Stuart Nebraska

Village · Holt County · Population 486 (2020 census) · ZIP 68780 · Founded 1878

About Stuart

Stuart is a village of 486 on US 20 in western Holt County, about 9.5 miles west of Atkinson. The Cowboy Trail runs through town, and Stuart has lodging, camping in the city park and a grocery store.

History

John Carberry took a timber claim west of the site in March 1878 and built the first building, of logs. The town is named for Peter Stuart, its first postmaster and Carberry's father-in-law; the post office opened in 1880. John O'D. Nightengale platted the town in 1881, the first train arrived early in 1882, and Stuart was incorporated in January 1884. Its population peaked at 794 in 1960.

Stuart's first rodeo was held in 1930, produced by Gus Obermire, the county's first rodeo stock contractor. In the 1950s a troupe of 24 white horses from a ranch north of Stuart performed across the country; the White Horse Museum tells their story. As late as 1976 the village still made its own electricity in a municipal light plant.

Read the full History of Stuart →

Things to see

White Horse Museum & Heritage Village (Maple and Garfield streets) · Stuart City Park camping · the Cowboy Trail

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