Fairbury is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2020 census, Fairbury had a population of 3,970.

Fairbury has been closely connected with railroading for much of its history. It was founded on the projected route of a railway, and grew as a shipping center. For nearly 80 years, it was the location of the Western Division headquarters of the Rock Island Railroad. Fairbury prospered with the Rock Island, and lost business and residents as the railroad declined.

History

19th century

In 1868, James B. Mattingly, a freighter originally from Kentucky, established a sawmill on the banks of the Little Blue River. Shortly thereafter, Woodford G. McDowell, a capitalist from Fairbury, Illinois, came to Nebraska to plat a town along the route of the St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad, which was to follow the Little Blue. In 1869, Mattingly and McDowell each contributed for a new townsite, which they named after McDowell's hometown.

The new town grew rapidly, even before the railroad's arrival. In 1870, a population of 370 was reported; in that year, the Fairbury Gazette was established. A year later, Fairbury was chosen as the county seat; in early 1872, the city was incorporated. By this time, its businesses included three hotels and five blacksmith shops.

Climate

Demographics

With the decrease and eventual cessation of the Rock Island's activity, the population of Fairbury fell from its 1950 peak. In the 2010 U.S. census, it had declined to 3,942 residents. The median age was 42.2 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.2 males age 18 and over.

99.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,710 households in Fairbury, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.4% were married-couple households, 22.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 3,942 people, 1,782 households, and 1,007 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,145 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 1,782 households, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 44.5 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 23.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

[[File:South side of square.jpg|thumb|right|South side of the courthouse square in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The Harbine Bank building is in the left foreground. At the far right is the original brick courthouse, which survived the fires of 1879 and 1903.

Fairbury serves as the retail center of Jefferson County. The historic downtown continues to prosper, with a variety of specialty shops.

  • Robert Vernon Denney, United States federal judge and Congressman
  • Bill Doleman, professional sports broadcaster
  • Lowell English, United States Marine Corps general who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

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  • City of Fairbury
  • Fairbury Journal-News
  • Fairbury Public Schools