kids encyclopedia robot

Alma, Nebraska facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Alma, Nebraska
Main Street
Main Street
Location of Alma within Harlan County and Nebraska
Location of Alma within Harlan County and Nebraska
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)
 • 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
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.

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 / 40.0983; -99.3626, 1991-2020 precipitation normals)
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
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

  • US 136.svg U.S. Highway 136
  • US 183.svg U.S. Highway 183

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Alma (Nebraska) para niños

kids search engine
Alma, Nebraska Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.