Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Scottsbluff, Nebraska
City
Aerial view of Scottsbluff.
Location of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Coordinates: 41°52′2″N 103°39′39″W / 41.86722°N 103.66083°W / 41.86722; -103.66083Coordinates: 41°52′2″N 103°39′39″W / 41.86722°N 103.66083°W / 41.86722; -103.66083
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Scotts Bluff
Founded	1900
Government
• Mayor	Randy Meininger
Area[1]
• Total	6.27 sq mi (16.24 km2)
• Land	6.22 sq mi (16.11 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation	3,891 ft (1,186 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	15,039
• Estimate (2016)[3]	14,883
• Density	2,400/sq mi (930/km2)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP codes	69361, 69363
Area code(s)	308
FIPS code	31-44245
GNIS feature ID	0833318[4]
Website	www.scottsbluff.org

Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, in the western part of the state of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska.

Scottsbluff was founded in 1899 across the North Platte River from its namesake, a bluff that is now a U.S. National Park called Scotts Bluff National Monument. The smaller town of Gering had been founded south of the river in 1887. The two cities have since grown together to form the 7th largest urban area (Scottsbluff Micropolitan Statistical Area) in Nebraska.

History

Scottsbluff was laid out in 1899 when the railroad was extended to that point.^[5]

Other names

In the Lakota language, Scottsbluff is called pȟaŋkéska wakpá otȟúŋwahe ("Platte River City", lit. "abalone river city").^[6]

Geography and climate

Scottsbluff is located at 41°52′2″N 103°39′39″W / 41.86722°N 103.66083°W / 41.86722; -103.66083 (41.867140, −103.660709).^[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.27 square miles (16.24 km²), of which, 6.22 square miles (16.11 km²) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) is water.^[1]

Scottsbluff has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk), with wide seasonal and day-to-day variation as well as a large diurnal temperature variation, and is located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5.^[8] Summers are hot, and winters dry and cold, though chinook winds can loosen the cold's grip, often bringing temperatures above 50 °F (10 °C). The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 26.1 °F (−3.3 °C) in January to 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) in July. Over the course of a year, there is an average 4.2 afternoons with 100 °F (37.8 °C)+ highs, 43 afternoons with 90 °F (32.2 °C)+ highs, and thirteen mornings with sub-0 °F (−17.8 °C) lows.^[9]

Extremes in temperature have ranged from 110 °F (43.3 °C) on 11 July 1939, down to −45 °F (−42.8 °C) on 12 February 1899. The year 1989 saw temperatures as extreme as 109 °F (42.8 °C) and −42 °F (−41.1 °C),^[10] whilst the month of February 1962 saw temperatures as hot as 77 °F or 25 °C on the 11th and as cold as −28 °F or −33.3 °C on the 28th.^[11]

Precipitation is heavily concentrated in the spring and summer months, with only May and June averaging over 2 inches or 50.8 millimetres. The wettest single day has been June 7, 1953 with 3.18 inches or 80.8 millimetres of rain, whilst the wettest calendar month on record has been June 1947 with 8.33 inches (211.6 mm) and the wettest calendar year 1915 with 27.48 inches (698.0 mm). The months of November 1939 and March 2012 did not see even a trace of precipitation, whilst nineteen other months since 1893 have seen only a trace. The driest calendar year has been 2012 with 6.99 inches (177.5 mm).^[11] Snow typically falls in light amounts, with a 1981−2010 seasonal average of 42.1 inches or 1.07 metres; the most snow in one month has been 31.3 inches (0.80 m) in October 2009, and the greatest depth of snow on the ground 23 inches or 0.58 metres on April 14, 1927. The most snowfall in a season is 81.9 inches or 2.08 metres between July 2009 and June 2010; the least snow being 13.5 inches or 0.34 metres between July 1933 and June 1934.^[11]

Demographics

Overlooking Scottsbluff (to the left) and Gering (to the right) from Scotts Bluff National Monument

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 15,039 people, 6,168 households, and 3,672 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,417.8 inhabitants per square mile (933.5/km²). There were 6,712 housing units at an average density of 1,079.1 per square mile (416.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.0% White, 0.8% African American, 3.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 9.8% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.1% of the population.

There were 6,168 households of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.5% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% 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 3.04.

The median age in the city was 36 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64; and 16.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

According to a 2009 article in Quality Health entitled 10 Fattest Cities in America, 31% of Scottsbluff's population is obese, making it the 7th fattest city in America.^[15]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,732 people, 6,088 households, and 3,841 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,504.5 people per square mile (967.4/km²). There were 6,559 housing units at an average density of 1,115.1 per square mile (430.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.88% White, 0.44% African American, 3.20% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 11.60% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.59% of the population.

There were 6,088 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.4% 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 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $29,938, and the median income for a family was $37,778. Males had a median income of $30,307 versus $20,854 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,065. About 14.5% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Scottsbluff is home to the main campus of Western Nebraska Community College. In addition, several other Nebraska institutions maintain centers and offer select courses or programs in the city, including the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, Chadron State College, and the University of Nebraska (Panhandle Research and Extension Center).

The now-defunct Hiram Scott College was also located a few miles north of the city.

Points of interest

Scotts Bluff National Monument.

• Scotts Bluff National Monument
• Grave of Rebecca Winters (Mormon Pioneer)
• Lake Minatare State Recreation Area
• Riverside Discovery Center
• Western Nebraska Community College
• Fort Mitchell
• Cedar Canyon^[16]
• Carter Canyon^[17]
• Robidoux Pass

Landmark buildings

The Midwest Theater in downtown Scottsbluff is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

• Old Post Office^[18]
• Midwest Theater^[19]
• Lincoln Hotel^[20]
• Great Western Sugar Factory
• Lake Minatare Lighthouse
• Bluffs Middle School^[21]
• Scottsbluff High School^[22]
• Scottsbluff County Courthouse^[23]
• Scottsbluff Carnegie Library^[24]

Media

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 26 - east-west route through Scottsbluff
• N-71 Nebraska Route 71 - north-south route through Scottsbluff
• N-92 Nebraska Route 92 - route going west from Scottsbluff to Wyoming border.

Airport

The Scottsbluff area is served by Western Nebraska Regional Airport.

Notable people

• Hank Bauer, former American football running back, professional television and radio broadcaster.^[25]
• Brook Berringer, the former University of Nebraska quarterback was born in Scottsbluff in 1973. (His family moved to Goodland, Kansas, after his father's death.)^[26]
• Terry Carpenter, American politician^[27]
• Kip Gross, retired Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros.^[28]
• Galen B. Jackman, U.S. Army major general (retired), Nancy Reagan's escort throughout the state funeral proceedings of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, first commanding general of Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region
• Jacqueline Logan, silent film actress spent her childhood in Scottsbluff.^[29]
• Vic Marker, three-time Midwest Golden Glove boxer, who beat Archie Moore in the Golden Glove Finals in the late 1930s.
• Randy Meisner, former bassist of the rock band Eagles^[30]
• Teresa Scanlan, Miss America 2011 (graduated from Scottsbluff High School)^[31]

References

1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012. 
2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 24 June 2012. 
3. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017. 
4. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
5. ↑ "The Twin Cities: Gering and Scottsbluff". Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. University of Nebraska. Retrieved 23 August 2014. 
6. ↑ Ullrich, Jan F. (2014). New Lakota Dictionary (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Lakota Language Consortium. ISBN 978-0-9761082-9-0. 
7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
8. ↑
9. ↑ "Climatography of the United States No. 20 1971–2000: SCOTTSBLUFF AP, NE" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 27 June 2012. 
10. 1 2 "Threaded Extremes". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 27 June 2012. 
11. 1 2 3 4 National Weather Service, Cheyenne, Wyoming; NOW Data – NOAA Online Weather Data
12. ↑ "Station Name: NE SCOTTSBLUFF HEILIG AP". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 10 March 2013. 
13. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 16, 2013. 
14. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013. 
15. ↑ 10 Fattest Cities in America
16. ↑ "Platte River Basin Environments : Wildlife Habitat Lands". www.nebwild.org. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
17. ↑ "Platte River Basin Environments : Wildlife Habitat Lands". www.nebwild.org. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
18. ↑ "Scottsbluff United States Post Office--Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
19. ↑ "Midwest Theater « Scottsbluff Historical Theater". midwesttheater.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
20. ↑ "Lincoln Hotel--Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
21. ↑ "Bluffs Middle School - Bluffs Middle School". www.sbps.net. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
22. ↑ "Scottsbluff High School - Scottsbluff High School". www.sbps.net. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
23. ↑ "Scotts Bluff County Courthouse--Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
24. ↑ "Scottsbluff Carnegie Library--Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
25. ↑ "Henry John Bauer". databaseFootball.com. Retrieved 3 December 2012. 
26. ↑ Staff, From; Reports, Wire (1996-04-19). "Berringer Dies in Plane Crash". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
27. ↑ LTC. "Nebraska Legislature - Warner Institute for Education in Democracy". www.nebraskalegislature.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
28. ↑ "Kip Gross Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 3 December 2012. 
29. ↑ "Even a Movie Star Can't Always Get an Airplane". Morning World-Herald. Omaha. March 19, 1926. 
30. ↑ "Randy Meisner Bio | Randy Meisner Career". CMT Artists. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 
31. ↑ "Miss America : 2011". www.missamerica.org. Retrieved 2016-03-04. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

• Scottsbluff/Gering Star Herald news