Ogallala, Nebraska

Ogallala, Nebraska
City
Front Street tourist attraction
Nickname(s): "Cowboy Capital"
Location of Ogallala, Nebraska
Coordinates: 41°7′44″N 101°43′10″W / 41.12889°N 101.71944°W / 41.12889; -101.71944Coordinates: 41°7′44″N 101°43′10″W / 41.12889°N 101.71944°W / 41.12889; -101.71944
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Keith
Founded	1868
Government
• Type	City Council/Mayor
• Mayor	Harold "Pete" Peterson[1]
Area[2]
• Total	5.02 sq mi (13.00 km2)
• Land	4.96 sq mi (12.85 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation	3,222 ft (982 m)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	4,737
• Estimate (2012[4])	4,649
• Density	955.0/sq mi (368.7/km2)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	69153
Area code(s)	308
FIPS code	31-35980
GNIS feature ID	0831832[5]
Website	ogallala-ne.gov

Ogallala is a city in Keith County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,737 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Keith County.^[6] In the days of the Nebraska Territory, the city was a stop on the Pony Express and later along the transcontinental railroad. The Ogallala Aquifer was named after the city.

History

Ogallala first gained fame as a terminus for cattle drives that traveled from Texas to the Union Pacific railhead located there. These trails are known as the Western or Great Western trails.^[7][8] The Union Pacific Railroad reached Ogallala on May 24, 1867.^[9] The city itself was not laid out until 1875 and not incorporated until 1930.^[10]

The only cemetery in Ogallala between 1874 and 1884 was the Boot Hill. Over 100 people were buried there in that period, which is significant because the town had a population of less than 130 permanent residents at the time.^[11]

The town's name comes from the Oglala Sioux tribe.^[12]

The Old West gunman Luke Short lived for a time in Ogallala.

Geography

Ogallala is located at 41°7′44″N 101°43′10″W / 41.12889°N 101.71944°W / 41.12889; -101.71944 (41.128806, -101.719460).^[13] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.02 square miles (13.00 km²), of which 4.96 square miles (12.85 km²) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²) is water.^[2] Ogallala is in the US Mountain Time Zone (UTC−7/-6). Ogallala is close to Lake McConaughy, a large man-made lake and a state recreation area with sandy beaches, boating and swimming.

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 4,737 people, 2,100 households, and 1,298 families residing in the city. The population density was 955.0 inhabitants per square mile (368.7/km²). There were 2,397 housing units at an average density of 483.3 per square mile (186.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.6% White, 0.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 2.2% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.5% of the population.

There were 2,100 households of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.2% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age in the city was 43.7 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,930 people, 2,052 households, and 1,339 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,472.4 people per square mile (568.2/km²). There were 2,314 housing units at an average density of 691.1 per square mile (266.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.45% White, 0.02% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 1.68% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.79% of the population.

There were 2,052 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $32,141, and the median income for a family was $39,688. Males had a median income of $27,436 versus $18,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,674. About 5.0% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Sign for "Front Street" a popular Old West-themed tourist attraction in Ogallala

Photo spot just off Interstate 80

Public schools

Ogallala is served by the Ogallala Public School District ^[18]

• High School—Ogallala High School
• Elementary and Middle School—Prairie View School (grade PK-8)

Private schools

• St. Paul's Lutheran School (PreK-5)
• St. Luke's Catholic School (PreK-5)

Media

Radio

• KOGA (AM) (930 AM) Adult Standards/MOR
• KOGA-FM (99.7 FM) Classic Rock
• KMCX (106.5 FM) Hot Country

Newspaper

• Keith County News (bi-weekly)

Point of interest

The Ogallala post office contains an oil-on-canvas mural, titled Long Horns, painted in 1938 by Frank Mechau. Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department.^[19]

Notable people

• John Lanigan - longtime morning radio host at WMJI in Cleveland; National Radio Hall of Fame inductee
• Ken Schilz - Nebraska state senator
• Thomas Shanahan - United States federal judge

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ogallala, Nebraska.

• City of Ogallala
• Geographic data related to Ogallala, Nebraska at OpenStreetMap

Municipalities and communities of Keith County, Nebraska, United States County seat: Ogallala City Ogallala Villages Brule Paxton CDPs Belmar Keystone Lemoyne Martin Roscoe Sarben Unincorporated communities Nevens Ruthton

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