De Witt, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
De Witt, Nebraska
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Village
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Sign at the edge of De Witt
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Location of De Witt, Nebraska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Saline |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.42 sq mi (1.08 km2) |
| • Land | 0.42 sq mi (1.08 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,293 ft (394 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 520 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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507 |
| • Density | 1,238/sq mi (481/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
68341
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| Area code(s) | 402 |
| FIPS code | 31-13015 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2398698 |
De Witt (sometimes spelled DeWitt) is a small village in Saline County, Nebraska, United States. It's a quiet place with a population of about 520 people, according to the 2020 census. De Witt is known for its interesting history, especially for being the original home of a very famous tool!
Contents
History of De Witt
De Witt was founded in 1872. This happened when a railroad line was built through the area. The railroad made it a good spot for a new settlement to grow.
Where is De Witt?
De Witt is located in Nebraska, a state in the central United States. It's a small place, covering an area of about 0.42 square miles (1.08 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the village limits.
Who Lives in De Witt?
In 2010, there were 513 people living in De Witt. These people lived in 222 households, and 154 of those were families.
- Most people in De Witt are White.
- A small number of residents are African American or Native American.
- Some people are also from other races or a mix of two or more races.
- About 3% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in De Witt was about 43.6 years old. About 23% of the residents were under 18, and about 15% were 65 or older.
The Story of the Vise-Grip Tool
One of the most famous things to come from De Witt is a tool called the Vise-Grip.
How the Vise-Grip Started
The Vise-Grip was invented by a Danish immigrant named William Petersen. He was a blacksmith who started Petersen Manufacturing in De Witt. Petersen invented the first locking pliers and began selling them to farmers and people in nearby towns right from the trunk of his car!
Changes Over Time
In 1985, the Petersen family created American Tool Companies Inc., which then bought Petersen Manufacturing. Later, in 1993, American Tool bought another company called Irwin Industrial. The company continued to make Vise-Grips under the Irwin Industrial name.
Moving Production
Sadly, in 2008, the Vise-Grip factory in De Witt closed down. Production of the tools moved to China, and about 330 jobs were lost in De Witt.
A New Chapter
However, there's good news! In 2018, the old factory building was sold to a company called Malco Products. As of 2021, they have started making similar pliers again in De Witt, under the name Eagle Grip.
Education in De Witt
Students in De Witt attend schools that are part of the Tri County Public Schools district. This school district was formed in 1966 by combining several smaller school districts.
See also
In Spanish: De Witt (Nebraska) para niños
