Wood Lake Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Village · Cherry County · Population 46 (2020 census) · ZIP 69221 · Founded 1882 · Peak population 323 (1940)

About Wood Lake

Wood Lake is a village of 46 (2020) on US 20 in southeastern Cherry County, at about 2,690 feet, 23 miles southeast of Valentine and 20 miles west-northwest of Ainsworth. The Cowboy Trail passes through town on the old railroad grade, and the city park at Lake and Main Streets has electric hookups by donation, water, seasonal restrooms and a picnic shelter. Wood Lake is on Central Time.

History

Wood Lake was founded in 1882, when the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad, later the Chicago & North Western, was extended west. It was named for a lake on the west side of town with practically the only timber in the area. By 1890 it had about 200 people, a flour mill, three general stores, a hardware store and a harness maker. The population was 323 in both 1920 and 1940. The last train ran in 1992, and the Cowboy Trail now follows the grade. The Wood Lake school merged into Valentine Community Schools in 2006.

Highways and trails through Wood Lake

Route	One way	Other way
US 20Through the village	Northwest to Valentine	East to Johnstown and Ainsworth

Nearby towns

Arabia	about 9 mi northwest	US 20
Johnstown	about 10 mi east-southeast	US 20
Thatcher	about 16 mi northwest	US 20
Ainsworth	about 20 mi east-southeast	US 20
Sparks	about 21 mi north	US 20 and NE 12
Valentine	about 23 mi northwest	US 20
Simeon	about 25 mi west	County roads

Things to see

the Cowboy Trail through town, west toward Valentine and east toward Johnstown and Ainsworth · camping in the city park

Schools and health care

Schools: Students attend Valentine Community Schools

Health care: Nearest hospital: Cherry County Hospital in Valentine, about 23 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Who's Who in Nebraska, Cherry County (1940); NEGenWeb Cherry County; Nebraska State Gazetteer (1890); Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names; Nebraska Blue Books (1920, 1926); History Nebraska and its markers; National Register nominations; 49 CFR 71.7 (time-zone boundary); National Park Service (Niobrara National Scenic River); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Forest Service; Nebraska Game and Parks; Nebraska Department of Transportation; FAA via AirNav; FCC; Cherry County; City of Valentine; Valentine Community Schools; Cody-Kilgore Public Schools; Cherry County Hospital; Visit Nebraska; Nebraska Arts Council; Flatwater Free Press; Nebraska Examiner; Rural Radio Network. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.