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History · Murdock

Murdock dates to 1890, and 36% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1903 on and the census since 1910.

1890founded
0on the National Register
36%homes built before 1940
1famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Murdock began

When was Murdock founded?

1890

Murdock dates its founding to 1890 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1910.

First census: 222 in 19102020 census: 270136 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1891.The full story ↓

What stands out about Murdock’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 Murdock are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19035 editions of the USGS map, 1903 to 1986. Watch Murdock change.Old housesHalf of Murdock’s homes were built before 1953.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Murdock’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Murdock’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
On the map

Murdock on the map, 1903 to 1986

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

Murdock on the 1903 USGS mapMurdock on the 1929 USGS mapMurdock on the 1966 USGS mapMurdock on the 1972 USGS mapMurdock on the 1986 USGS map1903Weeping Water 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 Murdock.

The story

How Murdock came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Murdock.

Read it all →

Murdock was established circa 1890 when the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was extended to that point. Murdock was named after a Rock Island Railroad official.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Murdock, 1890 to 1917

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1890
    FoundingMurdock is established
  3. 1891Post officeThe Murdock post office opens
  4. 20th century
  5. 1903On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  6. 1917Born hereDaniel Ruge is born here
By decade

Murdock, decade by decade

Today6 recent
Murdock, Nebraska from SE 12013Murdock, Nebraska from SE 1Murdock, Nebraska - Nebraska from Third 22013Murdock, Nebraska - Nebraska from Third 2Murdock, Nebraska - Nebraska from Third 12013Murdock, Nebraska - Nebraska from Third 1Murdock, Nebraska - Nebraska from Second 12013Murdock, Nebraska - Nebraska from Second 1Murdock, Nebraska - Nebraska Street 12013Murdock, Nebraska - Nebraska Street 1NEMap-doton-Murdock2005NEMap-doton-Murdock
People over time

Murdock, census by census

0100200300192019401960198020002020Peak: 270

Between 199 and 270 people in every census since 1910.

12 censuses, 1910–2020.

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

Questions about Murdock’s history

What year was Murdock founded?

In 1890, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Murdock’s post office opened in 1891, and the census of 1910 counted 222 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, 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.