Fremont, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fremont, Nebraska
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Fremont's historic downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
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| Nicknames:
F-Town, FMT, The Mont
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Location in Nebraska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Dodge |
| Founded | 1856 |
| Incorporated | June 17, 1871 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.86 sq mi (28.12 km2) |
| • Land | 10.79 sq mi (27.96 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,188 ft (362 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 27,141 |
| • Density | 2,514.22/sq mi (970.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
68025-68026
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| Area code(s) | 402 |
| FIPS code | 31-17670 |
| GNIS feature ID | 838010 |
| Website | fremontne.gov |
Fremont is a city in eastern Nebraska, located in Dodge County. It's the main city of the county. In 2020, about 27,141 people lived there, making it the 6th largest city in Nebraska. Fremont is also home to Midland University.
Contents
History of Fremont
From the 1830s to the 1860s, the area where Fremont now stands was a busy place. Many people traveled through on the Mormon Trail, which followed the north side of the Platte River. A ferry helped people cross the Elkhorn River near Fremont. This was a major route for settlers, soldiers, and hunters heading west.
Fremont was planned in 1856 because people expected a railroad to reach the area. The city was named after General John C. Frémont, a famous American explorer and politician. By 1857, there were 13 log houses in the new town.
The Union Pacific Railroad arrived in Fremont in December 1865. This made Fremont an important rail hub. Other railroads, like the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad and the Elkhorn Valley Railroad, also built tracks to the town in the late 1860s.
Because of its central location, important routes passed through or near Fremont. This included the First Transcontinental Telegraph line in 1861, the first transcontinental railroad in 1865, and the Lincoln Highway (an early cross-country road) in 1913. You can still see parts of the "Old Lincoln Highway" east of Fremont, on the way to Omaha.
Fremont also gave its name to a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. Two men from Fremont, Luther H. Griffith and Edward Blewett, settled that area.
In 1976, a sad event happened in downtown Fremont. The Pathfinder Hotel exploded because of a natural gas leak. Many senior citizens lived in the hotel, and it was also a meeting place for groups. The explosion broke windows all over the city. A fire started, which sadly killed 23 people and destroyed most of that city block.
In 2010, Fremont gained national attention when residents voted on a rule about who could live and work in the town. Historically, Fremont also had a reputation as a "sundown town." This meant that, in the past, certain groups of people, like those of African descent, were not welcome in the town after dark. This reputation lasted until at least the 1970s.
Fremont's Location and Climate
Fremont is located next to the Platte River. It's about 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Omaha, which is the largest city nearby. It's also about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Lincoln, the state capital.
The city covers about 8.85 square miles (22.92 km2) of land. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. Fremont sits in the flat area between the Platte and Elkhorn rivers. It is about 366 meters (1,203 feet) above sea level.
Weather in Fremont
| Climate data for Fremont, Nebraska (1991–2020, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
77 (25) |
90 (32) |
98 (37) |
106 (41) |
108 (42) |
116 (47) |
115 (46) |
107 (42) |
96 (36) |
85 (29) |
73 (23) |
116 (47) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 56.6 (13.7) |
62.0 (16.7) |
76.0 (24.4) |
85.7 (29.8) |
92.3 (33.5) |
96.0 (35.6) |
97.9 (36.6) |
95.8 (35.4) |
92.8 (33.8) |
86.0 (30.0) |
72.4 (22.4) |
58.5 (14.7) |
99.2 (37.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.4 (0.2) |
37.1 (2.8) |
50.1 (10.1) |
62.8 (17.1) |
73.4 (23.0) |
83.3 (28.5) |
86.7 (30.4) |
84.5 (29.2) |
78.1 (25.6) |
65.0 (18.3) |
49.5 (9.7) |
36.3 (2.4) |
61.6 (16.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.6 (−5.2) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
38.6 (3.7) |
50.5 (10.3) |
61.8 (16.6) |
72.2 (22.3) |
75.9 (24.4) |
73.5 (23.1) |
65.6 (18.7) |
52.7 (11.5) |
38.5 (3.6) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
50.5 (10.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12.8 (−10.7) |
16.7 (−8.5) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
38.1 (3.4) |
50.2 (10.1) |
61.0 (16.1) |
65.1 (18.4) |
62.5 (16.9) |
53.1 (11.7) |
40.4 (4.7) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
17.7 (−7.9) |
39.4 (4.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −7.1 (−21.7) |
−2.1 (−18.9) |
7.5 (−13.6) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
36.3 (2.4) |
49.5 (9.7) |
55.0 (12.8) |
52.6 (11.4) |
38.5 (3.6) |
24.2 (−4.3) |
11.1 (−11.6) |
−1.8 (−18.8) |
−10.4 (−23.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −31 (−35) |
−31 (−35) |
−16 (−27) |
3 (−16) |
22 (−6) |
38 (3) |
40 (4) |
38 (3) |
24 (−4) |
5 (−15) |
−13 (−25) |
−30 (−34) |
−31 (−35) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.76 (19) |
0.92 (23) |
1.57 (40) |
3.02 (77) |
4.55 (116) |
4.95 (126) |
3.21 (82) |
3.68 (93) |
3.09 (78) |
2.23 (57) |
1.22 (31) |
1.19 (30) |
30.39 (772) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.1 (18) |
8.5 (22) |
4.3 (11) |
1.6 (4.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
1.7 (4.3) |
6.0 (15) |
29.8 (75.9) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.6 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 8.9 | 12.0 | 10.6 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 93.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.4 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 16.2 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Fremont
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,195 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,013 | 152.1% | |
| 1890 | 6,747 | 123.9% | |
| 1900 | 7,241 | 7.3% | |
| 1910 | 8,718 | 20.4% | |
| 1920 | 9,592 | 10.0% | |
| 1930 | 11,407 | 18.9% | |
| 1940 | 11,862 | 4.0% | |
| 1950 | 14,762 | 24.4% | |
| 1960 | 19,698 | 33.4% | |
| 1970 | 22,962 | 16.6% | |
| 1980 | 23,979 | 4.4% | |
| 1990 | 23,680 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 25,174 | 6.3% | |
| 2010 | 26,397 | 4.9% | |
| 2020 | 27,141 | 2.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Fremont is the main city and center for business and social life in Dodge County. The city is growing, especially in its eastern parts. Many people who work in Omaha choose to live in Fremont. This is partly because of new bypass routes that make travel easier.
Fremont's Population in 2020
The 2020 United States census showed that 27,141 people lived in Fremont. There were about 10,948 households. The population density was about 2,515 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Fremont (about 79%) were white. About 15% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 23.5% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 37.7 years. The city had slightly more females than males.
Economy and Jobs
As of 2016, the biggest employer in Fremont was Hormel Foods. This company has a large hog-processing plant that makes Spam. It employs between 1,000 and 1,500 people.
Other large employers in Fremont include Fremont Health Medical Center, Fremont Public Schools, and Nye Health Services. Each of these employs between 500 and 1,000 people.
In 2019, Costco started building a large poultry complex in Fremont. This complex includes a processing facility, a hatchery (where chicks hatch), and a feed mill. It is known as Lincoln Premium Poultry.
Arts, Culture, and Fun in Fremont
The Louis E. May Historical Museum is located in a beautiful Victorian house. This house was built in 1874 by Fremont's first mayor, Theron Nye. At the museum, you can also see a log cabin. This cabin shows what homes were like for the first pioneers who moved to Nebraska under the Homestead Act. Downtown Fremont is famous for its many antique shops and old, historic buildings.
Several buildings in Fremont are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One example is the Love-Larson Opera House on Broad Street, built in 1888. This building was once used as apartments and a grocery store. It was later restored for theater performances by local groups.
Every July, Fremont celebrates its history with a festival called John C. Fremont Days. This festival includes a parade, a Chautauqua (a type of educational and entertainment event), a rodeo, a classic car show, and vendors selling handmade crafts.
The Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area is a popular spot for outdoor activities. It has 20 man-made lakes surrounded by trees, covering almost 700 acres (2.8 km2). People come here to boat, water ski, fish, and enjoy the beaches. Two regional Boy Scout camps, Camp Cedars and Camp Eagle, are also located near Fremont, along the Platte River.
Fremont is also part of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum collection, which helps protect and display different types of plants.
In 2023, there was a discussion about books in the Keene Memorial Library. The city council and library board voted to move some books about LGBT topics, like This Book Is Gay, from the young adult section to the adult section. Some citizens wanted these books removed entirely, but that effort was not successful.
Parks and Recreation
Fremont has 21 city parks, covering more than 400 acres (1.6 km2). In the northwest part of the city, you'll find the Fremont Golf Club. This golf course was finished in 1930.
In 2007, a new water park called "Splash Station" was built. It cost about $5.1 million. The park has a fun train slide, a pool that can be used for laps or waves, and different water slides.
Education in Fremont
Fremont is home to Midland University, a liberal arts college. The university has an art center and other attractions. The Metropolitan Community College also has a campus in Fremont.
For younger students, Fremont has one public high school, Fremont Senior High. There are also private schools like Archbishop Bergan Catholic School (which goes from kindergarten to 12th grade) and Trinity Lutheran School (which goes from kindergarten to 8th grade).
Transportation
You can reach Fremont using several major roads:
- U.S. Route 30
- U.S. Route 77
- U.S. Route 275
Famous People from Fremont
Many notable people have connections to Fremont, including:
- William L. Armstrong, a former U.S. Senator and Representative from Colorado.
- Gutzon Borglum, a famous sculptor.
- Harold Eugene Edgerton, a pioneer in stroboscopic photography.
- Marg Helgenberger, a film and television actress.
- Jason Licht, the general manager for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Ben Sasse, former U.S. Senator and president of the University of Florida.
- Jessica Shepard, a WNBA basketball player.
- Julie Sommars, a film and television actress.
- Zach Wiegert, a former National Football League player.
Images for kids
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Fremont's historic downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
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Location of Fremont in Nebraska.
See also
In Spanish: Fremont (Nebraska) para niños
