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History · Elkhorn Township

Elkhorn Township dates to 1865, and 22% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: 1 old photo or paper and maps from 1968 on.

1865founded
0on the National Register
22%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
3famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Elkhorn Township’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Elkhorn Township began, and where its name came from

When was Elkhorn Township founded?

1865

Elkhorn Township dates its founding to 1865 (Wikipedia’s history).

2020 census: 329161 years

How did Elkhorn Township get its name?

Elkhorn Township was named after the Elkhorn River.

Founding year: Wikipedia. Name: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.The full story ↓

What stands out about Elkhorn Township’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 1 old photo is in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Elkhorn Township’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewElkhorn Station, Nebraska (1867): stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How Elkhorn Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Elkhorn Township.

Read it all →

Elkhorn was founded in 1865. It was platted in 1867 when the Union Pacific Railroad was extended to that point. Elkhorn was first incorporated in 1872. However, after a period of financial struggles, Elkhorn became unchartered. Elkhorn was incorporated again on December 30, 1886. In April 1895, a fire started in Main Street, causing ten buildings to be damaged and a loss of $28,000. The fire was started due to a Union Pacific train engine.

ChaptersAs an independent municipality (1865–2005)Annexation (2005–2007)As a neighborhood of Omaha (2007–present)

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Elkhorn Township, 1865 to 1983

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1865
    FoundingElkhorn Township is established
  3. 1867In the archiveElkhorn Station, Nebraska (1867)
  4. 1888Born hereRoyal Rife is born here
  5. 20th century
  6. 1968On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  7. 1976Born hereKyle Peterson is born here
  8. 1983Born hereJay Moore is born here
By decade

Elkhorn Township, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1860s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1860s1 item
Elkhorn Station, Nebraska (1867)1867Elkhorn Station, Nebraska (1867)
Today11 recent
Damage to homes in Elkhorn, NE following April 2024 tornadoes2024Damage to homes in Elkhorn, NE following April 2024 t…Catastrophic damage to homes in the Nebraska community of Elkhorn following April 2024 tornadoes2024Catastrophic damage to homes in the Nebraska communit…Catastrophic damage to homes in the Nebraska community of Elkhorn following April 2024 tornadoes2024Catastrophic damage to homes in the Nebraska communit…Catastrophic damage to homes in the Nebraska community of Elkhorn following April 2024 tornadoes2024Catastrophic damage to homes in the Nebraska communit…Catastrophic damage to homes in the Nebraska community of Elkhorn following April 2024 tornadoes2024Catastrophic damage to homes in the Nebraska communit…Playground Swings at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park - Elkhorn - Nebraska2022Playground Swings at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park - Elkhorn - Neb…Elkhorn HFGN headquarters2014Elkhorn HFGN headquartersElkhorn, Nebraska downtown 32011Elkhorn, Nebraska downtown 3Elkhorn, Nebraska downtown 22011Elkhorn, Nebraska downtown 2Elkhorn, Nebraska downtown 12011Elkhorn, Nebraska downtown 1NEMap-doton-Elkhorn2005NEMap-doton-Elkhorn
On the map

Elkhorn Township on the map, 1968 to 1983

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

Elkhorn Township on the 1968 USGS mapElkhorn Township on the 1983 USGS map1968Fremont East 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 Elkhorn Township.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Elkhorn Station, Nebraska (1867)
Retake this viewElkhorn Station, Nebraska (1867), 1867

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Elkhorn Township’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

3 famous people were born in Elkhorn Township

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
R
Royal RifeAmerican inventor · b. 1888
J
Jay MooreAmerican football player · b. 1983
K
Kyle PetersonAmerican baseball player · b. 1976
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Fremont14 historic placesA−Township 72 historic placesAPlatte Township1 historic placeCTownship 61 historic placeA−

Questions about Elkhorn Township’s history

What year was Elkhorn Township founded?

In 1865, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town.

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 (12), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.