Imperial is a city in Chase County,

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...

, United States. The population was 2,071 at the 2010 census. It is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Chase County.

History

The original town of Imperial was built on land homesteaded by Thomas Mercier and M.J. Goodrich. These men gave a town lot to anyone who would put up a building and help to start the town. Mercier was the first postmaster and took office on December 14, 1885. The railroad right of way was graded to Imperial in 1888. The railroad reached Imperial on August 15, 1892. It was built by a division of the

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington Route, the Burlington, or as the Q, it operated extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illin ...

. This line left the main line near Culbertson and terminated in Imperial. When the grade was completed, the Lincoln Land Company gave lots to all those who would move their buildings to the "Railroad Addition". Nearly all of the buildings were moved south to the future railroad line and the present location of the business district of the town was established. Imperial's first courthouse was built in 1889 on the land where the present courthouse stands.

National Register of Historic Places listings

* Balcony House (listed 2000), at the corner of 10th and Court Streets. One block west of Broadway on 10th Street * Chase County Court House (listed 1990), on Broadway between 9th and 10th Streets Chase County Tourism
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Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 2,071 people, 860 households, and 553 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: 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 geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 948 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.3%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 0.1% Native American, 0.1%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 9.6% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.9% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 15.4% of the population. There were 860 households, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.7% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age in the city was 41 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 19.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 1,982 people, 807 households, and 547 families residing in the city. The

was 787.2 people per square mile (303.7/km). There were 887 housing units at an average density of 352.3 per square mile (135.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.88%

, 0.05%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.10% Native American, 0.15%

, 1.61% from

, and 0.20% from two or more races.

of any race were 5.15% of the population. There were 807 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were

living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $33,833, and the median income for a family was $42,414. Males had a median income of $28,063 versus $19,405 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $19,888. About 5.7% of families and 7.7% 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 t ...

, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Warren Prall Watters Warren Prall Watters (November 24, 1890 – June 15, 1992) was the founding archbishop of the Free Church of Antioch (Malabar Rite), one of several Independent Catholic Churches in the United States. Watters was born in Imperial, Nebraska in ...

, founding archbishop of the

Free Church of Antioch The Free Church of Antioch is one of several "Malabar Rite" Independent Catholic Churches which claims valid lines of apostolic succession in the historical episcopate which is not in union with the Catholic Pope in Rome or any Orthodox Patriarch ...

, was born in Imperial.

References

External links

City of Imperial
{{Authority control Cities in Chase County, Nebraska Cities in Nebraska County seats in Nebraska