Wausa, Nebraska

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Wausa, Nebraska
settlement_type = Village
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Wausa, Nebraska


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Nebraska
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Knox
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 1.4
area_land_km2 = 1.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.5
area_land_sq_mi = 0.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 636
population_density_km2 = 467.0
population_density_sq_mi = 1209.4

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 538
elevation_ft = 1765
latd = 42 |latm = 29 |lats = 52 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 32 |longs = 24 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 68786
area_code = 402
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 31-51735GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0834509GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Wausa is a village in Knox County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 636 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Wausa is located at coor dms|42|29|52|N|97|32|24|W|city (42.497806, -97.539866)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

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 convert|200|acre|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 convert|33|ft|m|abbr=on 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. Danielson-California Congressman said to have been born in Wausa.
*Norbert T. Tiemann was a Wausa banker who served as governor of Nebraska from 1967 to 1971.
*Doug Cunningham was a elected Nebraska State Senator for the 40th legislative district and relected 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. A list of new businesses can be found at the [http://www.ci.wausa.ne.us/business.htm community of Wausa website] .

Community culture

Annual events

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 few

Labor Day Weekend Celebration

A tradition at Wausa has been a Labor Day 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.

wedish Smorgasbord

The Wausa Community Swedish Smörgåsbord 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.

"For a full list of Events and News from Wausa visit http://www.mywausanews.com."

Churches

Evangelical Covenant Church

The first pastor of Evangelical Covenant Church was Rev. C. F. Larson. The church is currently without a resident pastor. 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 1900’s and now they are now called High League. The early 1900’s the first choir was started. This church helped start Covenant Cedars and still helps with funds. By the 1930’s English was used in all the church services and still is.

Golgotha Lutheran Church

Golgotha church was started in 1896. The church name was derived from the Hebrew name for the hill outside of Jerusalem where Jesus 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 convert|5|acre|m2 of land. In 1914 the first church was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The current pastor is Daniel Gifford.

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, student lounge, 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 started in 1913. They received the state runner-up trophy in 1999. Girls’ basketball began in 1914 but was dropped in 1920. 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 won a state championship in 2006.

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.

References

External links