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History · Bushnell

Bushnell dates to 1867, and 56% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1972 on and the census since 1920.

1867founded
0on the National Register
56%homes built before 1940
1famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: Ammodramus · Public domain
Quick answers

How Bushnell began

When was Bushnell founded?

1867

Bushnell dates its founding to 1867 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1920.

First census: 321 in 19202020 census: 115159 years
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1895.The full story ↓

What stands out about Bushnell’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Bushnell are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Bushnell’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Bushnell’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Bushnell’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How Bushnell came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Bushnell.

Read it all →

Bushnell was founded in 1867. The village is named after Cornelius Scranton Bushnell, a major figure in the development of the ironclads during the Civil War.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Bushnell, 1867 to 1972

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1867
    FoundingBushnell is established
  3. 1895Post officeThe Bushnell post office opens
  4. 20th century
  5. 1921Born hereKen Sailors is born here
  6. 1972On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

Bushnell, decade by decade

Today30 recent
A U.S. Airman with the 90th Security Forces Group Tactical Response Force keeps an eye on simulated opposition forces o…2013A U.S. Airman with the 90th Security Forces Group Tac…Nebraska Link Highway 53C-2012 07 15 15142012Nebraska Link Highway 53C-2012 07 15 1514I-80 exit for Bushnell, Nebraska-2012 07 15 14842012I-80 exit for Bushnell, Nebraska-2012 07 15 1484Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0212012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-021Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0202012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-020Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0192012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-019Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0182012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-018Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0172012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-017Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0162012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-016Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0142012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-014Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0132012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-013Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0122012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0112012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-011Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0102012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-010Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0092012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-009Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0082012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-008Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0072012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-007Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0062012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-006Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0052012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-005Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0042012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-004Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0032012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-003Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0022012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-002Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-0012012Bushnell, Nebraska-2012-07-15-001Bushnell, Nebraska from S 22010Bushnell, Nebraska from S 2Bushnell, Nebraska from S 12010Bushnell, Nebraska from S 1Bushnell, Nebraska PO and Village Office2010Bushnell, Nebraska PO and Village OfficeBushnell, Nebraska 2nd and Elm 22010Bushnell, Nebraska 2nd and Elm 2Bushnell, Nebraska 2nd and Elm 12010Bushnell, Nebraska 2nd and Elm 1Bushnell, Nebraska - 2nd Avenue2008Bushnell, Nebraska - 2nd AvenueNEMap-doton-Bushnell2005NEMap-doton-Bushnell
On the map

Bushnell on the map, 1972 to 1985

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Bushnell. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Bushnell on the 1972 USGS mapBushnell on the 1985 USGS map1972Bushnell sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Bushnell.

People over time

Bushnell, census by census

0100200300192019401960198020002020Peak: 341

Between 115 and 341 people in every census since 1920.

11 censuses, 1920–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Bushnell’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Places now gone

Bushnell’s post office has been open since 1895.

Gone or out of use
Bushnell Schoolschool

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Questions about Bushnell’s history

What year was Bushnell founded?

In 1867, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Bushnell’s post office opened in 1895, and the census of 1920 counted 321 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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 (30), 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) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.