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History · Holstein

Holstein dates to 1887, and 39% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1897 on and the census since 1890.

1887founded
0on the National Register
39%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Ammodramus · Public domain
Quick answers

How Holstein began

When was Holstein founded?

1887

Holstein dates its founding to 1887 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1890.

First census: 118 in 18902020 census: 191139 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1888.The full story ↓

What stands out about Holstein’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 Holstein are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18973 editions of the USGS map, 1897 to 1985. Watch Holstein change.Boom and bustPeaked at 323 in 1910; 191 people lived here in 2020.Old housesHalf of Holstein’s homes were built before 1959.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Holstein’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

Holstein on the map, 1897 to 1985

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

Holstein on the 1897 USGS mapHolstein on the 1969 USGS mapHolstein on the 1985 USGS map1897Red Cloud sheet · 1:125,000

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

People over time

Holstein, census by census

01002003001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 323

Peaked at 323 in 1910; 191 people lived here in 2020.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

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

The story

How Holstein came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Holstein.

Read it all →

Holstein was platted in 1887 when the Kansas City and Omaha Railroad was extended to that point. A large portion of the early settlers being natives of Germany and Denmark caused the name Holstein, after Schleswig-Holstein, to be selected.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Holstein, 1887 to 1910

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1887
    FoundingHolstein is established
  3. 1888Post officeThe Holstein post office opens
  4. 1897On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  5. 20th century
  6. 1910CensusPopulation peaks at 323
By decade

Holstein, decade by decade

Today5 recent
Holstein, Nebraska village offices2010Holstein, Nebraska village officesHolstein, Nebraska bank2010Holstein, Nebraska bankHolstein, Nebraska Main x Fillmore SE corner2010Holstein, Nebraska Main x Fillmore SE cornerHolstein, Nebraska Main Ave E side2010Holstein, Nebraska Main Ave E sideNEMap-doton-Holstein2005NEMap-doton-Holstein
Famous people

Famous people close to Holstein

Nobody well known was born in Holstein itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Sandy DennisAmerican actress · b. 1937
Ivan SutherlandAmerican computer scientist and Internet pioneer · b. 1938
N
Neal HeftiAmerican jazz trumpeter, composer, songwriter, … · b. 1922
Dick CavettAmerican talk show host · b. 1936
Gwen LeeActress, model · b. 1904
Carl CurtisAmerican politician · b. 1905
Places that used to be

Places now gone

Holstein’s post office has been open since 1888.

Gone or out of use
Holsteinlocale

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

Questions about Holstein’s history

What year was Holstein founded?

In 1887, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Holstein’s post office opened in 1888, and the census of 1890 counted 118 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 (5), 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.