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Dunbar, Nebraska
Village
Downtown Dunbar.
Downtown Dunbar.
Location of Dunbar, Nebraska
Location of Dunbar, Nebraska
Country United States
State Nebraska
County Otoe
Area
 • Total 0.23 sq mi (0.60 km2)
 • Land 0.23 sq mi (0.60 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,083 ft (330 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 165
 • Density 717.39/sq mi (276.71/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
68346
Area code(s) 402
FIPS code 31-13855
GNIS feature ID 2398752

Dunbar is a village in Otoe County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 165 at the 2020 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.23 square miles (0.60 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 208
1910 216 3.8%
1920 312 44.4%
1930 292 −6.4%
1940 336 15.1%
1950 228 −32.1%
1960 232 1.8%
1970 252 8.6%
1980 216 −14.3%
1990 171 −20.8%
2000 237 38.6%
2010 187 −21.1%
2020 165 −11.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 187 people, 70 households, and 50 families residing in the village. The population density was 813.0 inhabitants per square mile (313.9/km2). There were 77 housing units at an average density of 334.8 per square mile (129.3/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 98.9% White, 0.5% Asian, and 0.5% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 70 households, of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.6% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age in the village was 38.5 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 10.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

History

Dunbar was founded in 1856 by John Dunbar on the intersection of the properties of John Dunbar, T. H. Dunbar, J. Wilson, and John McGinley. It was originally known as Wilson until 1856 when it was renamed for the oldest resident and recognized founder. Dunbar was a large freighting depot for goods traveling west out of Nebraska City. The first railroad was built in Dunbar in 1869 when the Midland Pacific Railway and Burlington and Missouri River Railroads reached Nebraska City. By the 1880s, the town contained a grocery, general store, restaurant, boarding house, two hotels, two liveries, five churches, pharmacy, lumberyard, two banks, barbershop, two saloons, dentist, optometrist. In 1884 and 1888 two fires occurred, prompting the usage of brick and mortar. About 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Dunbar, the Delaware (named for the township) Cemetery was constructed. The earliest marked grave being in 1884.

In 1926, Dunbar observed its 70th birthday. A boulder was placed in memory of John Dunbar. The Nebraska City High School Band performed a concert and other festivities continued into the evening.

The flooding of Wilson Creek, Fox Creek, and several other tributaries on May 8, 1950, devastated the village. Nine buildings were washed away, the rest of the buildings were nearly destroyed, and two children were killed. In 1965, the Dunbar bypass was finished, greatly damaging the businesses of Dunbar, the population was decimated and the economy plummeted. The three mile stretch through Dunbar was noted as the worst from Chicago to Denver

Train derailment and State v. Hoffman

On January 11, 1887, at 11:30 p.m., David Hoffman and James Bell derailed a passenger train 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of Dunbar. The engineer was killed, and two people were severely injured. The train was carrying $17,000 in silver. The two were arrested the next day. Hoffman was charged with first degree murder and sent to the gallows, Bell was sentenced to ten years of hard labor in exchange for his testimony. On Friday, July 22, 1887, at 10:32, David Hoffman became the first person legally executed in Otoe County.

Notable people

  • Sam Francis, NFL player
  • George H. Heinke – Congressman born on a farm nearby
  • William Henry Harrison, Wyoming state representative and Pine Bluffs, Wyoming mayor

See also

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

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