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Gottsch FarmsteadTownship 7, #1 on this list · Gottsch Farmstead · Photo: SharonPapierdreams · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nebraska rankings · History

Most historic towns in Nebraska

Township 7 ranks first on history among Nebraska’s 57 towns of 2,500+; 13 of the 57 grade A− or better on history nationally.

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work

#1

Township 7

Washington County · 2,760 people
A

History grade, better than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 57 in NE

#2

Fairbury

Jefferson County · 3,812 people
A

History grade, better than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #39 of 57 in NE

#3

Auburn

Nemaha County · 3,498 people
A

History grade, better than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #29 of 57 in NE

All 57 towns

History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 3 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

57 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Township 7Washington County · 2,760 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 57
2FairburyJefferson County · 3,812 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #39 of 57
3AuburnNemaha County · 3,498 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #29 of 57
4Falls CityRichardson County · 3,988 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #34 of 57
5Nebraska CityOtoe County · 7,512 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #37 of 57
6BeatriceGage County · 12,318 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #33 of 57
7ChadronDawes County · 4,975 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #31 of 57
8Broken BowCuster County · 3,507 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 57
9HastingsAdams County · 25,121 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #53 of 57
10PlattsmouthCass County · 6,955 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 57
11CreteSaline County · 7,747 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #49 of 57
12FremontDodge County · 28,350 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #51 of 57
13OmahaDouglas County · 488,797 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #50 of 57
14Central CityMerrick County · 3,184 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 57
15SewardSeward County · 7,892 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #4 of 57
16North PlatteLincoln County · 22,524 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #55 of 57
17BlairWashington County · 7,997 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 57
18AllianceBox Butte County · 7,914 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #47 of 57
19McCookRed Willow County · 7,157 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 57
20LincolnLancaster County · 301,522 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #46 of 57
21SidneyCheyenne County · 6,432 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #52 of 57
T22CozadDawson County · 3,924 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #30 of 57
T22David CityButler County · 3,068 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 57
T22Grand IslandHall County · 53,943 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #57 of 57
25SchuylerColfax County · 6,800 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 57
26O'NeillHolt County · 3,567 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #25 of 57
27MindenKearney County · 3,133 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #14 of 57
28ColumbusPlatte County · 25,248 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #38 of 57
29AuroraHamilton County · 4,787 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 57
30OgallalaKeith County · 4,698 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #35 of 57
31AshlandSaunders County · 3,483 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 57
32KearneyBuffalo County · 34,782 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #32 of 57
33ScottsbluffScotts Bluff County · 14,259 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #56 of 57
34GothenburgDawson County · 3,430 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 57
35ValentineCherry County · 2,635 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #23 of 57
36YorkYork County · 8,284 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #28 of 57
37WahooSaunders County · 5,023 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 57
38West PointCuming County · 3,411 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #24 of 57
39NorfolkMadison County · 26,677 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #42 of 57
40HoldregePhelps County · 5,555 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #36 of 57
41BellevueSarpy County · 64,863 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #43 of 57
42WayneWayne County · 6,338 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #26 of 57
43Township 1Washington County · 4,517 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #27 of 57
44LexingtonDawson County · 11,176 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #48 of 57
45South Sioux CityDakota County · 14,158 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #54 of 57
46GeringScotts Bluff County · 8,535 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #44 of 57
47Offutt AFBunincorporated, Sarpy County · 6,074 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #45 of 57
48Columbus TownshipPlatte County · 3,360 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #40 of 57
49Township 2Washington County · 3,213 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 57
50PapillionSarpy County · 25,127 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 57
51HickmanLancaster County · 3,663 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 57
52WaverlyLancaster County · 4,533 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #5 of 57
53ValleyDouglas County · 3,412 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 57
54GretnaSarpy County · 9,207 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 57
55RalstonDouglas County · 6,382 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #41 of 57
56La VistaSarpy County · 16,543 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #22 of 57
57Chalcounincorporated, Sarpy County · 10,595 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A · #11 of 57
Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most historic town in Nebraska?

Township 7 (Washington County) ranks first on history among 57 towns, with an A; Fairbury and Auburn follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (57 in Nebraska). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Nebraska page.

Go deeper

More Nebraska lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Nebraska rankings →
Best places to live57 towns · #1 AshlandBest small towns40 towns · #1 AshlandMost affordable towns57 towns · #1 SchuylerSafest towns37 towns · #1 ValleyTowns with the best schools57 towns · #1 SewardHealthiest towns57 towns · #1 HickmanBest towns for jobs & income57 towns · #1 WaverlyMost walkable towns57 towns · #1 LincolnTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk57 towns · #1 ChadronBest towns for the outdoors57 towns · #1 PapillionTowns with the most civic life55 towns · #1 Chadron and ValentineTowns with the least snow57 towns · #1 BeatriceDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns57 towns · #1 ChadronDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters61 towns · #1 Falls City and OgallalaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers61 towns · #1 McCookDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers61 towns · #1 WayneDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes57 towns · #1 Township 1Described, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes56 towns · #1 ValentineDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns55 towns · #1 HickmanDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries41 towns · #1 St. PaulDescribed, no letters
Other states

Most historic towns in other states

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