Kearney, Nebraska

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Kearney, Nebraska
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Kearney, Nebraska


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Nebraska
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Buffalo
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 29.0
area_land_km2 = 28.4
area_water_km2 = 0.6
area_total_sq_mi = 11.2
area_land_sq_mi = 11.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 27431
population_density_km2 = 964.7
population_density_sq_mi = 2498.5

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 656
elevation_ft = 2152
latd = 40 |latm = 42 |lats = 3 |latNS = N
longd = 99 |longm = 4 |longs = 52 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 308
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 31-25055GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0830442GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Kearney is a city in Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 27,431 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Buffalo CountyGR|6 and home to the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Kearney is pronEng|ˈkɑrni "kar-ney", not "ker-ney".

Kearney is the principal city of the Kearney, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Buffalo and Kearney counties.

Geography

Kearney is located at coor dms|40|42|3|N|99|4|52|W|city (40.700731, -99.081150)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29.0 km²), of which, 11.0 square miles (28.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.96%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 27,431 people, 10,549 households, and 6,160 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,498.5 people per square mile (964.6/km²). There were 11,099 housing units at an average density of 1,010.9/sq mi (390.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.18% White, 0.63% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.68% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.08% of the population.

There were 10,549 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 23.9% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,829, and the median income for a family was $46,650. Males had a median income of $30,150 versus $22,366 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,713. About 7.4% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

The campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in the city, and has an annual student population of nearly 7,000. Also located here is the Museum of Nebraska Art, the state's official art collection. Just 2 miles east of town, The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, spanning Interstate 80, is a museum paying tribute to the area's pioneer history. It was featured in the movie About Schmidt. Just west of town is a housing subdivision know as The 1,733 Estates. This point marks the halfway point between Boston and San Francisco.

The city is also home to the Tri-City Storm, a USHL team, and formerly the Nebraska Cranes, which were the 2006 USBL Champions. Both teams play their games at the FirsTier Events Center, a large arena built originally to house the hockey team. With seating for 5,000, the arena has had the added effect of attracting various big name performers to the city. Previous guests have been Bob Dylan, Larry the Cable Guy, Jeff Foxworthy, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, and the Harlem Globetrotters.

Two microbreweries, Thunderhead Brewing and The Platte Valley Brewery are located in downtown Kearney. In 2004, Thunderhead Brewing was awarded a World Beer Cup Gold Medal for Coffee Flavored Beer for its Espresso Stout.

History

The city was named after nearby Fort Kearny (with an extra "e" added, but pronounced the same), a United States Army outpost along the Oregon Trail in the middle 19th century that was itself named after Col. and later General Stephen W. Kearny. The "e" was added by mistake sometime afterwards by postmen who consistently misspelled the town name. Eventually it just stuck. The current location of the city is on the North side of the Platte River and thanks to the railroad steadily grew.

Recent growth in the city has been dramatic. Each year, Kearney gains about 1,000 more residents and this creates a very lively construction market. The city is expanding quickly to the North, East, and West. The biggest employers in the city are the Good Samaritan Hospital and the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Other major employers include The Buckle Corporate Headquarters, Eaton Corporation, Baldwin Filters, and West Company Pharmaceuticals.

College

UNK Universty of Nebraska Kearney is one of 3 university's in Nebraska the other 2 being UNL University of Nebraska Lincoln and UNO Universty of Nebraska Omaha. UNK's colors are blue and gold. UNK is located at 905 West 25th StreetKearney NE 68849. UNK currently holds 6,478 undergraduate students and 1,006 graduate students. Students come to UNK from all 93 Nebraska counties, 36 states, and 47 foreign countries.Their sports programs include baseball, softball, football, volleyball, wrestling, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s track and field. A list of UNK Sororities and Fraternities.

Sororities

*Alpha Omicron Pi
*Alpha Pi
*Chi Omega
*Gamma Phi Beta

Fraternities

*Alpha Tau Omega
*Delta Tau Delta
*Phi Delta Theta
*Pi Kappa Alpha
*Sigma Phi Epsilon
*Sigma Tau Gamma

The campus is a 235-acre residential campus with more than 37 buildings. UNK offers easy access to the city's vibrant cultural life, award winning restaurants, outdoor recreational, shopping centers, and affordable housing, as well as to all the hockey, indoor football, entertainment and community events hosted at the local arena.

Some history of UNK

*Founded in 1905 as Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney.
*Became Nebraska State Teachers College in 1921.
*Renamed Kearney State College in 1963.
*Joined the University system as the University of Nebraska at Kearney, in 1991

Outdoors Areas

*Apollo Park
*Buffalo Ridge Golf Course
*Collins Park
*Cottonmill Lake Recreation Area
*Dyrden Park
*Harmon Park
*Kearney Country Club
*Meadowlark Hills Golf Course
*Pioneer Park
*Yanney Heritage Park

List of Schools in and around Kearney

*Bryant Elementry School
*Central Elementry School
*Faith Christian School of Kearney
*Horizon Middle School
*Kearney Catholic High School
*Kearney High School
*Sunrise Middle School
*Stone Elementry School
*University of Nebraska at Kearney

Trivia

Much of the action of Richard Power's National Book Award winning novel The Echo Maker takes place in Kearney.

Chief Industries Agri/Industrial Division is another large manufacturer of grain bins, material handling and steel farm buildings.

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.kearney.ne.us/ City of Kearney, Nebraska]
*" [http://www.kearneyhub.com Kearney Hub Local Newspaper] "
* [http://www.kearneylib.org Kearney Public Library]