| Broken Bow, Nebraska | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Nebraska |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Custer |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 5.23 |
| Area Land Km2: | 5.23 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.02 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.02 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 3506 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1737.36 |
| Population Density Km2: | 670.86 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 2477 |
| Coordinates: | 41.405°N -99.6408°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 68822 |
| Area Code: | 308 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 31-06610 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 837893 |
| Website: | cityofbrokenbow.org |
Broken Bow is a city in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,559 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.[2]
Broken Bow was platted in 1882.[3] Its name, likely suggested by a settler who found a broken bow in a field at the site of a former Native American camping ground, was submitted by homesteader Wilson Hewitt to the U.S. Post Office Department.[4] The railroad was built through Broken Bow in 1884, and the town was incorporated as a village that same year. Broken Bow was incorporated as a city of the second class in 1888.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9sqmi, all land.[6]
The geographic center of Nebraska lies approximately 10 miles southwest of Broken Bow.
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 3,559 people, 1,575 households, and 909 families living in the city. The population density was 1873.2PD/sqmi. There were 1,730 housing units at an average density of 910.5/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White, 0.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.
There were 1,575 households, of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.90.
The median age in the city was 41.9 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,491 people, 1,509 households, and 917 families living in the city. The population density was 2148.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,721 housing units at an average density of 1059.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 98.22% White, 0.17% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 1,509 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $29,355, and the median income for a family was $37,750. Males had a median income of $26,552 versus $20,132 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,571. About 9.6% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Nebraska's largest cattle feedlot, the Adams Land and Cattle south lot, with a capacity of 85,000 head, is located 2 miles south of Broken Bow. In the past, some locals have feared the potential of environmental damage from the feedlot, but the state's environmental agency has found the company in compliance with state standards.[8]
A family owned feed store, Evans Feed, opened in 1927. The town also has a grocery and a nursing home.[9]