Broken Bow, Nebraska

Broken Bow, Nebraska
City
Broken Bow Commercial Square Historic District, centered on the public square, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. [2]
Location within Custer County (left) and Nebraska (right)
Coordinates: 41°24′18″N99°38′27″W / 41.40500°N 99.64083°W / 41.40500; -99.64083
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Custer
Area [3]
• Total	2.02 sq mi (5.23 km2)
• Land	2.02 sq mi (5.23 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [4]	2,477 ft (755 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,506
• Density	1,737.36/sq mi (670.86/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	68822
Area code	308
FIPS code	31-06610
GNIS feature ID	837893 [4]
Website	cityofbrokenbow.org

Broken Bow is a city in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,559 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Custer County. ^[5]

History

Broken Bow was platted in 1882. ^[6] Its name, likely suggested by a settler who found a broken bow in a field at the site of a former Native American camping ground, was submitted by homesteader Wilson Hewitt to the U.S. Post Office Department. ^[7] The railroad was built through Broken Bow in 1884, and the town was incorporated as a village that same year. ^[6] Broken Bow was incorporated as a city of the second class in 1888. ^[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.90 square miles (4.92 km²), all land. ^[9]

The geographic center of Nebraska lies approximately 10 miles southwest of Broken Bow.

Climate

Climate data for Broken Bow 2 W, Nebraska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	78 (26)	79 (26)	92 (33)	99 (37)	110 (43)	107 (42)	116 (47)	113 (45)	106 (41)	98 (37)	84 (29)	77 (25)	116 (47)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	60.7 (15.9)	64.3 (17.9)	76.7 (24.8)	83.2 (28.4)	88.5 (31.4)	94.0 (34.4)	96.9 (36.1)	95.8 (35.4)	92.0 (33.3)	85.4 (29.7)	73.7 (23.2)	62.5 (16.9)	98.3 (36.8)
Average high °F (°C)	36.9 (2.7)	40.0 (4.4)	51.0 (10.6)	60.1 (15.6)	69.9 (21.1)	80.5 (26.9)	86.1 (30.1)	84.4 (29.1)	77.1 (25.1)	63.9 (17.7)	50.1 (10.1)	39.0 (3.9)	61.6 (16.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)	24.2 (−4.3)	27.1 (−2.7)	36.9 (2.7)	46.1 (7.8)	56.7 (13.7)	67.8 (19.9)	73.1 (22.8)	71.0 (21.7)	62.4 (16.9)	48.9 (9.4)	35.8 (2.1)	26.2 (−3.2)	48.0 (8.9)
Average low °F (°C)	11.5 (−11.4)	14.2 (−9.9)	22.8 (−5.1)	32.0 (0.0)	43.6 (6.4)	55.1 (12.8)	60.1 (15.6)	57.7 (14.3)	47.7 (8.7)	33.9 (1.1)	21.6 (−5.8)	13.4 (−10.3)	34.5 (1.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−11.3 (−24.1)	−6.6 (−21.4)	4.5 (−15.3)	16.2 (−8.8)	28.7 (−1.8)	42.0 (5.6)	48.7 (9.3)	45.4 (7.4)	31.9 (−0.1)	16.7 (−8.5)	3.0 (−16.1)	−7.0 (−21.7)	−15.8 (−26.6)
Record low °F (°C)	−42 (−41)	−41 (−41)	−22 (−30)	−5 (−21)	15 (−9)	30 (−1)	37 (3)	33 (1)	16 (−9)	−1 (−18)	−23 (−31)	−30 (−34)	−42 (−41)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.32 (8.1)	0.47 (12)	1.29 (33)	2.52 (64)	4.03 (102)	3.73 (95)	3.12 (79)	2.48 (63)	2.03 (52)	1.83 (46)	0.72 (18)	0.50 (13)	23.04 (585)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	4.4 (11)	7.0 (18)	3.8 (9.7)	2.8 (7.1)	0.1 (0.25)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	2.0 (5.1)	3.7 (9.4)	5.7 (14)	29.5 (75)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	3.7	4.9	6.6	9.5	10.9	10.5	8.7	7.3	6.1	6.7	4.6	3.7	83.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	2.4	3.2	1.4	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	1.5	2.3	12.3
Source: NOAA [10] [11]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	1,647		—
1900	1,375		−16.5%
1910	2,260		64.4%
1920	2,567		13.6%
1930	2,715		5.8%
1940	2,968		9.3%
1950	3,396		14.4%
1960	3,482		2.5%
1970	3,734		7.2%
1980	3,979		6.6%
1990	3,778		−5.1%
2000	3,491		−7.6%
2010	3,559		1.9%
2020	3,506		−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [12] 2012 Estimate [13]

2010 census

As of the census ^[14] of 2010, there were 3,559 people, 1,575 households, and 909 families living in the city. The population density was 1,873.2 inhabitants per square mile (723.2/km²). There were 1,730 housing units at an average density of 910.5 per square mile (351.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White, 0.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

There were 1,575 households, of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 41.9 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,491 people, 1,509 households, and 917 families living in the city. The population density was 2,148.8 inhabitants per square mile (829.7/km²). There were 1,721 housing units at an average density of 1,059.3 per square mile (409.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.22% White, 0.17% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 1,509 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $29,355, and the median income for a family was $37,750. Males had a median income of $26,552 versus $20,132 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,571. About 9.6% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Nebraska's largest cattle feedlot, the Adams Land and Cattle south lot, with a capacity of 85,000 head, is located 2 miles south of Broken Bow. In the past, some locals have feared the potential of environmental damage from the feedlot, but the state's environmental agency has found the company in compliance with state standards. ^[15]

A family owned feed store, Evans Feed, opened in 1927. The town also has a grocery and a nursing home. ^[16]

Notable people

• Bettina Bedwell, journalist and fashion designer
• Solomon Butcher, photographer of the homestead era in central Nebraska, lived in Broken Bow from 1915 to 1926.
• Earl Cooper, race car driver in Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
• Augustin Reed Humphrey, Congressman
• Omer Madison Kem, populist Congressman, 1890-1896
• Kent McCloughan, football player for University of Nebraska and Oakland Raiders ^[17]

References

2. "Nebraska National Register Sites in Custer County". ^[Usurped!] Nebraska State Historical Society. ^[Usurped!] Retrieved October 14, 2010.
3. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Broken Bow, Nebraska
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. "Broken Bow, Custer County". Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. University of Nebraska. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
7. Gaston, William Levi & Humphrey, A. R. (1919). History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past. Western Pub. and Engraving Company. p. 192.
8. Butcher, Solomon Devore (1901). S.D. Butcher's Pioneer History of Custer County: And Short Sketches of Early Days in Nebraska. Merchants Publishing Company. p. 205. ISBN   9780259742166.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
10. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
11. "Station: Broken Bow 2 W, NE". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
12. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing" . Retrieved October 18, 2013.
13. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 24, 2012.
15. Public Concern Grows with Feedlot Size, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, 2000. Accessed October 3, 2008.
16. Saslow, Eli (December 21, 2019). "Traveling the loneliest road". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
17. "Kent McCloughan". Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2014.

External links

• City of Broken Bow
• Chamber of Commerce website