Factoryville, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Factoryville, Nebraska
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 Factoryville, Nebraska
Location in Nebraska
Factoryville, Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Cass |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 402 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1897821 |
Factoryville is what we call a ghost town in Cass County, Nebraska, United States. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy community but is now mostly empty or completely abandoned. Factoryville is located about halfway between the towns of Union and Nehawka. It once had a flour mill, stores, hotels, a post office, and even a college.
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What is a Ghost Town?
A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but they have all left. This can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, a town's main industry, like mining or farming, stops being profitable. Other times, new roads or railroads bypass the town, making it harder for people to get there. When people leave, buildings are often left empty, giving the town a "ghostly" feel.
The Story of Factoryville
Factoryville was founded in the late 1850s. It was built along the Lincoln-Union Highway, an important road at the time. Close by was a smaller village called Mount Pleasant. Factoryville was a lively place with many useful businesses. It had a flour mill, which was very important for grinding grain into flour. There were also stores where people could buy supplies, and hotels for travelers.
A College in the Town
One special feature of Factoryville was Factoryville College. This was a Methodist college, meaning it was connected to the Methodist church. Having a college showed that Factoryville was a growing and important community.
How Factoryville Got Its Name
The town's name changed a few times. In 1873, it was renamed Union Mills. But then, in 1880, its name was changed back to Factoryville. The post office in Factoryville was set up in the late 1860s. A local person named Isaac Pollard was traveling to the Eastern United States. On his trip, he stopped in Washington, D.C.. While there, he chose the name Factoryville for his town. He also picked the name Nehawka for a nearby town.
Why Did Factoryville Disappear?
Like many ghost towns, Factoryville slowly faded away. The main reason for its decline was the construction of a new railroad. This railroad was built on the opposite side of Weeping Water Creek from Factoryville. When the railroad came, it became the new main way to transport goods and people. Towns located along the railroad grew and thrived.
Because the railroad didn't go through Factoryville, businesses and people started to move to other towns that were closer to the new transportation hub. By the 1890s, Factoryville was mostly empty. Its buildings were abandoned, and it became the ghost town we know today.
