Westerville, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Westerville, Nebraska
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I.O.O.F. Hall and post office in Westerville
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Custer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2) |
| • Land | 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,326 ft (709 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 31 |
| • Density | 236.64/sq mi (91.22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
68881
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| Area code(s) | 308 |
| FIPS code | 31-52330 |
| GNIS ID | 2583905 |
Westerville is a small, unincorporated community in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. It's also known as a census-designated place, which means it's an area identified by the census bureau for statistical purposes. You can find Westerville where U.S. Route 183 and Nebraska Highway 70 meet. In 2010, about 39 people lived there. By 2020, the population was 31.
Contents
Westerville's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 31 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
This chart shows how many people lived in Westerville during the last census counts.
The Story of Westerville
Westerville got its name from James Westervelt. He was a local store owner. The town was officially planned on his land on August 11, 1880. The Westerville post office, where people sent and received mail, opened in 1882.
Early Days and Firsts
According to History Nebraska, Westerville was the very first town in Custer County. It was a place of many "firsts" for the area.
- It had the first church built with wood in the county.
- The first newspaper, called The Custer Leader, was published here.
- Westerville was home to the county's first doctor, lawyer, and banker.
- It also had the first school teachers, a monument cutter, and general stores.
Besides the post office, the town also had houses made of sod (grass and soil), a hotel, a blacksmith shop, and a flour mill. The Custer County Agricultural Society was in Westerville. The first two county fairs were held there in 1881 and 1882.
Why Westerville Changed
In 1886, a railroad was built further south of Westerville. This was a big deal because railroads helped towns grow by bringing people and goods. Since the railroad didn't come through Westerville, the town slowly became smaller. It officially became an unincorporated community in the 1960s.
A Story from Westerville's Past
Westerville was the closest town to John W. Speese (1866-1914). He was an African American farmer who started his farm there in 1881. After farming for 18 years, Speese wrote about his life on his 238-acre farm for the Omaha World-Herald newspaper. He grew alfalfa, raised cattle, and had a timber lot. At that time, he shared that he was out of debt and doing quite well.
See also
- In Spanish: Westerville (Nebraska) para niños
