Adams Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Gage County · Population 604 (2020 census) · ZIP 68301 · Founded 1873 · Peak population 647 (1910)

About Adams

Adams is a village of 604 in northeastern Gage County, on spur S-34C just south of NE 41 near the start of NE 43, about 26 miles south of Lincoln and 18 miles northeast of Beatrice. Freeman Public Schools has its single campus here.

History

John O. Adams, George Gale, John Lyons and others settled here in 1855–57 and got their mail at Laona. When the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad crossed this corner of the county in 1872, about 80 acres were laid out in 1873 by Adams and the railroad, and the town was named for him; a post office opened by 1873. A patrons' cooperative store of 1874 was its first business, a private bank opened in 1884, and the Adams Gazette began in 1886. The population peaked at 647 in 1910.

Highways and trails through Adams

Route	One way	Other way
NE 41Just north of the village; spur S-34C leads in	East to Sterling and Tecumseh; NE 43 runs north to Bennet	West to US 77 near Cortland and on to Clatonia and Wilber

Nearby towns

Sterling	about 7 mi east	NE 41
Firth	about 7 mi northwest	NE 41 and county roads
Cortland	about 11 mi west-northwest	NE 41 and US 77
Filley	about 12 mi south	County roads and US 136
Pickrell	about 13 mi west-southwest	NE 41 and US 77
Beatrice	about 18 mi southwest	NE 41 and US 77
Lincoln	about 27 mi north-northwest	NE 43

Things to see

The Farmers State Bank, 601 Main St. (National Register) · the Freeman Public Schools campus, 415 8th St. · Adams Community Days and the Independence Day celebration · Laona Cemetery · American Lutheran Church, 601 Ash St., and First United Methodist Church, 405 7th St.

Events in Adams

Adams Community Days
Adams Community Days is an annual multi-day community celebration held each August in Adams, organized by the ADAMS Community Foundation.
Adams Independence Day Celebration
Adams holds its Independence Day celebration on the first Saturday of July each year, featuring volleyball and softball tournaments, a community barbecue, and firewo…

More about this event: Adams Area Events

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Schools and health care

Schools: Freeman Public Schools: Freeman Elementary–Adams (PK–6) and Freeman High School (7–12), one campus at 415 8th St., Adams

Health care: Adams Primary Care, 620 Main St., Suite A, 402-988-2188 (a Johnson County Hospital clinic); Gold Crest Retirement Center, 200 Levi Lane (assisted living); nearest hospitals: Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center, 4800 Hospital Pkwy. (US 77 North), Beatrice, 402-228-3344 (critical access hospital with a 24-hour emergency department), or Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Dobbs, History of Gage County (1918); National Park Service; History Nebraska; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Game and Parks; Lower Big Blue NRD; Nebraska Department of Transportation; city, village, school, museum and hospital websites. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.