Alexandria, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexandria, Nebraska
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Village
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Downtown Alexandria: Harbine Street,
March 2012 |
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Location of Alexandria, Nebraska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Thayer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.40 sq mi (1.05 km2) |
| • Land | 0.40 sq mi (1.05 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,431 ft (436 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 146 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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142 |
| • Density | 366.34/sq mi (141.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
68303
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| Area code(s) | 402 |
| FIPS code | 31-00730 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397928 |
| Website | http://www.alexandriane.com/ |
Alexandria is a small village in Thayer County, Nebraska, United States. In 2020, about 146 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a rich history.
Contents
History of Alexandria
Early Settlers and the Oregon Trail
In the 1840s and 1850s, the famous Oregon Trail passed through what is now Thayer County. This trail was a path for pioneers moving west. It followed the Little Blue River in southeastern Nebraska.
The first permanent white settlers arrived in the area in 1858. They settled south of where Alexandria is today. In 1859, Isaac Alexander came from Kansas. He brought a portable gristmill, which is a machine that grinds grain into flour. He built a log cabin and a small fort near Big Sandy Creek.
Railroad and Town Founding
A big change came in 1872 when the St. Joseph and Denver Railroad was built. This railroad line went right through the Alexander family's land. The company that built the railroad wanted to create towns along its route. They named these towns in alphabetical order.
Alexandria was the first of these towns. It was followed by Belvidere, Carleton, and Davenport. The town was named after S. J. Alexander, Isaac Alexander's son. He helped the railroad decide its path through Thayer County. Later, he became Nebraska's Secretary of State.
Growth and Challenges
Alexandria grew quickly after it was founded. Many people and businesses moved there from a nearby town called Meridian. Meridian was the county seat, but the railroad didn't go through it, so it was eventually left empty.
Alexandria had a flour mill on Big Sandy Creek. A local newspaper, The Alexandrian, started in 1879. By 1882, the town had four churches.
However, Alexandria also faced tough times. Three big storms hit the town in the years after it was founded. In 1875, a tornado destroyed a new school building. In 1877, another storm caused only minor damage. But in 1881, a third storm was very severe. It caused several deaths and a lot of damage to buildings.
Geography of Alexandria
Alexandria covers a total area of about 0.40 square miles (1.05 square kilometers). All of this area is land. There are no large bodies of water within the village limits.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 387 | — | |
| 1900 | 332 | — | |
| 1910 | 447 | 34.6% | |
| 1920 | 432 | −3.4% | |
| 1930 | 421 | −2.5% | |
| 1940 | 369 | −12.4% | |
| 1950 | 317 | −14.1% | |
| 1960 | 257 | −18.9% | |
| 1970 | 225 | −12.5% | |
| 1980 | 255 | 13.3% | |
| 1990 | 224 | −12.2% | |
| 2000 | 216 | −3.6% | |
| 2010 | 177 | −18.1% | |
| 2020 | 146 | −17.5% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 142 | −19.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Alexandria's Population in 2010
In 2010, the village of Alexandria had 177 people living in 82 households. About 44 families called Alexandria home. The population density was about 442 people per square mile. This means there were 442 people for every square mile of land.
Most residents, about 93.8%, were White. A small number were Native American (0.6%) or from other races (2.3%). About 3.4% of people were from two or more races. About 2.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Age Groups
Out of the 82 households, about 25.6% had children under 18 living with them. About 42.7% were married couples living together. Some households had a single female parent (7.3%) or a single male parent (3.7%). About 46.3% of households were not families.
About 40.2% of all households had only one person living in them. And 20.8% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 2.16 people, and the average family had 2.91 people.
The average age in the village was 43.3 years old. About 25.4% of residents were under 18. About 22% were 65 years or older. The village had more females (55.9%) than males (44.1%).
Education in Alexandria
Children living in Alexandria attend the Meridian School in Daykin. This school serves students from the local area.
Sports in Alexandria
For many years, Alexandria had a men's softball team. This team played against other town teams from around Nebraska. They even went to the State Tournament in Hastings.
The Alexandria team won two trophies from the tournament. They earned third place in Class D-2 in 2002. They also won a state championship in Class D in 1996. While local leagues have changed, Alexandria continued to send a team to the State Tournament until 2012.
Notable Person from Alexandria
- Bryant B. Brooks (1861-1944) - He served as the Governor of Wyoming from 1905 to 1911.
See also
In Spanish: Alexandria (Nebraska) para niños
