Broken Bow, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Broken Bow is a city in Custer County
, Nebraska
, United States
. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census
. It is the county seat
of Custer County
.
Guide for Nebraska: “Broken Bow (alt. 2480, pop. 2715), platted in 1882, is a shipping center for livestock, hay, and grain. It has factories making cigars and brooms, two hotels, and an airport. After the Post Office Department had rejected several proposed names, Wilson Hewitt, a homesteader, suggested its present name on finding a broken bow on an old Indian burial ground.”
, Broken Bow has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
The geographic center of Nebraska lies approximately 10 miles northwest of Broken Bow.
of 2000, there were 3,491 people, 1,509 households, and 917 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,148.8 people per square mile (832.0/km2). There were 1,721 housing units at an average density of 1,059.3 per square mile (410.2/km2). 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.
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.
, 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.
, with a glimpse of the 'Broken Bow' stockyards which was completely fabricated to make the community look like a ghost town. It was also mentioned in the TV Series Jericho
, in which one character is sent to the "Nebraska State Patrol Office" in Broken Bow — which is actually located in the real Broken Bow by the rest home off Broadway. Broken Bow has also been mentioned in the TV show The X-Files
and in the movie About Schmidt
. Broken Bow was also mentioned in the prime time TV show Supernatural
on episode 3.8 "A Very Supernatural Christmas" at the very beginning during a flashback.
Custer County, Nebraska
-History:Custer County was formed in 1877. It was named after General George Armstrong Custer, who was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn.-Demographics:...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Custer County
Custer County, Nebraska
-History:Custer County was formed in 1877. It was named after General George Armstrong Custer, who was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn.-Demographics:...
.
History
According to the 1939 Federal Writers' ProjectFederal Writers' Project
The Federal Writers' Project was a United States federal government project to fund written work and support writers during the Great Depression. It was part of the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program...
Guide for Nebraska: “Broken Bow (alt. 2480, pop. 2715), platted in 1882, is a shipping center for livestock, hay, and grain. It has factories making cigars and brooms, two hotels, and an airport. After the Post Office Department had rejected several proposed names, Wilson Hewitt, a homesteader, suggested its present name on finding a broken bow on an old Indian burial ground.”
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Broken Bow has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
The geographic center of Nebraska lies approximately 10 miles northwest of Broken Bow.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,491 people, 1,509 households, and 917 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,148.8 people per square mile (832.0/km2). There were 1,721 housing units at an average density of 1,059.3 per square mile (410.2/km2). 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Feed lot
Nebraska's largest cattle feedlotFeedlot
A feedlot or feedyard is a type of animal feeding operation which is used in factory farming for finishing livestock, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter. Large beef feedlots are called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations . They...
, 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.
Cultural references
Broken Bow was mentioned in the movie GordyGordy
Gordy is a 1995 feature film about a piglet who searches for his missing family...
, with a glimpse of the 'Broken Bow' stockyards which was completely fabricated to make the community look like a ghost town. It was also mentioned in the TV Series Jericho
Jericho (TV series)
Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...
, in which one character is sent to the "Nebraska State Patrol Office" in Broken Bow — which is actually located in the real Broken Bow by the rest home off Broadway. Broken Bow has also been mentioned in the TV show The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
and in the movie About Schmidt
About Schmidt
About Schmidt is a 2002 American comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne, starring Jack Nicholson in the title role. It is loosely based on the 1996 novel of the same title by Louis Begley. Many of the scenes were filmed on location, especially in Omaha, Nebraska and Denver, Colorado...
. Broken Bow was also mentioned in the prime time TV show Supernatural
Supernatural (TV series)
Supernatural is an American supernatural and horror television series created by Eric Kripke, which debuted on September 13, 2005 on The WB, and is now part of The CW's lineup. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, the series follows the brothers as they...
on episode 3.8 "A Very Supernatural Christmas" at the very beginning during a flashback.