Ponca 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 Dixon County,

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 ...

, United States. The population was 961 at the 2010 census.

History

Ponca was established in 1856 and is Nebraska's fourth oldest town. It was named for the

Ponca The Ponca people are a nation primarily located in the Great Plains of North America that share a common Ponca culture, history, and language, identified with two Indigenous nations: the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma or the Ponca Tribe of ...

Indian tribe native to the region. Ponca was incorporated as a village in 1871. Ponca experienced growth when the Covington, Columbus and Black Hills Railroad was extended to it in 1876. Ponca also hosts one of the oldest

rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working vaqu ...

s in Nebraska, called the “Days of ‘56” to honor the founding members of the community. The rodeo is held at the town's rodeo grounds during the last full weekend in June. The 2018 rodeo marked the 50th anniversary of the event.

Geography

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 land.

Demographics

Ponca is part of the

Sioux City Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Iowa. The county seat of Woodbury County, Sioux City is the primar ...

, IA–NE– SD Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 961 people in 403 households, including 256 families, in the city. The population density was . There were 428 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.8% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8%. Of the 403 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.5% were non-families. 32.8% of households were one person and 19.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 43.9 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 21.5% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 1,062 people in 403 households, including 286 families, in the city. The population density was . There were 425 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.89% White, 0.56% Native American, 0.94% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.64%. Of the 403 households 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.6% of households were one person and 13.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00. The age distribution was 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males. The median household income was $31,750, and the median family income was $41,250. Males had a median income of $28,472 versus $21,681 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,782. About 7.0% of families and 8.6% 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 10.5% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Ponca State Park Ponca State Park is a public recreation area located on the banks of the Missouri River north of Ponca, Nebraska, in the northeastern corner of the state. The state park's approximately are situated among high bluffs and steep, forested hills ...

is two miles north of the city. The park is located on the heavily forested high bluffs and steep hills along the

banks of the

Missouri River The Missouri River is a river in the Central United States, Central and Mountain states, Mountain West regions of the United States. The nation's longest, it rises in the eastern Centennial Mountains of the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Moun ...

. Ponca State Park is the eastern terminus for float trips through the federally designated National Wild and Scenic River.

Notable people

Tommy Atkins Tommy Atkins (often just Tommy) is slang for a common soldier in the British Army.Pug Bennett, Baseball player

References

External links

City of Ponca

{{authority control Cities in Dixon County, Nebraska Cities in Nebraska County seats in Nebraska Sioux City metropolitan area Populated places established in 1856