Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1896 on, and the census since 1900.
Benedict dates its founding to 1886 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1900.
Benedict was named for E. C. Benedict, a railroad official.
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Benedict’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Benedict. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Benedict.
Peaked at 336 in 1910; 203 people lived here in 2020.
13 censuses, 1900–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Benedict’s Wikipedia page.
From Wikipedia’s history of Benedict.
Benedict was platted in 1886 when the Kansas City and Omaha Railroad was extended to that point. It was named for E. C. Benedict, a railroad official. Benedict was incorporated as a village in 1890.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Benedict, cut from the printed page as they were published.
He organized and became President of the Bank of Benedict November 27, 1889, and continued as such President until February 8, 1906, at which time the bank of Benedict was converted into the First National Bank of Benedict. He served as President of this bank until August 1912. On May 14, 1897 he and his business associates organized the State Bank of Bradshaw. He served as President of this bank until March 1906, at which time this bank was con-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
A Credit to BeDeiJirt—Baiid of That Citi/ iJiil-es Decided J fit ivith York People One of the most pleasing features of York's successful celeliration of Independence day was the music rendered by the band from the neighboring little city of Benedict. It is only now and then that a town of the size of Benedict comes to the front with a band of that size and ability, and when such happens it is an evidence of civic enterprise, commmnty spirit and musical atmosphere. The Benedict Band of twenty-one pieces, under the direction of George McCall of this city, rendered splendid music in Y'ork on July 4th, and contributed immensely to the enjoyment
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
been established the Town of Bradshaw would have been the center of the territory and adequate buildings to accommodate the larger schools would have been called for-, but it was voted down, 148 for to 186 against consolidation. District No. 3, which was established at Benedict recently, will probably arrange to begin school work under the new plan in the fall of 1921, and the facilities afforded by the Benedict schoolhouse will be supplemented by moving one or more of the schoolhouses from the country districts to town.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
he served two years as assessor, and was also elected Commander of the Grand Ainny Post. In 1880 he moved back to the homestead, where going behind year after year, he moved to the new town of Benedict, and was one of the first two families settling in that village. Here he built and operated the first hotel. About this time he was elected Justice of the Peace and sei'ved with satisfaction for six years, also procuring a notary's commission, in which ca-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
In the archiveNebraska - Benedict through GrantOne decade in the archive so far: the 1910s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.
Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Benedict’s page.
Retake this view · +15In 1886, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Benedict’s post office opened in 1887, and the census of 1900 counted 292 people here.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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