday Club," a local women's organization. The inception of the nation's first barber association occurred in Valley City during a state barber convention in February, 1909.
Geography
Valley City is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all of it land.
Demographics
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 6,585 people, 2,986 households, and 1,563 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 3,307 housing units at an average density of. The racial makup of the city was 95.2% White, 1.2% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5%. Of the 2,986 households 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.7% were non-families. 39.4% of households were one person and 17.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 42.1 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 22% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.
At the 2000 census, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families living in the city. The population density was 2,062.5 per square mile. There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982.0 per square mile. The racial makup of the city was 97.39% White, 0.73% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population. The top 6 ancestry groups in the city are German, Norwegian, Irish, Swedish, French, English. Of the 2,996 households 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 38.3% of households were one person and 19.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.77. The age distribution was 18.8% under the age of 18, 15.3% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males. The median household income was $28,050 and the median family income was $41,604. Males had a median income of $30,035 versus $17,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,257. About 5.5% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.
Local media
AM radio
FM radio
CSiCable
The local newspaper is the Valley City Times-Record.
