Niobrara Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Village · Knox County · Population 365 (2020 census) · ZIP 68760 · Founded 1856 · Peak population 761 (1930)

About Niobrara

Niobrara is a village of 365 where the Niobrara River meets the Missouri in northern Knox County. NE 12 and NE 14 run through town, and NE 14 crosses into South Dakota on the Chief Standing Bear Memorial Bridge. Niobrara State Park is just west of town, and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska has its headquarters here.

History

Niobrara was founded in 1856 by a party led by Dr. Benneville Yeakel Shelly and was the first county seat, from 1857 until 1902. Lewis and Clark camped near the mouth of the Niobrara on September 4, 1804. In March 1881 an ice jam flooded the town three to six feet deep, and the whole town was moved about 1.5 miles southwest onto higher ground with house jacks and teams. When the rising water table behind Gavins Point Dam flooded the second town, Niobrara moved again; the third town was dedicated on July 4, 1977.

This was Ponca country. In 1877 the Ponca were forced to leave for Indian Territory; when Chief Standing Bear came home to bury his son, his court case ended on May 12, 1879, with a judge ruling that "an Indian is a person" under the law. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska was restored on October 31, 1990 (see the Ponca Trail of Tears). The population peaked at 761 in 1930.

Highways and trails through Niobrara

Route	One way	Other way
NE 12Shares about 3 mi with NE 14 at Niobrara	West to Verdel (about 10 mi) and Lynch (about 22 mi)	East to Santee (Spur 54D, 14 mi) and Crofton (28 mi)
NE 14North–south through Niobrara	North across the Missouri on the Chief Standing Bear Memorial Bridge to SD 37	South to Verdigre (11.5 mi)

Nearby towns

Verdel	about 10 mi west	NE 12
Springfield, South Dakota	about 11 mi north	NE 14 and SD 37
Verdigre	11.5 mi south	NE 14
Santee	14 mi east	NE 12 and Spur 54D
Lindy	15 mi east	NE 12
Lynch	about 22 mi west	NE 12

Things to see

Niobrara State Park, 89261 522 Ave. (cabins, camping, trails and the Ponca story) · Ponca Tribal Museum, 88915 521 Ave. · The Ponca Tribe and The Sage Brothers historical markers · Niobrara Museum · Tatanka Golf Club · Bazile Creek WMA

Events in Niobrara

Annual Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Powwow
In 1994, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska held its first annual Powwow after the Tribe’s federal reinstatement in 1990. The Tribe hosted its 25th Annual Powwow on August…

Know of another event here? Tell us about it.

Schools and health care

Schools: Niobrara Public Schools: Niobrara Elementary School and Niobrara Secondary School, 247 N. Hwy 12

Health care: Avera Medical Group Niobrara, Park Ave.; Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Health & Wellness Center, 249 Spruce Ave.; nearest hospital Niobrara Valley Hospital, Lynch (about 22 mi)

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; History Nebraska; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Knox County; Nebraska Department of Transportation route mileposts. Distances marked "about" are estimates.