Syracuse Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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City · Otoe County · Population 1,941 (2020 census) · ZIP 68446 · Founded 1869 · Peak population 1,942 (2010)

About Syracuse

Syracuse is a city of 1,941 in west-central Otoe County, where NE 50 crosses the NE 2 expressway, about 29 miles east-southeast of Lincoln and 17 miles west of Nebraska City. The Otoe County Fair is held each summer at the Otoe County Fairgrounds on the south edge of town, and the city has Syracuse Area Health, the Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca schools, a pool and the Syracuse Public Library.

History

The name came first. In 1856 a "Syracuse Town Company" named for the salt center in New York claimed a salt site about six miles west, and Syracuse precinct carried the name on. In 1863 the precinct post office moved to Nursery Hill, a stopping place on the trail west from Nebraska City. In 1869 Mr. Thorn gave 100 acres to the Midland Pacific, and Dr. J. N. Converse and L. E. Sinsabaugh laid out the town; when the station opened in 1871 the Nursery Hill stores moved to it. Syracuse incorporated on January 6, 1875.

By 1881 the town shipped 646 carloads of grain and stock, and the county fair moved here in 1883. The Syracuse Journal began in 1878. The Civil Works Administration built a library at Plum and 6th streets in 1933–34. The Midland Pacific became part of the Burlington, and the NE 2 expressway now bypasses the town on the north. The population was 1,942 in 2010 and 1,941 in 2020, its two highest counts.

Highways and trails through Syracuse

Route	One way	Other way
NE 50Through town; interchange with NE 2 on the north side	North past Otoe's spur to US 34 near Avoca and Louisville	South past NE 128 and the Burr spur to Tecumseh
NE 2Four-lane expressway bypassing the city on the north	East past Dunbar to Nebraska City (about 17 mi)	West past Unadilla and Palmyra to Lincoln
NE 128West end at NE 50 just south of town	East along N Rd. to Lorton and US 75	Ends at NE 50

Nearby towns

Unadilla	about 4.8 mi west-northwest	NE 2
Otoe	about 5 mi northeast	NE 50 and S-66C
Dunbar	about 8 mi east	NE 2
Lorton	about 9 mi east-southeast	NE 128
Avoca	about 10 mi north-northeast	NE 50
Burr	about 11 mi southwest	NE 50 and S-66E
Palmyra	about 11 mi west-northwest	NE 2
Talmage	about 12 mi southeast	NE 128 and NE 67
Tecumseh	about 20 mi south	NE 50
Nebraska City	about 17 mi east	NE 2
Lincoln	about 29 mi west-northwest	NE 2

Things to see

Otoe County Museum of Memories, 366 Poplar St., in the 1881 First Lutheran Church, with three more buildings (Sunday afternoons in summer or by appointment) · the Otoe County Fair at the Otoe County Fairgrounds, 198 Plum St. (July 30–August 2 in 2026) · GermanFest, usually the second Saturday in July · Aqua Center of Syracuse, 1180 Chestnut St. · Williams Park, with a lighted walking path and fishing pond · Syracuse Campground, 5th and Midland Sts. ($10 a night, honor box) and Little Rivers Edge RV Park, 2671 J Rd. · Syracuse Country Club, 9 holes · Rich Harvest Vineyard & Winery, 3010 G Rd., and SafeHouse Winery, 325 5th St., in a former bank

Events in Syracuse

GermanFest
Otoe County Fair
Otoe County Fair, a county fair in Nebraska City, Nebraska.

Know of another event here? Tell us about it.

Schools and health care

Schools: Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca Schools: Elementary School at Syracuse, 550 7th St. (PK–3); Middle School at Syracuse, 1430 Education Dr. (4–8); High School at Syracuse, 1500 Education Dr. (9–12)

Health care: Syracuse Area Health, 2731 Healthcare Dr., 402-269-2011 (critical access hospital with emergency department; clinic 402-269-2411)

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Johnson, History of Nebraska (1880); History Nebraska; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Game and Parks; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Nebraska DHHS hospital roster; village, school, library and museum websites. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.