North Platte, Nebraska

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Coordinates: 41°8′9″N 100°46′14″W / 41.13583, -100.77056
North Platte, Nebraska
Location of North Platte, Nebraska
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Lincoln
Government
- Mayor	G. Keith Richardson
Area
- Total	10.6 sq mi (27.4 km²)
- Land	10.5 sq mi (27.1 km²)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Elevation	2,802 ft (854 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	23,878
- Density	2,281.5/sq mi (880.9/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	69101, 69103
Area code(s)	308
FIPS code	31-35000^[1]
GNIS feature ID	0831719^[2]

Grain elevator along the Union Pacific Railroad in downtown North Platte

North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States.^[3] It is located in the southwestern part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers forming the Platte River. The population was 23,878 at the 2000 census and was 24,386 by the 2006 estimate.

North Platte is a railroad town; Union Pacific Railroad's large Bailey Yard is located within the city. Today, North Platte is served only by freight trains, but during World War II the city was famous for the North Platte Canteen. Tens of thousands of volunteers from North Platte and surrounding towns met the troop trains passing through North Platte, offering coffee, sandwiches and hospitality.

North Platte is the principal city of the North Platte, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Lincoln, Logan, and McPherson counties.

1 Geography and Climate
2 Demographics
3 Points of Interest
4 People associated with North Platte
5 References
6 External links
7 Further reading

[edit] Geography and Climate

North Platte is located at 41°8′9″N, 100°46′14″West (41.135914, -100.770501)^[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.6 square miles (27.4 km²), of which, 10.5 square miles (27.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (1.04%) is water.

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Rec High °F	73	79	86	98	97	107	112	105	102	94	82	75
Norm High °F	36.5	43.3	52.1	62.7	72	82.6	88.4	86.8	78	65.6	48.5	39.2
Norm Low °F	9.9	15.4	23.8	33.4	44.5	54.2	60.2	58.4	46.7	33.7	20.7	12.1
Rec Low °F	-23	-22	-22	7	18	29	39	35	17	10	-13	-34
Precip (in)	0.39	0.51	1.24	1.97	3.34	3.17	3.17	2.15	1.32	1.24	0.76	0.4
Source: USTravelWeather.com [1]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 23,878 people, 9,944 households, and 6,224 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,281.5 people per square mile (880.5/km²). There were 10,718 housing units at an average density of 1,024.1/sq mi (395.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.47% White, 0.71% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.30% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.68% of the population.

There were 9,944 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,181, and the median income for a family was $42,753. Males had a median income of $36,445 versus $20,157 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,306. About 7.8% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Points of Interest

North Platte is home to the world's largest railyard, Bailey Yard.

Lincoln County Historical Museum contains the display detailing the history of the North Platte World War II Canteen, which greeted 6.5 million service personnel from Christmas Day 1941 through April 1, 1946. It also contains a Prairie Village with local landmark homes and other buildings including a Pony Express Station and pioneer church among many others.

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park is located near North Platte, a Nebraska living history park about Buffalo Bill Cody. The park includes his actual house known as Scout's Rest Ranch. The park is two miles west of U.S. Highway 83 along U.S. Highway 30.

During the 1930s, high crime rates and corruption caused North Platte to be infamously known as 'Little Chicago,' as depicted in the novel Evil Obsession written by award-winning author Nellie Snyder Yost.

[edit] People associated with North Platte

Mobster Henry Hill used to work as a cook in North Platte
The popular big band leader Glenn Miller lived in North Platte during his childhood and started his musical career there when his father bought him a mandolin
Noted San Francisco Bay Area Disc Jockey Dr. Don Rose, was born and raised in North Platte and would frequently reference the city on his popular morning show
Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel was born in North Platte.^[5]
Danny Woodhead played high school football at North Platte High School. Woodhead went on to play college football at Chadron State College. He set numerous records including the all-time rushing mark for any NCAA division level. He also won NCAA Football- Division II's most prestigious award twice, the Harlon Hill Trophy, in both 2006 and 2007. Each year the Harlon Hill Trophy is awarded to Division II's best football athlete.
Chief Red Cloud, Sioux warrior, was born near North Platte in 1822.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Biography of Senator Chuck Hagel. Official website of Senator Chuck Hagel. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.

[edit] External links

North Platte, Nebraska is at coordinates 41°08′09″N 100°46′14″W / 41.135914, -100.770501 (North Platte, Nebraska)Coordinates: 41°08′09″N 100°46′14″W / 41.135914, -100.770501 (North Platte, Nebraska)
Lincoln Journal Star

[edit] Further reading

Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen, Bob Greene, Morrow/Avon, 2002, hardcover, 256 pages, ISBN 0-06-008196-1
The North Platte Telegraph - West Central Nebraska's Favorite Newspaper - [2]
The North Platte Traveler - North Platte's Magazine - - www.NPTraveler.com