Pawnee City Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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City · Pawnee County · County seat · Population 865 (2020 census) · ZIP 68420 · Founded 1857 · Peak population 1,969 (1900)

About Pawnee City

Pawnee City is the seat of Pawnee County, a city of 865 in the middle of the county, where NE 8 crosses NE 50 and NE 65, about 18 miles south of Tecumseh and 33 miles east of Beatrice. Its downtown around the 1911 Pawnee County Courthouse is on the National Register, and it has the county hospital, Pawnee City Public Schools and the Pawnee City Historical Society museum.

History

The site was chosen as county seat at the election of November 4, 1856. County surveyor Josiah J. Lebo laid out the town in January 1857, and lots were sold that spring; it is named for the Pawnee people. It was incorporated as the town of Pawnee in 1858, though a working town government began only on May 6, 1871. A limestone courthouse was finished in 1869.

Fire broke out at 12:30 a.m. on August 9, 1881, and destroyed more than half of the business district (often given as two-thirds); the town rebuilt largely in brick and stone. The Burlington's line to Wymore brought the first regular train that December. The Carnegie library opened in 1908 and the present courthouse in 1911, and the population peaked at 1,969 in 1900. Notable residents have included David Butler, Nebraska's first governor; Kenneth S. Wherry, mayor and later U.S. Senate Republican leader; actress Irish McCalla; and comedian Dan Whitney, "Larry the Cable Guy."

Highways and trails through Pawnee City

Route	One way	Other way
NE 8East–west through the city	East with NE 50 to Du Bois, then on to Falls City	West to NE 99 near Burchard
NE 50Runs with NE 8 southeast of town and with NE 65 north of it	North past Table Rock to Tecumseh (about 18 mi) and Omaha	Southeast to Du Bois and the Kansas line
NE 65From the Kansas line through the city	North and northeast to NE 4 at Table Rock	South to the Kansas line

Nearby towns

Table Rock	about 6 mi northeast	NE 50 and NE 65
Du Bois	about 8 mi southeast	NE 8 and NE 50
Steinauer	about 8 mi north-northwest	NE 50 and S-67B
Burchard	about 11 mi west-northwest	NE 8 and NE 99
Humboldt	about 12 mi east-northeast	NE 65 and NE 4
Elk Creek	about 12 mi north	NE 50
Lewiston	about 16 mi northwest	NE 8, NE 99 and NE 4
Tecumseh	about 18 mi north	NE 50
Falls City	about 29 mi east	NE 8

Things to see

The Pawnee City Historic Business District, 5th to 7th and F to G Sts. (National Register), with the Pawnee County Courthouse, 625 6th St. (1911; National Register) · the Pawnee City Carnegie Library, 730 G St. (1908; National Register), home of the Pawnee City Public Library · the post office, 703 G St. (National Register), with Kenneth Evett's 1942 mural The Auction · the Pawnee City Historical Society & Museum, 529 P St.: 22 buildings, including five one-room schools, Gov. David Butler's house, Sen. Kenneth Wherry's library, more than 800 kinds of barbed wire and the barn from Larry the Cable Guy's family farm ($5; winter hours Thursdays; 402-852-4002) · Jerry's Dream Museum, a restored 1937 Phillips 66 station and 1950s diner, with Cars & Coffee on second Saturdays, April–October · the E. F. Hempstead House, 14th and H Sts. (National Register; private) · Fairview Golf Course, 1749 D St., 9 holes and one of the few sand-green courses left · City Pond Park and its Pawnderosa campground (about 8 RV sites) · Taylor's Branch WMA, 240 acres with an archery range, 1.5 mi north and 1 mi east · the Pawnee County Fair at the fairgrounds in mid-July

Events in Pawnee City

Pawnee County Fair
Pawnee County Fair, a county fair in Pawnee City, Nebraska.

Know of another event here? Tell us about it.

Schools and health care

Schools: Pawnee City Public Schools: Pawnee City Elementary School (PK–6) and Pawnee City Secondary School (7–12), both at 729 E St., Pawnee City

Health care: Pawnee County Memorial Hospital and Pawnee County Rural Health Clinic, 600 I St., Pawnee City, 402-852-2231

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names; History Nebraska markers; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Game and Parks; Nemaha NRD; Nebraska Department of Transportation; county, school, museum and parish websites. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.