Lexington, Nebraska

Lexington is a city in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 10,348 at the 2020 census, making it the 16th most populous city in Nebraska.[4] It is the county seat of Dawson County.[5] Lexington is located in southern Nebraska, on the Platte River, southeast of North Platte. It sits along the route of U.S. Route 30 and the Union Pacific Railroad. In the 1860s, Lexington was the location of a stop along the Pony Express.

Lexington, Nebraska
City
Downtown, looking north (2004)
Downtown, looking north (2004)
Location of Lexington within Nebraska and Dawson County
Location of Lexington within Nebraska and Dawson County
Coordinates: 40°46′38″N 99°44′44″W
CountryUnited States
StateNebraska
CountyDawson
Government
 • City managerJoe Pepplitsch[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total5.10 sq mi (13.20 km2)
 • Land5.07 sq mi (13.12 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation
[3]
2,392 ft (729 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,348
 • Density2,042.23/sq mi (788.53/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
68850
Area code308
FIPS code31-26910
GNIS feature ID2395698[3]
Websitecityoflex.com

History

Lexington began as a frontier trading post in 1860.[6] The post was later destroyed. Fort Plum Creek was established near its ruins in 1864.[6] Lexington was founded in 1871. It was originally called Plum Creek.[7]

Plum Creek Railroad Attack

About 3.5 miles west of Lexington on U.S. Route 30, a marker identifies the place (40.790695120°N 99.808119581°W / 40.790695120; -99.808119581) where a band of Cheyenne derailed a Union Pacific train on August 7, 1867, during construction of the first transcontinental railroad. Boxcars were looted and burned, and three employees were killed: the engineer, the fireman, and a hand-car operator.[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.51 square miles (11.68 km2), of which 4.50 square miles (11.65 km2) is land, and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[9]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Lexington has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Lexington was 114 °F (45.6 °C) on July 11–12, 1954, while the coldest temperature recorded was −27 °F (−32.8 °C) on December 22, 1983.[10]

Climate data for Canaday Steam Plant, Nebraska, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1950–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24)		 79
(26)		 90
(32)		 93
(34)		 101
(38)		 110
(43)		 114
(46)		 106
(41)		 103
(39)		 95
(35)		 84
(29)		 77
(25)		 114
(46)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 61.8
(16.6)		 66.2
(19.0)		 77.8
(25.4)		 84.9
(29.4)		 90.8
(32.7)		 96.0
(35.6)		 97.8
(36.6)		 96.0
(35.6)		 93.0
(33.9)		 87.1
(30.6)		 74.3
(23.5)		 62.9
(17.2)		 99.5
(37.5)
Average high °F (°C) 38.0
(3.3)		 41.3
(5.2)		 52.5
(11.4)		 61.7
(16.5)		 71.7
(22.1)		 82.1
(27.8)		 86.4
(30.2)		 84.3
(29.1)		 78.0
(25.6)		 65.1
(18.4)		 51.3
(10.7)		 39.8
(4.3)		 62.7
(17.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 26.6
(−3.0)		 29.6
(−1.3)		 39.7
(4.3)		 49.2
(9.6)		 60.0
(15.6)		 70.6
(21.4)		 75.2
(24.0)		 73.0
(22.8)		 65.0
(18.3)		 51.7
(10.9)		 38.9
(3.8)		 28.7
(−1.8)		 50.7
(10.4)
Average low °F (°C) 15.2
(−9.3)		 17.8
(−7.9)		 27.0
(−2.8)		 36.7
(2.6)		 48.3
(9.1)		 59.2
(15.1)		 64.1
(17.8)		 61.7
(16.5)		 52.1
(11.2)		 38.3
(3.5)		 26.4
(−3.1)		 17.6
(−8.0)		 38.7
(3.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −5.9
(−21.1)		 −1.5
(−18.6)		 8.0
(−13.3)		 21.9
(−5.6)		 33.8
(1.0)		 46.8
(8.2)		 53.6
(12.0)		 50.7
(10.4)		 36.8
(2.7)		 21.8
(−5.7)		 9.0
(−12.8)		 −2.2
(−19.0)		 −11.1
(−23.9)
Record low °F (°C) −22
(−30)		 −17
(−27)		 −17
(−27)		 9
(−13)		 23
(−5)		 36
(2)		 45
(7)		 42
(6)		 24
(−4)		 5
(−15)		 −12
(−24)		 −27
(−33)		 −27
(−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.43
(11)		 0.51
(13)		 1.18
(30)		 2.48
(63)		 3.76
(96)		 3.86
(98)		 3.29
(84)		 2.99
(76)		 1.81
(46)		 1.74
(44)		 0.74
(19)		 0.60
(15)		 23.39
(595)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.9
(15)		 4.9
(12)		 2.3
(5.8)		 1.0
(2.5)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.6
(1.5)		 1.9
(4.8)		 3.3
(8.4)		 20.0
(51)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 2.6 3.1 4.4 7.0 9.6 8.8 7.5 6.1 4.8 5.1 2.8 2.3 64.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 2.1 2.5 1.2 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.8 1.6 8.9
Source 1: NOAA[11]
Source 2: National Weather Service[10]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18901,392—
19001,343−3.5%
19102,05953.3%
19202,32713.0%
19302,96227.3%
19403,68824.5%
19505,06837.4%
19605,5729.9%
19705,6541.5%
19807,04024.5%
19906,601−6.2%
200010,01151.7%
201010,2302.2%
202010,3481.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
Dawson County Courthouse

Lexington is the principal city of the Lexington, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Dawson and Gosper counties.

2010 census

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 10,230 people, 3,180 households, and 2,320 families living in the city. The population density was 2,273.3 inhabitants per square mile (877.7/km2). There were 3,403 housing units at an average density of 756.2 per square mile (292.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 57.9% White, 6.6% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 29.7% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 60.4% of the population.

There were 3,180 households, of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.0% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17, and the average family size was 3.70.

The median age in the city was 29.4 years. 32.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 21.2% were from 45 to 64, and 9.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.7% male and 48.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,011 people, 3,095 households, and 2,237 families living in the city. The population density was 3,401.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,313.4/km2). There were 3,322 housing units at an average density of 1,128.8 per square mile (435.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 64.20% White, 0.44% African American, 1.17% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 30.78% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 51.15% of the population.

There were 3,095 households, out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14, and the average family size was 3.65.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.6 males.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $38,098, and the median income for a family was $43,571. Males had a median income of $25,207 versus $20,857 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,148. About 10.7% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those aged 65 or over.

Economy

In 1990, Iowa Beef Packers built a large beef packing plant in Lexington and currently has over 2700 employees. In 2001, this facility was sold to Tyson.[13]

Arts and culture

The Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles is located in Lexington adjacent to I-80.

The Dawson County Historical Society is a museum with the art pieces made by locals and objects such as cars, guns and household objects from former times that were owned by locals.

Media
Radio

KRVN (AM) and KRVN-FM are in Lexington, owned by the Nebraska Rural Radio Association. The radio network (KRVN (AM), KNEB (AM), and KTIC (AM)) is owned and operated by a cooperative of farmers and ranchers, which was founded in 1948 and started KRVN in 1951.

Newspaper

Lexington is served by the biweekly Lexington Clipper-Herald.[14]

Sports

From 1956 to 1958, Lexington was home to the Lexington Red Sox, who were a minor league baseball team. Playing at the Dawson County Fairgrounds, the Red Sox were members of Nebraska State League as an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The 1956 Lexington Red Sox captured the Nebraska State League Championship.[15][16]

Transportation

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Burlington Trailways and Express Arrow.[17][18]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Administration - City of Lexington". cityoflex.com. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lexington, Nebraska
  4. Hub, MALENA WARDKearney. "Lexington officials believe 2010 Census didn't count many new immigrants". Lexington Clipper-Herald. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. History Archived 2011-01-15 at the Wayback Machine, City of Lexington Official Homepage
  7. Burr, George L. (1921). History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Volume 1. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 107.
  8. "Plum Creek Railroad Attack". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  10. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Hastings". National Weather Service. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  11. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Canaday Steam PLT, NE". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  13. "Tyson plans $47 million expansion of Lexington beef plant". Lincoln Journal Star. March 18, 2015. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  14. "About Us". Lexington Clipper-Herald website. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  15. "Dawson County Fairgrounds in Lexington, NE minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  16. "Nebraska State League Lexington Red Sox 1956". www.nebaseballhistory.com. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  17. "Nebraska Bus Stops". Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  18. "Locations". Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  19. "Aage Brix". Sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
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