Wausa, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wausa, Nebraska
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Village
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Welcome sign at the southern edge of Wausa, in the form of a Viking longship.
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Location of Wausa, Nebraska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Knox |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.52 sq mi (1.36 km2) |
| • Land | 0.52 sq mi (1.36 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,778 ft (542 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 592 |
| • Density | 1,129.77/sq mi (435.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
68786
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| Area code(s) | 402 |
| FIPS code | 31-51735 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2400110 |
Wausa is a small village located in Knox County, Nebraska, in the United States. In 2010, about 634 people lived there.
Contents
Geography and Population Facts
Wausa is a small village. It covers an area of about 0.53 square miles (1.37 km2), and all of it is land.
The number of people living in Wausa has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 441 | — | |
| 1910 | 604 | 37.0% | |
| 1920 | 688 | 13.9% | |
| 1930 | 754 | 9.6% | |
| 1940 | 732 | −2.9% | |
| 1950 | 708 | −3.3% | |
| 1960 | 724 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 720 | −0.6% | |
| 1980 | 647 | −10.1% | |
| 1990 | 598 | −7.6% | |
| 2000 | 636 | 6.4% | |
| 2010 | 634 | −0.3% | |
| 2020 | 592 | −6.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Wausa's Community in 2010
In 2010, there were 634 people living in Wausa. These people lived in 257 households. About 172 of these were families.
Most people in Wausa were White (97.6%). A small number were Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (27.6%) had children under 18 living with them. More than half (57.6%) were married couples. About 31.5% of all households were single individuals. The average age in the village was 48.3 years old.
History of Wausa Village
The first person to live in the area was Theodore T. Thorson in 1882. He named the town "Thorson, Nebraska." He also became the first postmaster. He had traveled a lot to find a good place for raising animals.
Mr. Thorson later returned to Minnesota. He married and came back to Nebraska with his wife. He rented land and started a sheep farm. Many families from Sweden began to move to the settlement.
By 1885, 12 new families had arrived. They decided to change the town's name to "Vasa." This was to honor the Swedish king Gustav Wasa.
The railroad reached Vasa on November 27, 1890. At this time, the name was changed again to "Wausa." This new name combined "Vasa" with "USA." In 1891, a community water well was dug. The first full water system was put in place in 1903. A sewer system was built in 1916.
Famous People from Wausa
Wausa has been home to some notable people:
- Doug Cunningham was a state senator for Nebraska.
- George E. Danielson became a congressman for California.
- Norbert T. Tiemann was a banker and mayor of Wausa. He later served as the governor of Nebraska from 1967 to 1971.
Community Life and Events
Wausa has several special events each year. These events bring the community together.
Annual Celebrations
Pork Chop Barbecue Event
The annual Pork Chop Barbecue is a big event. It raises money for the Wausa Community Club. It usually happens on a Saturday night in late July or early August. People enjoy grilled pork chops, baked potatoes, and other foods. There is also live music and an auction of donated items. This event started in 1984.
Labor Day Weekend Fun
Wausa has a special celebration for Labor Day Weekend. The activities change each year. Recently, it has been a one-day event on Sunday. It includes a beef barbecue, a car show, and a kiddie carnival. There's also a petting zoo, a skydiving show, and sports tournaments. The evening often ends with a talent show or a musical performance.
Swedish Smorgasbord Feast
The Wausa Community Swedish Smörgåsbord is held every October. It has been a tradition for over 50 years. People wear colorful Swedish costumes. They serve many tasty Swedish foods. These include potato sausage, meatballs, ham, and different salads. Many recipes have been passed down through families.
Local Churches
Evangelical Covenant Church
The Evangelical Covenant Church was founded by The Swedish Christian congregation of Wausa. The first pastor was Rev. C. F. Larson. The church was rebuilt in 1893. Swedish was used in Sunday school until 1918. A church choir started in the early 1900s.
Golgotha Lutheran Church
Golgotha Lutheran Church began in 1896. Theodore Moellering founded it. Church services were held in German until 1941. The first services were in country schools. In 1914, the first church building was hit by lightning and burned down.
Thabor Lutheran Church
Thabor Lutheran Church was started in 1892 by Pastor S. Thorell. The first pastor was Rev. C. G. Olson. The church was rebuilt with a bell, which was the only one in town. Swedish was spoken in the church until 1934. A special Swedish tradition called "Santa Lucia" was added in 1962.
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church began in 1892. Rev. Carter founded it, and Rev. Gearhart was the first pastor. Early preachers were sometimes paid with food like butter, eggs, and pork. The United Methodist Women's group started the Smorgasbord in 1948.
Education in Wausa
The first school house in Wausa was built in 1887. A second school was built in 1890 and moved three times. The current brick school building was built in 1913. This building still has classrooms for art, math, English, Spanish, and social studies.
More sections were added to the school over the years. An elementary section was added in 1960. A north wing for the high school was built in 1964. The football field was added in 1970. A gym, stage, and locker rooms were built in 1975.
School Sports and Activities
- Boys' basketball started in 1913.
- Girls' basketball began in 1914. It stopped for a while but returned in 1975.
- An orchestra was active from 1918 to 1930.
- Football started in 1923.
- Track began in 1927.
- Volleyball started in 1968.
- The speech team won state championships in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
- Wausa also won state play-production championships many times.
In the 1970s, there were seven school bus routes. Now there are two. Class sizes were around fifty students in the 1970s. Today, Wausa High School has about 54 students in grades 9-12. The school mascot is the Vikings and Lady Vikings. Their colors are Purple and Gold.
See also
In Spanish: Wausa (Nebraska) para niños
