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History · Smithfield

Smithfield dates to 1890, and 45% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1896 on and the census since 1910.

1890founded
0on the National Register
45%homes built before 1940
1famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Smithfield began

When was Smithfield founded?

1890

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

First census: 190 in 19102020 census: 60136 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1891.The full story ↓

What stands out about Smithfield’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 Smithfield are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18963 editions of the USGS map, 1896 to 1985. Watch Smithfield change.Boom and bustPeaked at 229 in 1920; 60 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Smithfield’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Smithfield’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

Smithfield on the map, 1896 to 1985

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

Smithfield on the 1896 USGS mapSmithfield on the 1971 USGS mapSmithfield on the 1985 USGS map1896Lexington 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 Smithfield.

People over time

Smithfield, census by census

0100200192019401960198020002020Peak: 229

Peaked at 229 in 1920; 60 people lived here in 2020.

12 censuses, 1910–2020.

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

The story

How Smithfield came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Smithfield.

Read it all →

Smithfield was platted in 1890 in a field formerly owned by Elbert and Nancy Smith.

Smithfield was a shipping point on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Smithfield, 1890 to 1920

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1890
    FoundingSmithfield is established
  3. 1891Post officeThe Smithfield post office opens
  4. 1896On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  5. 20th century
  6. 1918Born hereBob DeFruiter is born here
  7. 1920CensusPopulation peaks at 229
By decade

Smithfield, decade by decade

Today4 recent
NEMap-doton-Smithfield2017NEMap-doton-SmithfieldGosper County2015Gosper CountySmithfield, NE 68976, USA2011Smithfield, NE 68976, USASmithfield, Nebraska elevators from W2010Smithfield, Nebraska elevators from W

Questions about Smithfield’s history

What year was Smithfield founded?

In 1890, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Smithfield’s post office opened in 1891, and the census of 1910 counted 190 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 (4), 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.