Imperial, Nebraska

Imperial, Nebraska
City
Downtown Imperial: Broadway, looking north
Location within Chase County and Nebraska
Coordinates: 40°31′6″N101°38′33″W / 40.51833°N 101.64250°W / 40.51833; -101.64250
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Chase
Area [1]
• Total	3.03 sq mi (7.85 km2)
• Land	3.02 sq mi (7.83 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	3,284 ft (1,001 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,068
• Density	683.64/sq mi (263.95/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	69033
Area code	308
FIPS code	31-23690
GNIS feature ID	0830263 [2]
Website	imperial-ne.com

Imperial is a city in Chase County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,071 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chase County. ^[3]

History

The original town of Imperial was built on land homesteaded by Thomas Mercier and M. J. Goodrich. These men gave a town lot to anyone who would put up a building and help to start the town. Mercier was the first postmaster and took office on December 14, 1885. ^[4]

The railroad right of way was graded to Imperial in 1888. The railroad reached Imperial on August 15, 1892. It was built by a division of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. This line left the main line near Culbertson and terminated in Imperial.

When the grade was completed, the Lincoln Land Company gave lots to all those who would move their buildings to the "Railroad Addition". Nearly all of the buildings were moved south to the future railroad line and the present location of the business district of the town was established.

Imperial's first courthouse was built in 1889 on the land where the present courthouse stands.

National Register of Historic Places listings

• Balcony House (listed 2000), at the corner of 10th and Court Streets, one block west of Broadway on 10th Street. ^{[5] [6]}
• Chase County Court House (listed 1990), on Broadway between 9th and 10th Streets. ^{[6] [7]}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.95 square miles (7.64 km²), all land. ^[8]

Climate

Climate data for Imperial, 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)	79 (26)	81 (27)	89 (32)	95 (35)	102 (39)	110 (43)	116 (47)	110 (43)	110 (43)	96 (36)	84 (29)	79 (26)	116 (47)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	63.6 (17.6)	68.8 (20.4)	79.0 (26.1)	85.9 (29.9)	90.8 (32.7)	98.1 (36.7)	101.0 (38.3)	98.7 (37.1)	94.9 (34.9)	87.8 (31.0)	75.7 (24.3)	64.7 (18.2)	101.8 (38.8)
Average high °F (°C)	42.2 (5.7)	44.9 (7.2)	55.8 (13.2)	63.6 (17.6)	73.2 (22.9)	84.8 (29.3)	90.8 (32.7)	88.5 (31.4)	80.9 (27.2)	67.0 (19.4)	53.5 (11.9)	43.1 (6.2)	65.7 (18.7)
Daily mean °F (°C)	27.2 (−2.7)	29.7 (−1.3)	39.3 (4.1)	47.5 (8.6)	58.5 (14.7)	69.7 (20.9)	75.4 (24.1)	73.0 (22.8)	64.2 (17.9)	50.2 (10.1)	37.6 (3.1)	28.3 (−2.1)	50.0 (10.0)
Average low °F (°C)	12.3 (−10.9)	14.5 (−9.7)	22.9 (−5.1)	31.4 (−0.3)	43.8 (6.6)	54.6 (12.6)	60.1 (15.6)	57.5 (14.2)	47.5 (8.6)	33.3 (0.7)	21.7 (−5.7)	13.5 (−10.3)	34.4 (1.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−6.1 (−21.2)	−2.9 (−19.4)	6.6 (−14.1)	18.9 (−7.3)	30.6 (−0.8)	44.8 (7.1)	52.8 (11.6)	49.6 (9.8)	35.2 (1.8)	18.2 (−7.7)	6.8 (−14.0)	−3.6 (−19.8)	−12.6 (−24.8)
Record low °F (°C)	−32 (−36)	−35 (−37)	−24 (−31)	−1 (−18)	15 (−9)	29 (−2)	37 (3)	30 (−1)	19 (−7)	−3 (−19)	−18 (−28)	−34 (−37)	−35 (−37)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.36 (9.1)	0.56 (14)	1.13 (29)	2.02 (51)	3.17 (81)	3.30 (84)	2.94 (75)	2.46 (62)	1.36 (35)	1.56 (40)	0.53 (13)	0.39 (9.9)	19.78 (502)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	4.0 (10)	4.8 (12)	5.1 (13)	2.7 (6.9)	0.1 (0.25)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	2.3 (5.8)	3.7 (9.4)	3.2 (8.1)	26.0 (66)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	3.5	5.1	5.6	8.0	9.9	8.7	8.0	7.3	5.0	5.6	3.6	3.5	73.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	3.2	4.1	2.7	1.7	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.7	1.9	2.8	17.3
Source: NOAA [9] [10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	159		—
1900	258		62.3%
1910	402		55.8%
1920	723		79.9%
1930	946		30.8%
1940	1,195		26.3%
1950	1,563		30.8%
1960	1,423		−9.0%
1970	1,589		11.7%
1980	1,941		22.2%
1990	2,007		3.4%
2000	1,982		−1.2%
2010	2,071		4.5%
2020	2,068		−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 2013 Estimate [12]

2010 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2010, there were 2,071 people, 860 households, and 553 families residing in the city. The population density was 702.0 inhabitants per square mile (271.0/km²). There were 948 housing units at an average density of 321.4 per square mile (124.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.3% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 9.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.4% of the population.

There were 860 households, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.7% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 41 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 19.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,982 people, 807 households, and 547 families residing in the city. The population density was 787.2 inhabitants per square mile (303.9/km²). There were 887 housing units at an average density of 352.3 per square mile (136.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.88% White, 0.05% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 1.61% from other races, and 0.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.15% of the population.

There were 807 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $33,833, and the median income for a family was $42,414. Males had a median income of $28,063 versus $19,405 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,888. About 5.7% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Warren Prall Watters, founding archbishop of the Free Church of Antioch, was born in Imperial.

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
4. "Imperial, Chase County". Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. University of Nebraska. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
5. Chase County Tourism
6. Nebraska State Historical Society ^[Usurped!]
7. Chase County Tourism
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
9. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
10. "Station: Imperial, NE". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
11. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing" . Retrieved October 18, 2013.
12. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2012-06-24.

External links

• City of Imperial