| Loretto, Nebraska | |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Pushpin Map: | Nebraska |
| Pushpin Label: | Loretto |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Nebraska |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Nebraska |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Boone |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 0.73 |
| Area Land Km2: | 0.73 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 50 |
| Population Density Km2: | 68.81 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1828 |
| Coordinates: | 41.7633°N -98.0817°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 68620[2] |
| Area Code: | 402 and 531 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 31-29155 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2612512 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 0.28 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 0.28 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 177.94 |
Loretto is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Boone County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the community had a population of 42.[3]
Loretto was originally called Loran, in honor of Loran Clark, a pioneer settler, but when it was discovered another town of that name already existed elsewhere in the state, it was renamed Loretto in order to avoid repetition.[4] The present name is after Loreto, in Italy.[5] A post office was established at Loretto in 1888, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1971.[6] [7] A state bank named Loretto State Bank was established in 1909.[8] At its peak in the 1920s Loretto was also home to a cheese factory, several general stores, a butcher shop, and hotel.[9]
Loretto is located in north-central Boone County along Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Loup River. Nebraska Highway 14 passes through the CDP, leading southeast 7miles to Albion, the county seat, and north 6miles to Petersburg.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Loretto CDP has a total area of 0.7sqkm, all land.