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History · Dix

Dix dates to 1886, and 41% of its homes were built before 1940

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

1886founded
0on the National Register
41%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Publichall · CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answers

How Dix began

When was Dix founded?

1886

Dix dates its founding to 1886 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1920.

First census: 248 in 19202020 census: 187140 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1887.The full story ↓

What stands out about Dix’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 Dix are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Boom and bustPeaked at 420 in 1960; 187 people lived here in 2020.Old housesHalf of Dix’s homes were built before 1950.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Dix’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Dix’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
People over time

Dix, census by census

0100200300400192019401960198020002020Peak: 420

Peaked at 420 in 1960; 187 people lived here in 2020.

11 censuses, 1920–2020.

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

The story

How Dix came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Dix.

Read it all →

Originally a siding on the Union Pacific Railroad, Dix was founded as a settlement in 1886. The community derives its name from Dixon, Illinois, the former home of an early settler. However, it was deemed necessary to shorten the name to "Dix", in order to avoid repetition with Dixon. State highway 30 runs through Dix, and in 1995 was changed from "Main" street to "Miller" street (within the city limits of Dix). This was done in honor of Fred H. Miller, who worked for the Union Pacific for 30 years and ran the town's train depot. The train depot was dismantled after Fred's retirement. Fred also served on the town board, and lived two blocks away from the depot next to the city park with his wife Ada B. Miller. Their memorial stone is located in the graveyard south of town, near Interstate 80.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Dix, 1886 to 1972

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1886
    FoundingDix is established
  3. 1887Post officeThe Dix post office opens
  4. 20th century
  5. 1960CensusPopulation peaks at 420
  6. 1972On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

Dix, decade by decade

Today6 recent
Dix, Nebraska from E2010Dix, Nebraska from EDix, Nebraska downtown 32010Dix, Nebraska downtown 3Dix, Nebraska downtown 22010Dix, Nebraska downtown 2Dix, Nebraska downtown 12010Dix, Nebraska downtown 1Dix, Nebraska Myrtle Street2008Dix, Nebraska Myrtle StreetNEMap-doton-Dix2005NEMap-doton-Dix
On the map

Dix on the map, 1972 to 1985

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

Dix on the 1972 USGS mapDix on the 1985 USGS map1972Dix 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 Dix.

Questions about Dix’s history

What year was Dix founded?

In 1886, according to Wikidata. Dix’s post office opened in 1887, and the census of 1920 counted 248 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 (6), Wikipedia, 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.