Grand Island, Nebraska
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grand Island is a city in Hall County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 42,940 at the 2000 census and had grown to 44,546 by 2005. It is the county seat of Hall CountyGR6.The mayor elect of the city is Margaret Hornady. She is the city's first woman mayor.She will take office in December of 2006.
Grand Island is home to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center (NLETC) which is the sole agency responsible for training law enforcement officers throughout the state.
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[edit] Geography
Grand Island is located at (40.922316, -98.357996)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 55.9 km² (21.6 mi²). 55.6 km² (21.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.60%) is water. Grand Island was once known for being a center of prostitution due to the volume of railroad traffic which went through it. [1]. In about 1890, sugar beets were introduced as a crop in Nebraska, and a sugar beet processing factory was built in the southwest part of Grand Island. This was the first sugar beet factory built and operated in the United States. [2]
[edit] History
In 1857, 35 German settlers left Davenport, Iowa and headed west to Nebraska to start a new settlement in an area of land known by French traders as La Grande Island. It was called this because it was a big island, surrounded by the North and South Platte Rivers. Part of the reason for this expedition was because the Railroad had to have stops every 150 miles so that railroad engines could refuel. On July 4th, 1857 they reached their destination and had built more-permanent housing by September using local timber. Over the next 9 years, the settlers had to battle many hardships including blizzards and conflicts with the local Indian populations. A fire destroyed the first settlement at the end of the 9 years that forced the population to move the settlement north of the North Platte River, which is the present location of the town today. While no longer an island, they kept the name.
In 1886, the railroad did come to town and the population and industry began to grow. Also the prostitution industry and liquor industry became big due to the railroad coming to town. In fact often people said you could find a bar at the corner of each street.
In 1872 the city was incorporated, and in 1887 an intercity railway was even created.
- Further information: Grand Island, Nebraska Tornado Outbreak
On June 3, 1980, Grand Island was hit by a massive supercell storm. Through the course of the evening, the city was ravaged by seven tornadoes. The hardest hit area of town was the South Locust business district. There were five deaths as a result of the destruction.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 42,940 people, 16,426 households, and 11,038 families residing in the city. The population density was 772.2/km² (2,000.2/mi²). There were 17,421 housing units at an average density of 313.3/km² (811.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.72% White, 0.42% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 9.64% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.94% of the population.
There were 16,426 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,044, and the median income for a family was $43,197. Males had a median income of $28,925 versus $20,521 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,071. About 9.9% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over. The most populated area of the city is central-east, or the downtown area where population is dense.
[edit] Special Events
Started in 1941, and planed for the first Saturday of each October is the Harvest of Harmony parade. School bands from all over Nebraska come to play in this parade. In the afternoons they have band competitions at the local high schools. Floats also go along the parade route.
Every mid-September is the Husker Harvest Days. This is a show of the latest farm techniques and equipment.
[edit] Attractions
- Crane Meadows Nature Center
- Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer
- Island Oasis Water Park
- Fonner Park Thoroughbred Horse Racing
- Husker Harvest Days Web Site
- Heartland Events Center
[edit] High schools
- Grand Island Northwest High School
- Grand Island Senior High School
- Grand Island Central Catholic High School
- Heartland Lutheran High School
[edit] Persons born in Grand Island
- Mary Martin McLaughlin, Medieval history scholar, born April 15, 1919.
- Henry Fonda, Academy Award-winning American film actor, born May 16, 1905.
- Social workers and educators Edith Abbott (born September 26, 1876) and Grace Abbott (born November 17, 1878).
[edit] External links
- City of Grand Island Site
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
