Broken Bow is a city in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.

History

According to the 1939 Federal Writer’s Project Guide for Nebraska: “Broken Bow (alt. 2480, pop. 2715), platted in 1882, is a shipping center for livestock, hay, and grain. It has factories making cigars and brooms, two hotels, and an airport. After the Post Office Department had rejected several proposed names, Wilson Hewitt, a homesteader, suggested its present name on finding a broken bow on an old Indian burial ground.”

Geography

Broken Bow is located at (41.404768, -99.641312).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), all of it land.

The geographic center of Nebraska lies approximately 10 miles northwest of Broken Bow.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,491 people, 1,509 households, and 917 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,148.8 people per square mile (832.0/km²). There were 1,721 housing units at an average density of 1,059.3/sq mi (410.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.22% White, 0.17% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 1,509 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,355, and the median income for a family was $37,750. Males had a median income of $26,552 versus $20,132 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,571. About 9.6% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Feed lot

Nebraska's largest cattle feedlot, the Adams Land and Cattle south lot, with a capacity of 85,000 head, is located 2 miles south of Broken Bow. In the past, some locals have feared the potential of environmental damage from the feedlot, but the state's environmental agency has found the company in compliance with state standards.

Cultural references

Broken Bow was mentioned in the movie Babe with a glimpse of the 'Broken Bow' stockyards which was completely fabricated to make the community look like a ghost town. It was also mentioned in the TV Series Jericho in which one character is sent to the "Nebraska State Patrol Headquarters" in Broken Bow — which do not exist in real life.

One Box Pheasant Hunt

Broken Bow is home of the One Box Pheasant Hunt in which many celebrities and well known people have attended such as: Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Neal Armstrong, and Steve Hornady. The One Box program is a staunch supporter of conservation efforts to provide sustainable habitat for wildlife. They also provide many college scholarships for local students.

References

External links

• Chamber of Commerce website