Wausa, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Wausa is a village in Knox County
, Nebraska
, United States
. The population was 634 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 636 people, 276 households, and 171 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,209.4 people per square mile (463.3/km²). There were 301 housing units at an average density of 572.4 per square mile (219.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.90% White, 0.47% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% Asian, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 276 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples
living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the village the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 34.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,929, and the median income for a family was $36,477. Males had a median income of $27,000 versus $15,313 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $15,487. About 4.8% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Mr. Thorson returned to Minnesota and in the following spring married and returned to Nebraska with his bride. He leased 200 acre (0.809372 km²) land built a sod house and started a sheep ranch consisting of 115 sheep. Families immigrating from Sweden began coming and Thorson was appointed land agent.
At this time Creighton, Nebraska had the nearest railroad station. A pony express was started by a man with the name Campbell. He made three trips a week between Creighton. The post office was also Thorson’s home.
By 1885 12 new families had moved into the settlement and it was decided that they would change the name to “Vasa” in honor of the Swedish king Gustaf Vasa
. The railroad came through Vasa on November, 27 1890. At this time the name was changed to Wausa, a combination of the kings name and the letters U.S.A. In the fall of 1891 a community water well was put down. It was 33 ft (10.1 m) deep and cost $40. In 1903 the first water system was installed. A complete sewer system was built in 1916. The Waste Water Treatment Facility was built in 1985.
Weekend Celebration. Each year's activities vary as well as the number of days (1 -3). In recent years the celebration has been a one-day (Sunday) affair packed with events for all ages. Activities include a beef barbecue, car show, community worship service, kiddie carnival, food court, ice cream social, petting zoo, model airplane show, skydiving exhibition, horseshoe pitching contest, sand volleyball tournament and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The evening finale typically is a local talent contest, a play production, a magic show or a musical performance.
is held the fourth Saturday of each October. For over 50 years the annual event has been a community project complete with colorful Swedish costumes and decorations. The Smörgåsbord serves a variety of tasty foods including potato sausage, meatballs, ham, herring, cold meats, salads, rye bread, sweet breads, brown beans, deviled eggs, fruit soup, ostkaka
, rice pudding
and lingonberries. Several recipes used have been passed down from generation to generation and are still favorites today.
was crucified. The founder of Golgotha was Theodore Moellering. The first pastor got ill, so was there for only a few months. Church services were spoken in German until 1941. The first church services were held in country schools near the present site of the church. In the year of 1898 the church bought 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of land. In 1914 the first church was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The current pastor is Adam Salinas, who was installed on October 10, 2010.
Boys’ basketball
started in 1913. They played in the 1965 Class C state tournament. They received the state runner-up trophy in 1999. Girls’ basketball began in 1914 but was dropped sometime after 1932. It came back in 1975. They also won state runner-up in 1986 and 1988. They had an orchestra that started in 1918. It ended in 1930. Football
started in 1923. Track started in 1927. Volleyball
began in 1968. Golf
started in 1977. In 1982 they were runner-up in golf. It ended in 1983. Speech has been an important part of Wausa activities. They won a state runner-up in 1999. The Wausa One-Act Play is a five time defending champion. They won a state championship in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Wausa currently holds the D-2 record for One-Act Play state champions in a row.
In 1975, they had seven school bus routes. Now there are two bus routes. In the 1970s the average class size was fifty students. Today Wausa High school is home to 54 students in grades 9-12. Wausa’s mascot is the Vikings and Lady Vikings and their colors are Purple and Gold.
Knox County, Nebraska
-History:The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the area on 4 September 1804.The US Treaty with the Ponca tribe was signed at White Paint Creek on 9 June 1825.Knox County was formed in 1854. It was named after Major General Henry Knox.-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 634 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Wausa is located at 42°29′52"N 97°32′24"W (42.497806, -97.539866).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 village has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
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 636 people, 276 households, and 171 families residing in the village. 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 1,209.4 people per square mile (463.3/km²). There were 301 housing units at an average density of 572.4 per square mile (219.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.90% White, 0.47% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% Asian, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 276 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% 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, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the village the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 34.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,929, and the median income for a family was $36,477. Males had a median income of $27,000 versus $15,313 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 village was $15,487. About 4.8% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
In 1882 Theodore T. Thorson was the first resident. He named it Thorson, Nebraska. He was also the first postmaster. He was returning from a five month travel over the west coast, Montana and Wyoming, in search of a good location for stock raising.Mr. Thorson returned to Minnesota and in the following spring married and returned to Nebraska with his bride. He leased 200 acre (0.809372 km²) land built a sod house and started a sheep ranch consisting of 115 sheep. Families immigrating from Sweden began coming and Thorson was appointed land agent.
At this time Creighton, Nebraska had the nearest railroad station. A pony express was started by a man with the name Campbell. He made three trips a week between Creighton. The post office was also Thorson’s home.
By 1885 12 new families had moved into the settlement and it was decided that they would change the name to “Vasa” in honor of the Swedish king Gustaf Vasa
Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
. The railroad came through Vasa on November, 27 1890. At this time the name was changed to Wausa, a combination of the kings name and the letters U.S.A. In the fall of 1891 a community water well was put down. It was 33 ft (10.1 m) deep and cost $40. In 1903 the first water system was installed. A complete sewer system was built in 1916. The Waste Water Treatment Facility was built in 1985.
Notable people
- George E. DanielsonGeorge E. DanielsonGeorge Elmore Danielson was an American politician who served as a Democratic Congressional representative from California for the 29th District and 30th District ....
-California Congressman said to have been born in Wausa. - Norbert T. TiemannNorbert T. TiemannNorbert Theodore Tiemann was a Republican politician from Wausa, Nebraska best known for being the 32nd Governor of Nebraska from 1967 to 1971. He was born in Minden, Nebraska. He attended Campbell High School in Campbell, Nebraska where he graduated in 1942. He served in the U.S. Army during...
was a Wausa banker who served as governor of Nebraska from 1967 to 1971. - Doug CunninghamDoug CunninghamFor the football player of the same name see Doug Cunningham .Doug Cunningham is a former Nebraska State Senator from Wausa, Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and the Consultant-Director for the Hometown Merchants Association. -Personal life:Cunningham graduated from Wausa High School in 1972...
was an elected Nebraska State Senator for the 40th legislative district and reelected in 2002. He currently sits on the Agriculture and Health and Human Services committees as well as being the chairperson of the Business and Labor committee.
Business
Wausa, Nebraska has had a unique list of businesses. Some of the older businesses are a Livery business, Livery barn, a photograph gallery, Country Craft Creation, and a bunch of barber shops.Pork Chop Barbecue
The annual Pork Chop Barbecue, a fund raising event for the Wausa Community Club, is held on a Saturday night in late July or early August. Weather permitting, this event is usually held in the spacious Gladstone Park. Originally started in 1984 as a fund-raiser for the town's 1990 Centennial, it is now used to raise funds for worthwhile projects within the community. The "all you can eat" menu for the evening consists of grilled pork chops, baked potatoes, cole slaw, lemonade, pop, coffee and beer. A band plays for your listening and dancing enjoyment with intermissions filled with the auctioning of donated items. Auction items often include hand-crafted items, Husker football tickets, guided tours on Lewis and Clark Lake, labor and agricultural products, to name a fewLabor Day Weekend Celebration
A tradition at Wausa has been a Labor DayLabor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
Weekend Celebration. Each year's activities vary as well as the number of days (1 -3). In recent years the celebration has been a one-day (Sunday) affair packed with events for all ages. Activities include a beef barbecue, car show, community worship service, kiddie carnival, food court, ice cream social, petting zoo, model airplane show, skydiving exhibition, horseshoe pitching contest, sand volleyball tournament and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The evening finale typically is a local talent contest, a play production, a magic show or a musical performance.
Swedish Smorgasbord
The Wausa Community Swedish SmörgåsbordSmörgåsbord
Smörgåsbord is a type of Scandinavian meal served buffet-style with multiple dishes of various foods on a table, originating in Sweden. In Norway it is called koldtbord, in Denmark it is called det kolde bord, in Finland seisova pöytä and in Estonia rootsi laud...
is held the fourth Saturday of each October. For over 50 years the annual event has been a community project complete with colorful Swedish costumes and decorations. The Smörgåsbord serves a variety of tasty foods including potato sausage, meatballs, ham, herring, cold meats, salads, rye bread, sweet breads, brown beans, deviled eggs, fruit soup, ostkaka
Ostkaka
Ostkaka, "ost" meaning "cheese" and "kaka" meaning "cake" in Swedish , also known as Swedish cheesecake or Swedish curd cake, is a Swedish dessert that has its roots in two different parts of Sweden, Hälsingland and Småland...
, rice pudding
Pudding
Pudding most often refers to a dessert, but it can also be a savory dish.In the United States, pudding characteristically denotes a sweet milk-based dessert similar in consistency to egg-based custards, though it may also refer to other types such as bread and rice pudding.In the United Kingdom and...
and lingonberries. Several recipes used have been passed down from generation to generation and are still favorites today.
Evangelical Covenant Church
The first pastor of Evangelical Covenant Church was Rev. C. F. Larson. The church's current pastor is Matthew Norlen. The founder of this church was The Swedish Christian congregation of Wausa This church was rebuilt and started in 1893. The Swedish language was used in Sunday school until 1918 and then dropped. The Young People’s Society was started in the early 1900s and now they are now called High League. The early 1900s the first choir was started. This church helped start Covenant Cedars and still helps with funds.Golgotha Lutheran Church
Golgotha Lutheran Church (LCMS) was started in 1896. The church name was derived from the Hebrew name for the hill outside of Jerusalem where JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
was crucified. The founder of Golgotha was Theodore Moellering. The first pastor got ill, so was there for only a few months. Church services were spoken in German until 1941. The first church services were held in country schools near the present site of the church. In the year of 1898 the church bought 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of land. In 1914 the first church was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The current pastor is Adam Salinas, who was installed on October 10, 2010.
Thabor Lutheran Church
The first pastor of Thabor Lutheran Church was Rev. C. G. Olson. The current pastor is Pastor Michelle Oetken. The founder of Thabor was Pastor S. Thorell. This church was started in 1892 and was rebuilt with a bell that was the only one in town. The Sunday school was built in 1950 with the Luther League installed right after. They founded Jr. Missionaries which still runs today for Grades 1-6. They also meet once a month at the church. They had the Swedish language in the church until 1934, when it was dropped in favor of the English language. The Moller Pipe Organ was installed in 1952 and still played every Sunday. The first worship service was held in 1904 in the new church. In 1962 a Swedish tradition was added called "Santa Lucia". The man that built this church building built the same one in Wakefield, NE.United Methodist Church
The first Methodist pastor was Rev. Gearhart. The current pastor is Samm Johnston. The founder was Rev. Carter. This church was rebuilt. This church was started in 1892. The preacher was paid with butter, eggs, pork, and grain. Air conditioning was put in, the year of 1979. The United Methodist Women’s group started the Smorgasbord in 1948. Osmond and Magnet were in charge of the Methodist Church. The bell was removed in 1986. There have been 29 pastors.Education
The first school house in the school district of Wausa was built in 1887 along Highway 121, north of town. The second school house was built in 1890 and was moved three times while functioning as the main school building. The current brick structure school house was built in 1913, and still houses the art room, lockers, Math, English, Spanish, and Social Studies classrooms. They added on to the south of the building in 1960. This section is the current elementary and multipurpose room. It also houses the elementary computer lab, as well as the distance learning facility. The district added on to the high school, building a north wing in 1964. The football field was added across the street in 1970. The gym, stage, and locker rooms were added on in 1975. The new press box and scoreboard were added to the field in 2005.Boys’ basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
started in 1913. They played in the 1965 Class C state tournament. They received the state runner-up trophy in 1999. Girls’ basketball began in 1914 but was dropped sometime after 1932. It came back in 1975. They also won state runner-up in 1986 and 1988. They had an orchestra that started in 1918. It ended in 1930. Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
started in 1923. Track started in 1927. Volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
began in 1968. Golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
started in 1977. In 1982 they were runner-up in golf. It ended in 1983. Speech has been an important part of Wausa activities. They won a state runner-up in 1999. The Wausa One-Act Play is a five time defending champion. They won a state championship in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Wausa currently holds the D-2 record for One-Act Play state champions in a row.
In 1975, they had seven school bus routes. Now there are two bus routes. In the 1970s the average class size was fifty students. Today Wausa High school is home to 54 students in grades 9-12. Wausa’s mascot is the Vikings and Lady Vikings and their colors are Purple and Gold.