Alma, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alma, Nebraska
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Main Street
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Location of Alma within Harlan County and Nebraska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Harlan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2) |
| • Land | 1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,005 ft (611 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,043 |
| • Density | 906.96/sq mi (350.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
68920
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| Area code(s) | 308 |
| FIPS code | 31-00975 |
| GNIS feature ID | 837849 |
Alma is a city located in Harlan County, Nebraska, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,043 people lived there. Alma is special because it is the county seat of Harlan County. This means it's where the main government offices for the county are located.
Contents
History of Alma
Alma was started in the spring of 1871 by workers from the Union Pacific railroad. These workers originally came from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Harlan County was officially created by the Nebraska Legislature (the state's law-making group) on June 3, 1871. Alma was chosen as the county seat just a month later, on July 3, 1871.
Early Challenges and Growth
At first, there were some disagreements among the people who founded Alma. This caused the town to temporarily stop, but it was started again in 1874. Later, people from Orleans tried to challenge Alma's status as the county seat. However, in 1884, the Nebraska Supreme Court (the state's highest court) decided that Alma would remain the county seat. Alma officially became an incorporated city in July 1881. The town was named after the daughter of one of its first settlers.
Connecting Alma to the World
On January 13, 1880, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad reached Alma. This was a big help for local businesses and industries. In 1887, another railroad, the Kansas City and Omaha Railroad, also came to Alma. Telephone service arrived in June 1899, connecting Alma to other places. Electricity came to the city in 1906 with a steam power plant, and water service followed in 1907.
Harlan County Dam and World War II
In 1935, a major flood on the nearby Republican River showed the need for a dam. The Army Corps of Engineers began building the Harlan County Dam on August 1, 1946. They finished the work in November 1952. The large lake created by the dam, called Harlan County Reservoir, became a popular spot for fun activities in Alma.
During World War II, Alma also played a small part. It hosted a few captured German prisoners of war. These prisoners were held at Camp Atlanta in nearby Phelps County. They helped with farm work and other tasks in Harlan County.
Geography of Alma
Alma is a city located in Nebraska. It has a total area of about 2.98 square kilometers (1.15 square miles), and all of it is land.
Location and Roads
Alma is found where two main roads meet: U.S. Highway 136 and U.S. Highway 183. It is also located at the northwest end of the Harlan County Reservoir.
Climate in Alma
| Climate data for Alma, Nebraska (coordinates:40°05′54″N 99°21′45″W / 40.0983°N 99.3626°W, 1991-2020 precipitation normals) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.50 (13) |
0.68 (17) |
1.36 (35) |
2.56 (65) |
3.98 (101) |
3.78 (96) |
3.82 (97) |
3.29 (84) |
1.91 (49) |
2.12 (54) |
0.90 (23) |
0.73 (19) |
25.63 (653) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Alma
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 298 | — | |
| 1890 | 905 | 203.7% | |
| 1900 | 923 | 2.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,066 | 15.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,058 | −0.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,235 | 16.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,272 | 3.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,768 | 39.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,342 | −24.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,299 | −3.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,369 | 5.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,226 | −10.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,214 | −1.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,133 | −6.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,043 | −7.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Alma's Population in 2010
According to the census from 2010, there were 1,133 people living in Alma. These people lived in 502 households, and 303 of these were families. Most of the people living in Alma (99.1%) were White. A small number were Native American or from other races. About 0.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of age, the average age in Alma was 49.6 years old. About 22.5% of the people were under 18 years old. Many residents, about 28.2%, were 65 years old or older. The city had slightly more females (51.7%) than males (48.3%).
Getting Around Alma
Main Roads
U.S. Highway 136
U.S. Highway 183
See also
In Spanish: Alma (Nebraska) para niños
