Fairmont, Nebraska

Fairmont, Nebraska
Village
Flint Hills ethanol-production plant near Fairmont
Location of Fairmont, Nebraska
Coordinates: 40°38′09″N97°35′07″W / 40.63583°N 97.58528°W / 40.63583; -97.58528
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Fillmore
Area [1]
• Total	1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2)
• Land	1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	1,641 ft (500 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	602
• Estimate  (2021)	601
• Density	520/sq mi (200/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	68354
Area code	402
FIPS code	31-16550 [4]
GNIS feature ID	2398854 [2]

Fairmont is a village in Fillmore County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 602 at the 2020 census. ^[3]

History

Fairmont was platted in 1871 when the Burlington & Quincy Railroad was extended to that point. ^{[5] [6]} The name was chosen to conform with the alphabetical stops on the new line traveling westward from Lincoln: Berks, Crete, Dorchester, Exeter, Fairmont, Grafton, Huxley, etc. ^[7] Fairmont is a descriptive name referring to the town's scenic setting at a lofty elevation. ^[8] By the fall of 1872 Fairmont had a school building, hotels, more stores, lumberyards, and coal and feed yards under construction. ^[9] The first newspaper, "Fairmont Bulletin" was published in 1872. By 1881 there were three with the introduction of the "Nebraska Bulletin" and the "Nebraska Signal".

One of the first major business enterprises, the Fairmont Creamery Company, was founded in 1884. Corporate offices were moved to Omaha in 1907. ^[9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.82 square miles (2.12 km²), all land. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	600		—
1890	1,029		71.5%
1900	784		−23.8%
1910	921		17.5%
1920	785		−14.8%
1930	740		−5.7%
1940	810		9.5%
1950	729		−10.0%
1960	829		13.7%
1970	761		−8.2%
1980	767		0.8%
1990	708		−7.7%
2000	691		−2.4%
2010	560		−19.0%
2020	592		5.7%
2021 (est.)	601	[3]	1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

2010 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2010, there were 560 people, 243 households, and 151 families residing in the village. The population density was 682.9 inhabitants per square mile (263.7/km²). There were 299 housing units at an average density of 364.6 per square mile (140.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.7% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 0.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 243 households, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.9% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.68.

The median age in the village was 50.1 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.1% were from 25 to 44; 31.2% were from 45 to 64; and 27% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, there were 691 people, 275 households, and 171 families residing in the village. The population density was 996.2 inhabitants per square mile (384.6/km²). There were 309 housing units at an average density of 445.5 per square mile (172.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.80% White, 0.14% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 1.45% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.04% of the population.

There were 275 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the village was $35,658, and the median income for a family was $41,618. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,957. About 8.0% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 24.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

Frances Maule Bjorkman, feminist activist

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fairmont, Nebraska
3. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "Fairmont, Fillmore County". Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. University of Nebraska. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
6. Burr, George L. (1921). History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Volume 1. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 110.
7. "Saronville, Clay County". Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. University of Nebraska. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
8. Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 59. ISBN   0803250606. A 1925 edition is available for download at University of Nebraska—Lincoln Digital Commons.
9. Official website, History section
10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 24, 2012.

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20080414235546/http://www.ci.fairmont.ne.us/index.asp - Village of Fairmont website
• Historic Images of Fairmont - Nebraska Memories