Duncan, Nebraska
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Duncan, Nebraska | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Platte |
| Area | |
| - Total | 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²) |
| - Land | 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,496 ft (456 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 359 |
| - Density | 890.2/sq mi (343.7/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 68634 |
| Area code(s) | 402 |
| FIPS code | 31-13890[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0828887[2] |
Duncan is a village in Platte County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 359 at the 2000 census.
Contents |
[edit] History
The village of Duncan was named in 1880 for a favorite conductor of the Union Pacific Railroad. It was originally a post office named Cherry Hill and then named Jackson--and noted as such on Union Pacific maps and publications--before picking up the name Duncan. Duncan lies between the Loup and Platte Rivers in Platte County, Nebraska. Duncan is located on Highway 30, eight miles west of Columbus, Nebraska. Several miles south of Duncan lies the Great Platte River Road, sometimes called the Overland or Oregon Trail, which was the highway to the west during the early days of the 19th century. North of town was the site of the village for the Pawnee Indian Nation. Also north of town, was the Mormon Trail, which Brigham Young and his Latter Day Saints used for their journey to Utah in 1847. Duncan was settled by Swiss, German, and Polish immigrants, whose enterprising and proud spirit live on through their descendants who still live here today.
In 2004, Duncan started an annual Ribfest which is usually towards the end of June. Today, Duncan has several businesses including a gas station, bar, a steakhouse, and the largest employer Tasty Toppings;/Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing. Duncan has a volunteer fire department with 25 active firefighters/paramedics and an K-5th grade elementary school. It is also the hometown of NFL fullback, Cory Schlesinger. Duncan is located on the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad running into and out of Columbus with 60 freight trains daily. Switching is done in Columbus daily by a local switch crew. The Union Pacific has 60,000 inbound cars (excluding through cars) and 40,000 outbound cars annually.
[edit] Geography
Duncan is located at (41.389993, -97.495171)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Distance in miles from:
- Omaha...... 95
- Lincoln...... 98
- Chicago...... 550
- Dallas...... 637
- Denver...... 462
- Los Angeles...... 1,473
- New York...... 1,324
- Kansas City...... 282
Distance in highway miles
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 359 people, 138 households, and 93 families residing in the village. The population density was 890.2 people per square mile (346.5/km²). There were 145 housing units at an average density of 359.6/sq mi (140.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.82% White, 0.56% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 1.67% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.23% of the population.
There were 138 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.9% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 127.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $36,932, and the median income for a family was $42,031. Males had a median income of $26,023 versus $21,023 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,475. About 4.2% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 9.5% of those sixty five or over.
[edit] Economy
The basic economic activities of Duncan include farming, cattle feeding, hog production, Manufacturing and retailing.
Duncan is also home to Dorthy Lynch salad dressing. In 1964, Tasty-Toppings, Inc. purchased the recipe and rights to Dorothy Lynch and built a production facility in Columbus, Nebraska. The company later expanded its production capacity with a modern 64,000 square foot plant in Duncan, Nebraska. This is where every bottle of Dorothy Lynch Home Style is produced today.
[edit] Education
[edit] Columbus Public School District
The Duncan Elementary School building was completed in 1978 at a cost of $410,000. It was built to replace the old High School building that was originally built in 1912.Duncan High Memories 37 students were enrolled in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. The school is part of the Columbus City School System. For more information, call (402) 897-2525. The school mascot is the Blue Jay.
The Mission of Duncan Elementary is to provide academic challenges in a safe and supportive environment where children can learn the skills needed to become successful, productive citizens.
- NOTE: The Columbus School Board voted to close Duncan Elementary School after the end of the 2007-2008 school year.
[edit] Community College
Central Community College which encompasses 25 counties. The college is governed by an 11 member Board of Governors elected by the citizens of the area served. The college maintains administrative offices in Grand Island and operates campuses at Hastings, Columbus, and Grand Island as well as practical nursing programs at Grand Island, Kearney, and Columbus and Community Education Centers in 90 communities in the area.
The Platte Campus in Columbus, 12 miles northeast of Duncan, offers 35 vocational-technical programs and 13 academic transfer programs designed for transfer to four-year colleges. Campus enrollment during 1995-96 totaled 3,179 on-campus and generated 705 full-time equivalencies. Of that total, there are 564 full-time students and 7,829 part-time students. Off-campus students total 5,713 and generated 240 full-time equivalencies and non-credit reimbursable students total 654. Enrollment totals include more than 2,000 people who completed business, industrial, and professional training programs provided by the campus for local employers.
[edit] Religion
The men and women who settled in the Platte River Valley brought with them a deep faith in God. Duncan's first church was the Baptist Church, founded in 1881. St. Stanislaus Catholic Church's first structure was begun in 1882. In 1883, St. Paul's Methodist Church was organized.
Currently the sole remaining organized church in Duncan is St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. In the past 25 years, many changes have taken place in the parish. 1971 saw the formation of the first Parish Council which assists the pastor and congregation in decision making and leadership. A parish center was constructed and dedicated in 1979. Also in 1980, a senior citizen group named the Golden Age Club was formed.
Plans for the church's future include ongoing remodeling for the old parish hall, recently renamed Pulaski Hall. In the fall of 1992 a church youth group was formed for the parish's high school students. Membership currently is about 25 youth who once a year transform Pulaski Hall into a "Haunted Hall" at Halloween as one of their fundraisers. The group promotes fellowship and responsibility.
More information about St. Stanislaus Church is located at the following link: St. Stanislaus Church.
[edit] Organizations
Listed below are several of Duncan's many community clubs:
- Lion's Club
- Firemen's Auxiliary
- St. Stanislaus St. Anne's Sodality
- St. Stanislaus Holy Name Society
- Organization of Parent and Teachers
[edit] Recreation
The village of Duncan has one park. Duncan also has a baseball/softball field.
Summer recreation programs that Duncan offers include: Tee Ball, softball, baseball.
Roughly 2 miles due south of Duncan is Duncan Lakes. It is a seasonal community of around 150 dwellings. Duncan Lakes has been hailed as a recreational haven which lends itself to activities such as boating, skiing, fishing, sand volleyball, four-wheeling, swimming, and hunting.
Duncan Lakes was originally a sandpit until it was converted to a development property by then owner Martin Jones. Duncan Lakes has been in existence for nearly 70 years.
Local area facilities:
- Boating - 2 miles south on Duncan lakes
- Bowling - 2 bowling alleys 10 miles away in Columbus
- Fishing - Private and State lakes in area
- Golf Course - 4 grass courses with clubhouse 10 miles away in Columbus
- Hunting - pheasant, quail, deer, rabbit, fox, duck, turkey, and coyote
- Theaters - 10 miles away in Columbus
- Race Tracks - There are 2 stock car race tracks in the area;
- Butler County Motorplex
- U.S 30 Speedway
Both are 1/3 mile clay oval racetracks that host IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stock, Street Stock, along with various special events during the racing season.
[edit] Annual Events
- Rib Fest - Polka, Country, Rock Bands - Main Street of Duncan. Beer Garden will be available. Sponsored by Duncan Fire Department and Duncan Wrestling. Admission $3.00
[edit] Local Media
[edit] Newspapers
[edit] Notable Residents/Natives
- Cory Schlesinger (June 23, 1972-), NFL fullback, former Nebraska Cornhusker football player
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Duncan, Nebraska is at coordinates Coordinates:
|
|||||||||||||||||
