Kearney, Nebraska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kearney, Nebraska
City
The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, which spans Interstate 80
Location of Kearney within Nebraska and Buffalo County
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Buffalo
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• Total	15.15 sq mi (39.25 km2)
• Land	14.88 sq mi (38.53 km2)
• Water	0.28 sq mi (0.72 km2)
Elevation	2,152 ft (656 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	33,790
• Density	2,271.29/sq mi (876.95/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	68845, 68847, 68848 (P.O. Box), 68849 UNK
Area code(s)	308
FIPS code	31-25055
GNIS feature ID	838076

Kearney (pronounced KAR-nee) is an exciting city in Nebraska, United States. It is the main city of Buffalo County, Nebraska. In 2020, about 33,790 people lived here. This makes Kearney the 5th largest city in Nebraska.

Kearney is also home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The city grew a lot after the American Civil War when the railroad expanded west. It became an important stop for travelers and businesses.

History of Kearney: How the City Began

Kearney has a long and interesting history. It started as a key stopping point for people traveling west.

Early Days: Fort Kearny and Travelers

In the late 1840s, many American settlers moved west. They traveled along trails like the Mormon Trail and Overland Trails. Kearney became a busy crossroads for these journeys.

In 1848, the US Army built a fort to protect the travelers. This fort was named Fort Kearny, after a famous military officer, Stephen W. Kearny. The fort was a place for gold prospectors, Pony Express riders, and railroad workers to rest. It was used until 1871. The city of Kearney later got its name from this fort. The "e" in Kearney was added by mistake by postmen, but the spelling stuck!

Growth with the Railroad and New Businesses

The area really started to grow in 1866 when the Union Pacific Railroad arrived. In 1871, the Union Pacific and Burlington & Missouri River Railroads decided to meet here. This led to the official start of the city of Kearney.

Kearney became an official city on December 3, 1873. It was chosen as the main city for Buffalo County, Nebraska. Over the next 20 years, Kearney grew very fast. Many people moved here, and new businesses opened. It became a center for business, education, and transportation.

During this time, people invested a lot of money in the city. They built an irrigation canal, an electric street railway, and even a five-story opera house! However, this fast growth slowed down in the early 1890s because of problems with farming and the economy.

Kearney's Role in the Catholic Church

For a short time, Kearney was important to the Catholic Church. In 1912, it was the center for the Catholic diocese of Kearney. This diocese was later changed in 1917. Today, the historical diocese of Kearney is used as a special title by the Catholic Church.

Geography and Location

Kearney is located right on I-80. This highway connects Kearney to many big cities. These include Omaha, Lincoln, Denver, Kansas City, Des Moines, Wichita, and Cheyenne. This makes Kearney a central spot in a large region.

The city covers about 13 square miles (33.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

What is Kearney's Climate Like?

Kearney has a climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are usually warm, and winters are cold. The city gets a good amount of rain throughout the year, especially in spring and summer. Snowfall is common in the winter months.

People and Population in Kearney

Kearney is the main city of the Kearney, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. This area includes Buffalo and Kearney counties.

How Many People Live in Kearney?

The city's population has grown a lot over the years. Here's a quick look at how many people have lived in Kearney:

Who Lives in Kearney? A Look at the 2020 Census

In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 33,790 people in Kearney. Most residents, about 85%, were white. Other groups included African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. About 9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 20.9% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the city was about 32 years. This shows that Kearney has a mix of young people, families, and older adults.

Economy: Jobs and Businesses in Kearney

Kearney is home to several important companies. These include Citizens Telecommunications Company of Nebraska and The Buckle.

Top Employers in Kearney

Many people work in Kearney. Here are some of the biggest employers in the city:

• Non-Manufacturing Jobs:
  • Good Samaritan Hospital and the University of Nebraska at Kearney each employ over 1,000 people.
  • Kearney Public Schools and Buckle (clothing retailer) employ between 750 and 1,000 people.
  • Kearney Regional Medical Center, HyVee, and Cash-Wa employ between 500 and 750 people.
  • Walmart and Cabela's employ between 250 and 500 people.

• Manufacturing Jobs:
  • Baldwin Filters employs over 1,000 people.
  • Eaton employs between 500 and 700 people.
  • West Pharmaceutical Services employs between 250 and 500 people.
  • Chief Industries, BluePrint Engines, and Morris Printing Group each employ between 100 and 250 people.

Arts and Culture: Fun Things to Do in Kearney

Kearney has many museums and cultural spots. Many of them show the city's history as a stop on famous trails. These include the California, Mormon, Oregon, and Pony Express trails.

• The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument: This unique building spans over Interstate 80. Inside, you can see exhibits that tell the story of the Great Platte River Road. It covers history from the Oregon Trail days to today. Even famous people like President Bill Clinton and actor Jack Nicholson have visited!
• The Museum of Nebraska Art: This is the official art collection for the state of Nebraska. It has artworks from the last 175 years.
• The George W. Frank House: This is a historic mansion from the 1890s. It is located at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
• The Robert M. Merryman Performing Arts Center: This theater, built in 2006, has 750 seats. It hosts many shows and performances.
• The Trails & Rails Museum: Here, you can see many historic buildings from Buffalo County. They show what life was like from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s.
• The Viaero Event Center: This large center has 5,500 seats. It hosts concerts and other events. It is also the home of the Tri-City Storm, a junior ice hockey team.
• The Classic Car Collection: If you love cars, this museum is for you! It has over 210 amazing automobiles.
• Local Breweries: Kearney also has two microbreweries, Thunderhead Brewing and Platte Valley Brewery.

Sports in Kearney

Kearney is home to some exciting sports teams.

• Kearney Yankees: This was a minor league baseball team that played from 1956 to 1959. They were connected with the famous New York Yankees.
• Tri-City Storm: This is a junior ice hockey team. They play in the West Division of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
• Shrine Bowl: Since 2013, Kearney has hosted the Shrine Bowl State High School All-Star Football Game. This big game used to be held in Lincoln.

Education: Schools and Colleges

Kearney offers many educational opportunities, from preschool to college.

Schools for Younger Students

• Kearney Public Schools runs 3 preschools, 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and Kearney High School.
• Other schools include Zion Lutheran School, Faith Christian School of Kearney, and Kearney West High School.
• Kearney Catholic High School also serves students in the area.

Colleges and Universities

• Central Community College has a campus in Kearney.
• The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) is a major university in the city. It has a large campus with over 37 buildings. UNK started in 1905 as a normal school (for training teachers). It became part of the University of Nebraska system in 1991.

Media: News and Entertainment

Kearney has its own local newspaper, radio stations, and television channels.

• Newspaper: The local newspaper is the Kearney Hub.
• Radio: You can listen to several radio stations, including KGFW AM 1340, KXPN (AM) 1460, KGFW FM 96.1, KKPR-FM 98.9, KRNY FM 102.3, and KQKY FM 105.9.
• Television: The local TV station is KHGI-TV.

Transportation: Getting Around Kearney

Kearney has different ways to travel in and out of the city.

• Airport: The city operates Kearney Regional Airport. You can fly from here to Denver International Airport and O'Hare Airport in Chicago.
• Railroad: The Union Pacific Railroad's main east-west line runs through Kearney.
• Bus: Greyhound Bus Lines also has a stop in Kearney for passengers.

Notable People from Kearney

Many interesting people have come from Kearney, Nebraska. Here are a few:

• Drew Anderson, a professional baseball player.
• Jon Bokenkamp, a writer and producer.
• Solomon Butcher, a famous photographer of the Homestead era.
• Leslie Easterbrook, an actress.
• Tom Kropp, a professional basketball player.
• Brett Maher, an NFL player.
• Peter George Peterson, who was a U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
• Ryan Quincy, an Emmy-winning animator.
• Charlie Tuna, a well-known radio personality.
• Don Welch, an American poet and professor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Images for kids

• 

  Panorama of Kearney around 1909

• 

  Parade of U.S. Infantry through Kearney, Nebraska (1888)

• 

  Streets of Kearney, Nebraska showing houses and one person, around 1907

• 

  Aerial view of Kearney in 1925

See also

In Spanish: Kearney (Nebraska) para niños