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History · Wisner Township

Wisner Township dates to 1871, and 20% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1955 on and the census since 1880.

1871founded
0on the National Register
20%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Ammodramus · Public domain
Quick answers

How Wisner Township began, and where its name came from

When was Wisner Township founded?

1871

Wisner Township dates its founding to 1871 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 282 in 18802020 census: 139155 years

How did Wisner Township get its name?

Wisner Township was named for Samuel P. Wisner, a railroad official for the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad.

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

What stands out about Wisner 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 writtenNo old photos of Wisner Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Wisner Township’s homes were built before 1950.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Wisner Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Wisner Township’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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The story

How Wisner Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Wisner Township.

Read it all →

Wisner was platted in 1871 shortly before the railroad was extended to that point. It was named for Samuel P. Wisner, a railroad official for the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad. By the 1970s, the future of railroad transportation service came into question. The Chicago & North Western was running fewer trains through town. Train traffic volumes continued to decline as the decade progressed. Train service ultimately ended in 1982, after flooding damaged many sections of the track. Abandonment was applied for and granted the same year & tracks were removed in 1985.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Wisner Township, decade by decade

Today2 recent
Wisner, Nebraska NE side of Avenue E2010Wisner, Nebraska NE side of Avenue ENEMap-doton-Wisner2005NEMap-doton-Wisner
On the map

Wisner Township on the map, 1955 to 1963

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

Wisner Township on the 1955 USGS mapWisner Township on the 1963 USGS map1955Fremont sheet · 1:250,000

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

People over time

Wisner Township, census by census

02004006008001,0001,2001,40018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 1,335

Between 282 and 1,335 people in every census since 1880.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

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

Places that used to be

Places now gone and burying grounds

Gone or out of use
School Number 34schoolSchool Number 9school
1cemetery inside Wisner Township
Salem

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

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

WisnerIts storyC+Blaine TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townBeemer TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townBismark TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Wisner Township’s history

What year was Wisner Township founded?

In 1871, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1880 counted 282 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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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 (2), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) 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.