Gothenburg, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Gothenburg is a city in Dawson County
, Nebraska
, United States
. It is part of the Lexington, Nebraska
Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,619 at the 2000 census
.
, Sweden
and is noted for its Swedish heritage. Gothenburg, Nebraska, and Gothenburg , Sweden, are believed to be the only two cities named Gothenburg in the world.
Gothenburg was founded in 1882 by Olof Bergstrom, a native of Hassela
, in Gävleborg County
, Sweden
. After coming to America from Sweden in 1881, Bergstrom worked for a time on the Union Pacific Railroad
, then homesteaded in Dawson County near Gothenburg. He eventually became a land agent for the UP. Bergstrom selected the site that was to become Gothenburg and located a farmstead about a mile north. The Union Pacific Railroad laid out the original town of eight blocks parallel to the railroad tracks. Bergstrom made several return trips to Sweden to lead groups of settlers to Dawson County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.93%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,619 people, 1,457 households, and 989 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,422.6 people per square mile (550.1/km²). There were 1,575 housing units at an average density of 619.1 per square mile (239.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.37% White, 0.44% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 1.22% from other races
, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% of the population. 45.4% were of German
, 11.0% Swedish, 10.9% Irish
and 8.9% American
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 1,457 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,990, and the median income for a family was $40,729. Males had a median income of $31,589 versus $20,162 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,034. About 6.1% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Dawson County, Nebraska
Dawson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2010, the population was 24,326. Its county seat is Lexington.Dawson County is part of the Lexington, Nebraska, Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, 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...
. It is part of the Lexington, Nebraska
Lexington, Nebraska
Lexington is a city in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 10,230 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dawson County. 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...
Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,619 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...
.
History
Gothenburg, Nebraska is named after GothenburgGothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and is noted for its Swedish heritage. Gothenburg, Nebraska, and Gothenburg , Sweden, are believed to be the only two cities named Gothenburg in the world.
Gothenburg was founded in 1882 by Olof Bergstrom, a native of Hassela
Hassela
Hassela is a locality situated in Nordanstig Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 375 inhabitants in 2005....
, in Gävleborg County
Gävleborg County
Gävleborg County is a county or län on the Baltic Sea coast of Sweden. It borders to the counties of Uppsala, Västmanland, Dalarna, Jämtland and Västernorrland. The capital is Gävle.- Administration :...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. After coming to America from Sweden in 1881, Bergstrom worked for a time on the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, then homesteaded in Dawson County near Gothenburg. He eventually became a land agent for the UP. Bergstrom selected the site that was to become Gothenburg and located a farmstead about a mile north. The Union Pacific Railroad laid out the original town of eight blocks parallel to the railroad tracks. Bergstrom made several return trips to Sweden to lead groups of settlers to Dawson County.
Geography
Gothenburg is located at 40°55′54"N 100°9′34"W (40.931560, -100.159381).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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...
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.93%) is water.
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 3,619 people, 1,457 households, and 989 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 1,422.6 people per square mile (550.1/km²). There were 1,575 housing units at an average density of 619.1 per square mile (239.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.37% White, 0.44% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 1.22% 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 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% of the population. 45.4% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 11.0% Swedish, 10.9% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 8.9% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 1,457 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,990, and the median income for a family was $40,729. Males had a median income of $31,589 versus $20,162 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 $17,034. About 6.1% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Points of interest
- The Pony Express Trail runs through Gothenburg. There are two original Pony Express Stations in Gothenburg. In 1931, a station located on the Upper 96 Ranch, four miles east of Fort McPhersonFort McPherson, NebraskaFort McPherson was originally called Cantonment McKean, and was popularly known as Fort Cottonwood. The Fort was an Indian Wars-era U.S...
in Lincoln CountyLincoln County, Nebraska-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,632 people, 14,076 households, and 9,444 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile . There are 15,438 housing units in Lincoln....
, was donated to the city. The station was moved to Ehmen Park in central Gothenburg. A second station is still in its original location, on the Lower 96 Ranch four miles south of Gothenburg; it is open to the public on a limited basis. - Swedish Crosses Cemetery, a cemetery where wrought ironWrought ironthumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
crossesCrossesCrosses may refer to:* Cross, the symbol* Crosses , the fourth album for the Belgian rock band Zornik* Crosses, Cher, a French municipality* Crosses, a musical project featuring members of Deftones and Far...
mark the graves of three children of Swedish immigrants is located two miles north and two miles west of Gothenburg. A Nebraska Historical Marker was dedicated in August 1991. - Wild Horse Golf Club is located northwest of Gothenburg and is infamous for its high winds, fast greens, and "wooga", or the native grass that is used as the second cut. Golf Week Magazine rated it #1 "Best Course Under $50" as well as 21st Best Modern Course in the United States (2007).
- The Gothenburg Historical Museum, organized in 1980, contains many historical artifacts from the Dawson County area.
- The Sod House Museum was established in Gothenburg in 1988. The museum stands next to a full-scale replica of an authentic sod house, together with a barn, windmills and life-sized barbed wire sculptures.