Hershey, Nebraska

Hershey, Nebraska
Village
Downtown Hershey
Location of Hershey, Nebraska
Coordinates: 41°09′36″N101°00′17″W / 41.16000°N 101.00472°W / 41.16000; -101.00472
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Lincoln
Area [1]
• Total	0.76 sq mi (1.98 km2)
• Land	0.76 sq mi (1.98 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	2,900 ft (900 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	649
• Density	850.59/sq mi (328.30/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	69143
Area code	308
FIPS code	31-22290 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2398496 [2]

Hershey is a village in Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the North Platte, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 665 at the 2010 census.

History

Beginnings

Hershey was established as a station on the Union Pacific Railroad. ^[4] It was named for J. H. Hershey, a pioneer settler. ^{[5] [6]} The locations of the pre-existing O'Fallon's and Nichol's Stations are shown on an 1884 map of Lincoln County. ^[7] An 1894 map shows the Hershey Station, to the west of Nichol's Station. ^[8] The original town—consisting of 24 lots laid out in two square blocks—was platted on February 5, 1892, by Annie S. Guthrie. ^{[9] [10]}

Hershey in 1900

By 1900, Hershey had about 20 resident families and a population of 80. ^[11] This included a blacksmith (Alfred Leister), two merchants (Joseph Strickler and Martin Mickelsen), a lumberman (Weston Hill), a liveryman (Horace Stone), a doctor (William Eves), a postmaster (John Pricket), a minister (William Evans), and two railroad foremen. There were about 64 farm families (including laborers working for others) in the surrounding Nichols Precinct. Most families were of American origin, although there were five German families, and one or two each of Swedish, French, Scottish, Dutch, Bohemian and Canadian background. ^[12] The village was incorporated in April 1909. ^[9]

From 1900 to 1920

Between 1900 and 1920, Hershey grew rapidly and added the structural foundation, commercial attractions, and social amenities of an important economic center for the surrounding area.  A local newspaper, the Hershey Times, began publication in 1911.  In 1913, a bond issue was approved providing for public water and electric lights.  A telephone exchange was introduced in 1914.  Businesses in Hershey in 1920, in addition to those present in 1900, included two mills (one of which, an alfalfa mill, burned in March 1920), two elevators, a hotel, two banks, three agricultural implement dealers, a cement works, an automobile dealer, a garage, a tire store, a meat market, a drug store, a restaurant, a number of dealers in agricultural products, including stock and hay, a barber, and an Opera House.  There were three churches, the Methodist, Presbyterian (54 members), and Lutheran (40 members), and a number of fraternal organizations, including the Odd Fellows (63 members), Yeomanry (39 members), Modern Woodmen of the World, Royal Neighbors and Mystic Legion. ^[9]

Agricultural context

Hershey is located between the North and South Platte rivers in the midst of good agricultural land, much of it irrigated.  From an early date, agricultural production emphasized stock raising, alfalfa, and sugar beets. The sugar beet industry was encouraged by a tariff on sugar enacted in 1897. ^[13] In 1905, there were 721 acres in Nicols Precinct planted to sugar beets. Shipments from Hershey in 1919 included 904 rail carloads of hay and 279 carloads of sugar beets.  While the sugar content of the beets raised near Hershey was high, the volume was long insufficient to support a processing plant. ^[14]

Further immigration

Both the railroad and the sugar beet industries were labor intensive, attracting additional immigrant groups to supply that labor.  These groups included Russian Germans (ethnic Germans from Russia), Japanese and Mexicans.  In 1900, there were three Russian families in the Hershey area (Henry Haff, George Amen, and Conrad Amen), two of whom had become farmers in their own right. ^[15]   By 1910, there had been a substantial influx of Swedish settlers, most engaged in farming. There were also two households of Japanese men in Nichols Precinct, without wives, one consisting of seven men working for the railroad and one of four men engaged in farming. ^[16]   By 1920, there were eight Japanese families in Hershey itself, all engaged in farming. ^[17] The Mexican community repeated the pattern: in 1920, there were three Mexican households in Hershey, including young men working for the railroad. ^[17] By the late 1920s, there were 19 Mexican families in Hershey. ^[13]   Both the Japanese and Mexican families were important parts of the community thereafter.

Geography

Hershey is located on the Union Pacific Railroad's Overland Route.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.61 square miles (1.58 km²), all land. ^[18]

Climate

Climate data for Hershey 5 SSE, Nebraska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1965–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	74 (23)	80 (27)	90 (32)	95 (35)	100 (38)	110 (43)	110 (43)	109 (43)	104 (40)	94 (34)	86 (30)	75 (24)	110 (43)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	61.2 (16.2)	66.4 (19.1)	76.9 (24.9)	84.8 (29.3)	90.8 (32.7)	96.7 (35.9)	100.3 (37.9)	98.1 (36.7)	95.3 (35.2)	87.3 (30.7)	74.3 (23.5)	63.6 (17.6)	101.5 (38.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	38.9 (3.8)	42.0 (5.6)	52.8 (11.6)	61.5 (16.4)	71.4 (21.9)	82.5 (28.1)	88.3 (31.3)	86.5 (30.3)	79.1 (26.2)	65.4 (18.6)	51.4 (10.8)	40.5 (4.7)	63.4 (17.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)	26.6 (−3.0)	29.3 (−1.5)	38.6 (3.7)	47.2 (8.4)	57.8 (14.3)	68.6 (20.3)	74.3 (23.5)	72.4 (22.4)	64.0 (17.8)	50.5 (10.3)	37.7 (3.2)	28.1 (−2.2)	49.6 (9.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	14.4 (−9.8)	16.5 (−8.6)	24.3 (−4.3)	33.0 (0.6)	44.1 (6.7)	54.8 (12.7)	60.4 (15.8)	58.3 (14.6)	48.8 (9.3)	35.7 (2.1)	23.9 (−4.5)	15.7 (−9.1)	35.8 (2.1)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−6.0 (−21.1)	−2.1 (−18.9)	6.5 (−14.2)	19.0 (−7.2)	31.4 (−0.3)	43.8 (6.6)	51.7 (10.9)	49.2 (9.6)	35.3 (1.8)	19.7 (−6.8)	7.9 (−13.4)	−2.1 (−18.9)	−10.8 (−23.8)
Record low °F (°C)	−23 (−31)	−27 (−33)	−15 (−26)	5 (−15)	23 (−5)	28 (−2)	42 (6)	41 (5)	22 (−6)	2 (−17)	−7 (−22)	−31 (−35)	−31 (−35)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.23 (5.8)	0.43 (11)	0.85 (22)	1.99 (51)	3.33 (85)	3.82 (97)	2.68 (68)	2.21 (56)	1.58 (40)	1.79 (45)	0.38 (9.7)	0.29 (7.4)	19.58 (497)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	3.7 (9.4)	6.3 (16)	4.0 (10)	4.0 (10)	0.1 (0.25)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	1.6 (4.1)	2.2 (5.6)	4.9 (12)	26.9 (68)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	3.0	4.2	5.1	7.5	10.1	9.3	8.1	6.2	5.8	5.6	3.2	3.1	71.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	2.8	3.6	2.3	1.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	1.6	2.6	15.3
Source: NOAA [19] [20]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	332		—
1920	482		45.2%
1930	473		−1.9%
1940	487		3.0%
1950	573		17.7%
1960	504		−12.0%
1970	526		4.4%
1980	633		20.3%
1990	579		−8.5%
2000	572		−1.2%
2010	665		16.3%
2020	649		−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [21]

2010 census

As of the census ^[22] of 2010, there were 665 people, 266 households, and 193 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,090.2 inhabitants per square mile (420.9/km²). There were 292 housing units at an average density of 478.7 per square mile (184.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.5% White, 0.3% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 5.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.9% of the population.

There were 266 households, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.4% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the village was 40.6 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.7% were from 25 to 44; 30.3% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 572 people, 232 households, and 167 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,142.4 inhabitants per square mile (441.1/km²). There were 249 housing units at an average density of 497.3 per square mile (192.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.61% White, 0.17% African American, 0.52% Asian, 6.82% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.62% of the population.

There were 232 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the village was $36,875, and the median income for a family was $43,000. Males had a median income of $31,500 versus $16,848 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,791. About 9.7% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Ben Kuroki
• Walt Golvin, baseball player

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hershey, Nebraska
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Hershey, Lincoln County". Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. University of Nebraska. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
5. "Profile for Hershey, NE". ePodunk . Retrieved August 19, 2014.
6. Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 95. ISBN   0-8032-5060-6. A 1925 edition is available for download at University of Nebraska—Lincoln Digital Commons.
7. Official State Atlas of Nebraska. Philadelphia: Everts & Kirk. 1885.
8. I. A. Fort, Map of Lincoln County, Nebraska (1894).
9. Ira L. Bare & Will H. McDonald, An Illustrated History of Lincoln County, Nebraska and Her People (American Historical Society, 1920).
10. Standard Atlas of Lincoln County, Nebraska 1907 (Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1907).
11. 1900 United States Census, Nichol's Precinct, Lincoln County, Nebraska, E.D. 152, p. 7, line 5 to p. 8, line 84.
12. 1900 United States Census, Nichol's Precinct, Lincoln County, Nebraska, E.D. 152, pp. 1-10.
13. Davis, Roger (2001). "Latinos Along the Platte: The Hispanic Experience in Central Nebraska" (PDF). Great Plains Research. 12: 32. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 8, 2020.
14. Ira L. Bare & Will H. McDonald, An Illustrated History of Lincoln County, Nebraska and Her People (American Historical Society, 1920), pp. 86-87, 284.
15. 1900 U.S. Census, Nichols Precinct, Lincoln County, Nebraska, E.D. 152, sh. 3.
16. 1910 U.S. Census, Nichols Precinct, Lincoln County, Nebraska, E.D. 179, sh. 8A & 8B.
17. 1920 U.S. Census, Hershey, Lincoln County, Nebraska, E.D. 192.
18. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
19. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
20. "Station: Hershey 5 SSE, NE". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
21. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 24, 2012.

External links

• Hershey, Nebraska travel guide from Wikivoyage