Ellsworth, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Ellsworth is an unincorporated community
in Sheridan County
, Nebraska
, United States
. As of the 2000 census, the community had a population of 32. Ellsworth was established in the late nineteenth century as a company town
for the Spade Ranch
and a shipping point for cattle on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
. Although unincorporated Ellsworth has one business, Morgan's Store
and post office with the ZIP code of 69340.
chose the site as a location for a depot on their newly built line. Cattleman Bartlett Richards
began assembling the expansive Spade Ranch
the same year, making Ellsworth a company town for the ranch. In 1898 the Spade Ranch Store
was built and supplied the freight wagons that hauled north to the Spade Ranch Headquarters. The Spade, once Nebraska's largest ranch covering over 500000 acres (2,023.4 km²) included the area surrounding Ellsworth. A hotel was built across the street from the store and a windmill set in the middle of town. Bartlett Richards had a stately summer home with courtyard built in 1904 north of the store, which also served as the home to Lawrence Bixby, second owner of the Spade. The Ellsworth School House, built in 1896, served Ellsworth until 2007 and is now a private museum holding the Bixby Collection. Today the Spade Store, now Morgan's Store, is an important part of the rural community.
of 2000, there were 32 people, 11 households, and 9 families residing in the community. There are 14 housing units. The racial makeup of the village was 96.87% White, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.38% of the population.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Sheridan County
Sheridan County, Nebraska
-History:Sheridan County was formed in 1885. It was named after General Philip H. Sheridan.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,198 people, 2,549 households, and 1,728 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 3,013 housing...
, 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...
. As of the 2000 census, the community had a population of 32. Ellsworth was established in the late nineteenth century as a company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
for the Spade Ranch
Spade Ranch (Nebraska)
The Spade Ranch is a large cattle ranch located in the Sandhills of western Nebraska between the towns of Gordon and Ellsworth. Founded in 1888 by Bartlett Richards, the ranch was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980....
and a shipping point for cattle on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
. Although unincorporated Ellsworth has one business, Morgan's Store
Spade Ranch Store
The Spade Ranch Store or Morgan's Store is a general store in the small town of Ellsworth, Nebraska providing supplies and services to area ranchers and passing motorists...
and post office with the ZIP code of 69340.
History
In 1888 the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy RailroadChicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
chose the site as a location for a depot on their newly built line. Cattleman Bartlett Richards
Bartlett Richards
Bartlett Richards was born January 6, 1862, in Weathersfield, Vermont, the son of a Congregational church pastor. At the age of ten, after his father died, Richards was sent to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts...
began assembling the expansive Spade Ranch
Spade Ranch (Nebraska)
The Spade Ranch is a large cattle ranch located in the Sandhills of western Nebraska between the towns of Gordon and Ellsworth. Founded in 1888 by Bartlett Richards, the ranch was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980....
the same year, making Ellsworth a company town for the ranch. In 1898 the Spade Ranch Store
Spade Ranch Store
The Spade Ranch Store or Morgan's Store is a general store in the small town of Ellsworth, Nebraska providing supplies and services to area ranchers and passing motorists...
was built and supplied the freight wagons that hauled north to the Spade Ranch Headquarters. The Spade, once Nebraska's largest ranch covering over 500000 acres (2,023.4 km²) included the area surrounding Ellsworth. A hotel was built across the street from the store and a windmill set in the middle of town. Bartlett Richards had a stately summer home with courtyard built in 1904 north of the store, which also served as the home to Lawrence Bixby, second owner of the Spade. The Ellsworth School House, built in 1896, served Ellsworth until 2007 and is now a private museum holding the Bixby Collection. Today the Spade Store, now Morgan's Store, is an important part of the rural community.
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 32 people, 11 households, and 9 families residing in the community. There are 14 housing units. The racial makeup of the village was 96.87% White, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.38% of the population.