Grand Island, Nebraska

Grand Island is a city in and the county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 53,131 at the 2020 census, making it the 4th most populous city in Nebraska.

Grand Island has been given the All-America City Award four times (1955, 1967, 1981, and 1982) by the National Civic League.

Grand Island is home to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center, which is the sole agency responsible for training law enforcement officers throughout the state, as well as the home of the Southern Power District serving southern Nebraska. Ammunition manufacturer Hornady is also located there.

History

thumb|alt=Black-and-white photo: ca. 20 one-story buildings on treeless prairie|Grand Island, 1867

thumb|right|Aerial view of Grand Island, 1925

19th century

When the persecuted Mormon community in Nauvoo, Illinois, decided to leave Nauvoo in 1844 in search of a new home, they intended at first to reach the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, but the weather made that impossible and so Grand Island was adopted as their interim goal for the summer of 1846, although in fact their settlements at the time remained closer to the Missouri River.

In 1857, 35 German settlers left Davenport, Iowa, and headed west to Nebraska to start a new settlement on an island known by French traders as La Grande Isle, which was formed by the Wood River and the Platte River. The settlers reached their destination on July 4, 1857, and by September had built housing using local timber. They set up farms but initially had no market to sell their goods until a market opened at Fort Kearny. When the Pike's Peak Gold Rush began, Grand Island was the last place travelers could obtain supplies before they crossed the plains. In 1868 the railroad reached the area, bringing increased trade and business. Grand Island became the end of the east division of the railroad and UP built service facilities for their locomotives in the town as well as an elegant hotel for passengers providing a boost for the local economy. The cost of the railroad coming into town was the denudement of most of the hardwood trees on the island for use as ties for the railroad.

African Americans started living in the city from at least the 1870s, and by 1889 there was an established Black neighborhood in the city. A segregated city, for the first several decades Black people were mostly limited to servile roles as maids, chauffeurs, and other jobs.

In about 1890, sugar beets were introduced as a crop in Nebraska. The first sugar beet processing factory in the United States was built in the southwest part of Grand Island.

By the 1920s there was an emerging Black middle class in the city, albeit very small. During World War II, the African American community grew exponentially because of employment at the nearby Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant. A new segregated neighborhood was built by the federal government, and immediately after the war a community center and more were established. Despite the establishment of a Prince Hall Masons lodge, churches in the city and other institutions, the Black population did not remain stable, and by the 1960s it had dwindled to only 125 residents.

1980 tornadoes

On June 3, 1980, Grand Island was hit by a massive supercell storm. Through the course of the evening, the city was ravaged by seven tornadoes, the worst of which was rated F4 on the Fujita Scale. The hardest hit area of town was the north Locust business district. There were five deaths as a result of the tornadoes.

Tornado Hill is a local landmark created as a direct result of the tornadoes. Debris that could not be recycled was burned near Fonner Park and what remained was buried within Ryder Park, on the west end of town. The base of the hill was a hole deep and nearly across, and the hill is high. It is used for sledding in this otherwise flat area.

A book, Night of the Twisters, by Ivy Ruckman, and movie were based on this event.

21st century

Grand Island has experienced a number of revitalization efforts in the 21st century. These include several expansions to the city's airport, as well as the relocation of the Nebraska State Fair to Grand Island.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Grand Island is located just a few miles north of the Platte River, one of Nebraska's most prominent rivers on which many of the state's major cities and towns sit.

Metropolitan area

The Grand Island Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick counties. Hamilton was added to the metropolitan area in 2012. The Grand Island MSA is home to 76,479 people (2023 estimate), making it one of the smallest in the United States.

Climate

Environmental issues

In 1981, a plume of contaminated groundwater was discovered beneath the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, which occupies west of Grand Island. The plume extended northeast of the plant and migrated towards Grand Island. Hazardous level of RDX and TNT were discovered,

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Grand Island had a population of 53,131, 19,981 households, and 12,983 families.

Of the 19,981 households, 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.8% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.1.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

| White || 34,970 || 65.8%

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 18,238 || 34.3%

| Some other race || 9,205 || 17.3%

| Two or more races || 5,491 || 10.3%

| Black or African American || 1,876 || 3.5%

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 859 || 1.6%

| Asian || 695 || 1.3%

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 35 || 0.1%

Income

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $56,513 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,441) and the median family income $66,755 (+/- $4,142). Males had a median income of $37,579 (+/- $2,047) versus $29,532 (+/- $1,595) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $33,197 (+/- $1,293). Approximately, 9.3% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.2% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 48,520 people, 18,326 households, and 11,846 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 19,426 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 80.0% White, 2.1% African American, 1.0% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 13.1% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 26.7% of the population.

There were 18,326 households, of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.20.

The median age in the city was 34.7 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 42,940 people, 16,426 households, and 11,038 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 17,421 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 86.72% White, 0.42% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 9.64% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 15.94% of the population.

There were 16,426 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,044, and the median income for a family was $43,197. Males had a median income of $28,925 versus $20,521 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,071. About 9.9% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those aged 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Nebraska State Fair

In 2010, Grand Island became the home of the Nebraska State Fair. Each year, the fair attracts thousands of people to the city, with a record attendance of over 300,000 in 2024.

thumb|253x253px|Exterior of the Stuhr Museum

Stuhr Museum

The Stuhr Museum, also known as the Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, is a museum located in southwestern Grand Island. The museum houses over 140,000 artifacts from early settlers in central Nebraska, and features a living history village called Railroad Town. Railroad Town is designed to evoke an 1890s-era prairie village and made up of many original period structures moved to the museum.

Parks and recreation

There are several parks located within Grand Island. The most prominent of these include Stolley Park, and the George Clayton Hall County Park.

Government

Grand Island has a mayor–council government. The mayor and a ten-member city council are elected in nonpartisan elections. Two members are elected from each of the city's five wards to staggered four-year terms. At the most recent mayoral election, incumbent Mayor Roger G. Steele was re-elected to a second term.

Infrastructure

thumb|Interstate 80 near Grand Island

Transportation

Major highways

Interstate 80 is located south of Grand Island. U.S. Route 281 is the main north-south route in the city, running through the city's west edge south to Hastings, and north to O'Neill. U.S. Route 30 runs east-west through the center of Grand Island.

Railways

Located on the route of the first transcontinental railroad, Grand Island is a major freight rail hub with more than 140 freight trains per day passing through the city on lines operated by Union Pacific, BNSF, and the Nebraska Central Railroad.

Airport

Central Nebraska Regional Airport is located in Grand Island. On September 4, 2008, Allegiant Air began nonstop service from Grand Island to Las Vegas, Nevada. In June 2011, American Eagle Airlines began providing service to Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, twice daily.

Intercity buses operated by Burlington Trailways and Express Arrow serve Grand Island.

The city's transit system is entirely demand-responsive, with rides requiring reservation 24 hours in advance. As of 2023, Grand Island is the largest city in Nebraska without fixed-route public transit. Fixed route service was studied, but not recommended, in the GO Grand Island Transit 2023 Transit Development Plan.

Grand Island also sports a total of fifteen traffic circles, many of which are near each other. This system allows for particularly efficient through-traffic while sacrificing speed and barring transportation to some locations by certain, longer vehicles. Of these fifteen recorded roundabouts, fourteen are designated "official," while one is reportedly an "unofficial" insertion into the Grand Island's public transportation network.

Hospitals

As of 2024, Grand Island is served by CHI Health St. Francis Hospital, with 153 beds.

The city is also served by Grand Island Regional Medical Center, which opened in 2020.

Media

Radio stations

KRGI (AM) 1430
LA GRAN D 93.3
KRGI-FM 96.5
KRGY FM 97.3
KKJK FM 103.1
KSYZ-FM 107.7
KMTY-FM 97.7/99.7

Education

;School districts

All of the municipality is in Grand Island Public Schools. Grand Island Senior High School is the comprehensive high school of that district.

Northwest Public Schools' facility, including, Northwest High School, is within the city limits of Grand Island. However, none of the district's taxation and attendance boundary covers any part of the city limits.

Channing Hill, jockey
Thomas Mangelsen, Wildlife Photographer
George J. Marrett, member Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame, test pilot and author
G. P. Mix, two-time lieutenant governor of Idaho
Gertrude Nafe, teacher, essayist
John Parrella, former NFL player
John Pedersen, arms designer
Tom Rathman, former NFL player
Rebecca Richards-Kortum, bioengineering professor and MacArthur Fellow
Jeff Richardson, baseball player
Eve Ryder, artist
William Henry Thompson, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska
Edgar A. Wedgwood, sheriff of Hall County, Nebraska and adjutant general of the Utah National Guard
Simeon Burt Wolbach, pathologist

Notes

References

External links

City of Grand Island
The Grand Island Independent Newspaper
Grand Island Public Library