Garland, Nebraska

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Garland is a village in Seward County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 247 at the 2000 census. Garland is the current residence of Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, and the subject (among other aspects of rural life) of Kooser's book Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] History

Garland was originally named Germantown, after the predominate heritage of the local settlers. Germantown was created when Midland Pacific Railway wanted a line west of Lincoln, NE. The Germantown post office, with John Westerhoff postmaster, began March 1873. [1] Germantown was platted by Hiland Frazier in 1874 [2], and incorporated in 1892. The Germantown State Bank, located on Main Street, is listed among the National Register of Historic Places.

When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, anti-German sentiment prompted the inhabitants to change their name. They chose to name it after the first resident to give their life in the war effort, Private Raymond A. Garland, who died August 23, 1918. [3] Unknown to the town council, Garland died of pneumonia en route to France. There is also a local rumor that Garland died of a gangrenous toe after having his foot ran over by a truck stateside. Germantown was officially changed to Garland November 11, 1918.

[edit] Geography

Garland is located at 40°56′44″N, 96°59′9″W (40.945501, -96.985926)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 247 people, 99 households, and 66 families residing in the village. The population density was 596.0/km² (1,501.2/mi²). There were 100 housing units at an average density of 241.3/km² (607.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.79% White, 0.81% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.

There were 99 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the village the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 111.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $45,469, and the median income for a family was $50,536. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $24,063 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,746. About 1.8% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.