Plattsmouth, Nebraska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Plattsmouth, Nebraska
City
The Plattsmouth Main Street Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. At upper right is the clock tower of the Cass County Courthouse.
Location of Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Cass
Incorporated	1855
Area
• Total	3.32 sq mi (8.60 km2)
• Land	3.31 sq mi (8.58 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	1,050 ft (320 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,486
• Density	1,975.25/sq mi (762.75/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	68048
Area code(s)	402
FIPS code	31-39345
GNIS feature ID	2396229
Website	plattsmouth.org

Plattsmouth is a city in Nebraska, United States. It's the main town, or county seat, of Cass County. In 2020, about 6,620 people lived there. Plattsmouth is known for its history and its location near the Platte River.

History of Plattsmouth

Early Days and Explorers

• Long ago, in 1804, the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition sailed past the mouth of the Platte River. This river is just north of where Plattsmouth's main street is today.

Founding the City

• Plattsmouth first appeared in 1854. It was called "the Barracks" back then.
• It started as a trading post. Sam Martin, Wheatley Mickelwait, and Colonel Joseph Longworthy Sharp set it up.
• The community was later renamed Plattsmouth. This name comes from its location at the mouth of the Platte River.
• Plattsmouth officially became a city on March 15, 1855.

First City Government

• The city's first government started on December 29, 1856.
• Wheatley Mickelwait was elected as the first Mayor.
• The city council held its first meeting in January 1857.
• They passed their first law in March 1857. This law collected a small tax to improve streets and steamboat landings.

Geography of Plattsmouth

• Plattsmouth covers a total area of about 3.11 square miles (8.05 square kilometers).
• Most of this area, about 3.10 square miles (8.03 square kilometers), is land.
• A very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.02 square kilometers), is water.

Plattsmouth bridges on June 22, 2011, during the 2011 Missouri River floods

Population of Plattsmouth

Plattsmouth in 2020

• The 2020 United States census counted 6,544 people living in Plattsmouth.
• Most residents, about 89.78%, identified as white.
• The population also includes people from various other backgrounds.
• About 25.2% of the population was under 18 years old.
• About 15.0% of residents were 65 years or older.
• The average age in the city was 35.5 years.

Plattsmouth in 2010

• In the census of 2010, there were 6,502 people living in Plattsmouth.
• About 95.3% of the people were white.
• The city also had people from other racial and ethnic groups.
• About 26.6% of residents were under 18 years old.
• About 14.7% were 65 years or older.
• The average age in the city was 36.5 years.

Famous People from Plattsmouth

• Hazel Abel, a U.S. Senator.
• Raymond Chandler, a writer known for detective stories.
• John Philip Falter, an artist.
• Oscar Graham, a baseball player.
• Danny Lockin, an actor and dancer. He was in the 1969 movie "Hello, Dolly!".
• Paul Newlan, an actor.
• John O'Rourke, a businessman and politician. He was once the mayor of Plattsmouth.

See also

In Spanish: Plattsmouth para niños