Rural Minnesota: Embracing Our Identity as Country Folk by Dimming Outdoor Lights

Posted in

July 16, 2025

Rural Minnesota: Embracing Our Identity as Country Folk by Dimming Outdoor Lights

In Clitherall, Minnesota, a persistent outdoor security light, controlled by the power company and unable to be turned off, has sparked reflections on the dwindling dark skies of rural life. The light, which illuminates the farmyard throughout the night, interferes with the natural beauty of the night sky, a precious and increasingly rare aspect of country living. Light pollution, now impacting eight out of ten Americans, poses serious risks to wildlife, including migrating birds. Despite the rural Minnesota community’s pride in its distinctiveness from urban areas, there’s a sense of longing for modern conveniences, as evidenced by the embrace of such intrusive lighting. After 15 years of requesting the disconnection of this light, the couple discovered the power company’s bafflement, highlighting a broader cultural disconnect regarding the value of darkness in preserving both natural beauty and ecological balance.

Original source:

https://www.startribune.com/tolkkinen-were-ruining-one-of-the-best-and-most-endangered-things-about-country-life-a-dark-sky-at-night/601428803

Rural Minnesota: Embracing Our Identity as Country Folk by Dimming Outdoor Lights

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