Clearwater Nebraska

Clearwater is a village of about 320 people (2020 census) in Antelope County, on US Highway 275 and the Cowboy Trail in the Elkhorn River valley, about ten miles west of Neligh. It began as a railroad water stop in 1880 and is known today for Clearwater’s Big Rodeo.

ZIP: 68726 · County: Antelope · Highway: US 275 · Trail: Cowboy Trail · School: Summerland · Region: Northeast Nebraska

Things to Do in Clearwater

Rodeo. Clearwater’s Big Rodeo and the Clearwater Rough Stock Challenge bring crowds to town, and the Gene Snodgrass Arena hosts events through the season.

The Cowboy Trail. Nebraska’s rail trail runs right through Clearwater on the old railroad line that founded the town. Its crushed-limestone path follows the Elkhorn valley east to Neligh and west to Ewing—good for walking, biking or riding. More about the Cowboy Trail.

Eat and stay. The Waterhole (bar & grill), Two Bills Steakhouse and Three and Company Bakery; campers and RVs can stay at Elkhorn Acres RV Park.

Clearwater History

Clearwater owes its existence to a railroad bargain. Having promised Antelope County four depots, the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad bought a townsite ten miles west of Neligh on the south side of the Elkhorn, just above the mouth of the Clearwater Creek, and put up Clearwater Station in 1880 with a windmill and a water tower for the steam engines. The first passenger train ran through on May 31, 1881, and the village was platted that October by the surveyor H. L. Phelps. A post office had already opened in 1880. What followed was a full small-town century: two newspapers, two banks, a flour mill on the creek, an opera house that became a movie theater, five churches, the fire that took the east side of Main Street in 1896, and the water tower voted in by 78 votes to 9 in 1909 that still stands. The painted-post road through town in 1916 became today’s US 275.

Read the full history of Clearwater, Nebraska · How the highway came through

Getting Around

West on US 275: Ewing about 10 miles · Inman about 24 · O’Neill about 33
East on US 275: Neligh about 10 miles · Oakdale about 14 · Tilden about 22 · Norfolk about 42
North: Orchard about 12 miles

Distances are approximate. See the US Highway 275 corridor page for the whole road, and Antelope County road cameras before you travel.

Schools, Health & Village Services

School. Clearwater, Ewing and Orchard merged their school districts into Summerland Public Schools in 2020, and the new Summerland school opened in October 2021 in the country between the three towns. SummerlandBobcats.org

Health care. Clearwater AMH Family Practice Clinic in town; hospitals at Antelope Memorial in Neligh and Avera St. Anthony’s in O’Neill.

Village. Village Office · Post Office · Public Library · Fire Department · Chamber of Commerce

See every Clearwater business and place listed on Nebraska Directory ↓

Clearwater, Nebraska (68726)

A village in northeastern Antelope County in the Elkhorn River valley, on US 275 and the Cowboy Trail in Northeast Nebraska.

ZIP: 68726  |  Pop: 320 (2020)  |  Highway: US 275  |  County: Antelope

Clearwater History · US 275 Corridor · Cameras