| Berea, Nebraska | |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Image Alt: | Cluster of houses seen over railroad tracks occupied by train; metal grain elevator |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Nebraska |
| Pushpin Label: | Berea |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within Nebraska |
| Coordinates: | 42.2122°N -102.9831°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Nebraska |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Box Butte |
| Established Title: | First settled |
| Established Date: | 1889 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 3.09 |
| Area Land Km2: | 3.09 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Elevation Ft: | 4141 |
| Population Total: | 49 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | 15.86 |
| Timezone1: | Mountain (MST) |
| Utc Offset1: | -7 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | -6 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 69301 |
| Area Code: | 308 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 31-04545 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2583875 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.19 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.19 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 41.07 |
Berea is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Box Butte County, in the northwestern part of the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. It had a population of 41 at the 2010 census.[2]
The Burlington Railroad reached the area of Berea in 1889, and railroad support facilities, including a water tower and section house, were built on the site. The town was founded by a group of settlers, originally from Ohio,[3] who named their new home after Berea, Ohio.[4] [5]
In 1890-91, the town had a population of 50, and a general store, newspaper, and post office; five years later, a school and community hall had been added.
The population of Berea fluctuated over the next century. The town was of some local importance as a shipping stop along the railroad, although it never developed many commercial enterprises. A garage opened in 1921, repairing both automobiles and farm machinery. In 1925, when the population was estimated at 35, the post office was re-opened; it closed again a year later. A refinery was operated in the town in 1935 by the Utility Petroleum Company of Chadron.
In 1960, a population of 75 was reported for Berea. The District 39 school was closed in 2007, at which time it had nine students enrolled.[6] In 2009, the town's population was estimated to be 50.[7]
Berea is approximately northwest of Alliance, the county seat of Box Butte County. It lies along the west side of the BNSF Railway tracks, and of Nebraska Highway 2 near its junction with U.S. Route 385.
Berea has no commercial district. The Kelley Bean Company operates a grain elevator beside the railroad tracks; the elevator has a capacity of 633000USbu, and the siding has space for nine railroad cars.[8] In 2010, West Plains Grain Inc. announced plans to build a high-speed grain-loading facility with a capacity of 126 rail cars near Berea.[9]