Chadron ( ) is a city in and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

of Dawes County, Nebraska, United States, in the

Great Plains The Great Plains is a broad expanse of plain, flatland in North America. The region stretches east of the Rocky Mountains, much of it covered in prairie, steppe, and grassland. They are the western part of the Interior Plains, which include th ...

region. The population was 5,206 at the 2020 census. The city is home to an 11-story high-rise on the campus of Chadron State College, with the building being the tallest in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Description

Chadron also is the

United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. It administers the nation's 154 United States National Forest, national forests and 20 United States Natio ...

headquarters of the

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests, and the Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre, and Oglala National Grasslands. The Museum of the Fur Trade is located near Chadron, at the site of the

American Fur Company The American Fur Company (AFC) was a prominent American company that sold furs, skins, and buffalo robes. It was founded in 1808 by John Jacob Astor, a German Americans, German immigrant to the United States. During its heyday in the early 19th c ...

's former Bordeaux Trading Post.

History

Succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples lived in the area for thousands of years. In historic times, tribes such as the

Oglala Lakota The Oglala (pronounced , meaning 'to scatter one's own' in Lakota language, Lakota) are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people who, along with the Dakota people, Dakota, make up the Sioux, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Seven Council Fires). A ...

(Oglala Sioux Tribe),

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. The Cheyenne comprise two Native American tribes, the Só'taeo'o or Só'taétaneo'o (more commonly spelled as Suhtai or Sutaio) and the (also spelled Tsitsistas, The term for th ...

and others lived in the area. The

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin ( ; Dakota/ Lakota: ) are groups of Native American tribes and First Nations people from the Great Plains of North America. The Sioux have two major linguistic divisions: the Dakota and Lakota peoples (translati ...

used this territory as a hunting ground after pushing other tribes to the west. Chadron is named for Louis Chartran, a French-Indian (

Métis The Métis ( , , , ) are a mixed-race Indigenous people whose historical homelands include Canada's three Prairie Provinces extending into parts of Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the northwest United States. They ha ...

) fur trapper who ran a

trading post A trading post, trading station, or trading house, also known as a factory in European and colonial contexts, is an establishment or settlement where goods and services could be traded. Typically a trading post allows people from one geogr ...

on Chadron Creek in 1841. He was married to a Native American woman. In 1884 the town was formally established when the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad was constructed through the area from

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

, en route to Wyoming. Chadron was first named O'Linn for its founder Fannie O'Linn, who built a community at the confluence of the White River and Chadron Creek. This is where the railroad was expected to branch. When it was built six miles away on Bordeaux Creek, the townspeople packed up the entire town—buildings included—and moved it to the new location."Chadron history"
, Chadron Chamber of Commerce, retrieved December 24, 2007 Among the founders of the town were the businessman Charles Henry King and his wife Martha. King established retail and freight businesses and banks in towns along the railroad's route; he capitalized on the flow of settlers and pioneers to the region. Four of the five King children were born in Chadron, including their second son Leslie Lynch King. In 1908 the family moved to

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

, the business center of the state. In 1912 Leslie married, and in July 1913 became the father of the future president,

Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Ford assumed the p ...

. King and his wife divorced soon after that. During the

1893 Chicago World's Fair The World's Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World's Fair, was a world's fair held in Chicago from May 5 to October 31, 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. The ce ...

, Chadron was the starting point of the 1,000-mile "Chadron-Chicago Cowboy Horse Race." Nine riders competed for the $1,000 prize to be the first to reach the entrance of

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), better known as Buffalo Bill, was an American soldier, Bison hunting, bison hunter, and showman. One of the most famous figures of the American Old West, Cody started his legend at t ...

. Among the riders was the former outlaw Doc Middleton. John Berry won the race in 13 days and 16 hours. In the

Lakota language Lakota ( ), also referred to as Lakhota, Teton or Teton Sioux, is a Siouan languages, Siouan language spoken by the Lakota people of the Sioux tribes. Lakota is mutually intelligible with the two dialects of the Dakota language, especially Dakot ...

, Chadron is known as ''čhápa wakpá otȟúŋwahe'', meaning "beaver river city".

Geography and climate

Chadron is located at 3,400 feet in elevation. It is surrounded by prairie grassland, broken by a ridge of lightly forested hills to the south. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , all of it land. The hillside letter C can be seen in the south. () Chadron has a highly variable four season

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...

(

Koppen Koppen is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Dan Koppen (born 1979), American football offensive lineman * (1929–1990), German literary scholar * (1855–1922), German author * Otto C. Koppen (1901–1991), American aircraf ...

: Dfa). Summertime is usually hot, with high daily temperature ranges. Wintertime is relatively cold, with lows usually in the teens. Precipitation is light year round but peaks in May and June. According to the Western Regional Climate Center, the highest temperature recorded in Chadron since 1987 was as July 2006; the lowest was in December 1989.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 5,206 people, 2,247 households, and 1,139 families in Chadron. The population density was 1,334.9 per square mile (514.9/km). There were 2,603 housing units at an average density of 667.4 per square mile (257.5/km). The racial makeup was 82.37% (4,288)

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 3.07% (160) black or African-American, 5.44% (283) Native American, 0.85% (44) Asian, 0.08% (4)

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 1.92% (100) from other races, and 6.28% (327) from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race was 3.0% (192) of the population. Of the 2,247 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18; 40.1% were married couples living together; 32.3% had a female householder with no husband present. 35.7% of households consisted of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.8. 19.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 28.3% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 93.9 males. The 2016-2020 5-year

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...

estimates show that the median household income was $48,344 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,822) and the median family income $66,281 (+/- $8,056). Males had a median income of $21,818 (+/- $7,517) versus $15,979 (+/- $2,369) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $18,940 (+/- $5,137). Approximately, 2.3% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 2.2% of those under the age of 18 and 2.1% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 5,851 people, 2,306 households, and 1,194 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 2,559 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 87.8%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.6%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 5.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6%

, 1.1% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 3.6% of the population. There were 2,306 households, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.2% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the city was 26.8 years. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 27.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 18.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 5,634 people, 2,187 households, and 1,150 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,441 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 92.99%

, 0.66%

, 3.30% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.09%

, 1.14% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population. There were 2,187 households, out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.4% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87. In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.3% under the age of 18, 32.0% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $27,400, and the median income for a family was $44,420. Males had a median income of $30,353 versus $17,183 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $16,312. About 11.0% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the

, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Festivals and customs

Every July, Chadron hosts an annual community celebration called "Fur Trade Days," in honor of its origins as a fur and hide trading post for French and other settlers in the Great Plains during the 19th century. Chadron's Museum of the Fur Trade is the largest of its kind in the United States and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Transportation

Chadron is served by Chadron Municipal Airport. Chadron City Transit offers

dial-a-ride Demand-responsive transport (DRT), also known as demand-responsive transit, demand-responsive service,
US National Trans ...

transit service within the city.

Roadways

* *

Education

* Chadron State College * Chadron Senior High School *Chadron Middle School * Chadron Intermediate School * Chadron Primary School

Media

AM radio

* KCSR 610

FM radio

* KCNB, 94.7 *

KQSK KQSK 97.5 FM is a country music station in northwest Nebraska. It is licensed to Chadron, Nebraska. It is owned by Eagle Communications, Inc., and licensee held by Double Q Country. It simulcasts KAAQ FM 105.9 in Alliance, Nebraska Alliance ...

, 97.5 * KCNE, 91.9 * KBPY, 107.7

Newspaper

* ''The Chadron Record''

Notable people

* Poe Ballantine, novelist and essayist * Don Beebe, former NFL wide receiver *

Justin Bruening Justin Bruening (born September 24, 1979) is an American actor and former fashion model. He was discovered at a McDonald's in Escondido, California, and within a week, he was shooting photos with Bruce Weber. In 2003, his acting career began w ...

, television actor * James Dahlman, longtime mayor of

* Mary E. Smith Hayward, businesswoman; for 50 years, proprietor of the M. E. Smith & Co. Twin Stores in Chadron * Charles Henry King, businessman known for founding Chadron and other cities; father of Leslie Lynch King *

Leslie Lynch King, Sr. Leslie Lynch King Sr. (July 25, 1884 – February 18, 1941) was the biological father of President of the United States, U.S. president Gerald Ford. Because of his alcoholism and domestic abuse, abusive behavior, his wife, Dorothy Ayer Gardner F ...

, the biological father of President

Tim Walz Timothy James Walz (; born April 6, 1964) is an American politician who has served since 2019 as the 41st governor of Minnesota. He was the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States, vice pre ...

, 41st governor of

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

(2019–present) and candidate for U.S. Vice President in 2024 * Danny Woodhead, former

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player, mostly for the

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...

and

San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego, California from 1961 until 2016, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franch ...

and holder of a number of

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

records

References

External links

City of Chadron

''Chadron Record''
newspaper {{authority control Cities in Nebraska Cities in Dawes County, Nebraska County seats in Nebraska French-American history of Nebraska Populated places established in 1884 1884 establishments in Nebraska