Grand Island has been given theAll-America City Award four times (1955, 1967, 1981, and 1982) by the National Civic League.
Grand Island is home to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center, which is the sole agency responsible for training law enforcement officers throughout the state, as well as the home of theSouthern Power District serving southern Nebraska. Ammunition manufacturerHornady is also located there.
In 1857, 35 German settlers leftDavenport, Iowa, and headed west to Nebraska to start a new settlement on an island[6] known by French traders asLa Grande Isle, which was formed by the Wood River and thePlatte River. The settlers reached their destination on July 4, 1857, and by September had built housing using local timber. They set up farms but initially had no market to sell their goods until a market opened atFort Kearny. When thePike's Peak Gold Rush began, Grand Island was the last place travelers could obtain supplies before they crossed the plains.[6]
Surveyors from theUnion Pacific Railroad (UP) laid out a town called Grand Island Station and many settlers living on Grand Island moved to the new town, located slightly inland from the island.[7] In 1868 the railroad reached the area, bringing increased trade and business. Grand Island became the end of the east division of the railroad and UP built service facilities for their locomotives in the town as well as an elegant hotel for passengers providing a boost for the local economy. The cost of the railroad coming into town was the denudement of most of the hardwood trees on the island for use as ties for the railroad.[6] By 1870, 1,057 people lived in the town, and in 1872 the town was incorporated as Grand Island.[8]
In about 1890,sugar beets were introduced as a crop in Nebraska. The first sugar beet processing factory in the United States was built in the southwest part of Grand Island.[8] By 1900, it was the state's third largest city.
Throughout the 20th century, Grand Island experienced steady growth due to its strategic location along the railroad. The city remained Nebraska's third largest city throughout the entire century, before being surpassed byBellevue in 2000.[9]
Grand Island has experienced a number of revitalization efforts in the 21st century.[10] These include several expansions to the city's airport, as well as the relocation of theNebraska State Fair to Grand Island.[11]
On June 3, 1980, Grand Island was hit by a massivesupercell storm. Through the course of the evening, the city was ravaged by seventornadoes, the worst of which was rated F4 on theFujita Scale. The hardest hit area of town was the north Locust business district. There were five deaths as a result of the tornadoes.
Tornado Hill is a local landmark created as a direct result of the tornadoes. Debris that could not be recycled was burned near Fonner Park and what remained was buried within Ryder Park, on the west end of town. The base of the hill was a hole 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) deep and nearly 200 feet (61 m) across, and the hill is 40 feet (12 m) high. It is used for sledding in this otherwise flat area.[12]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.55 square miles (73.94 km2), of which 28.41 square miles (73.58 km2) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) is water.[14]
Grand Island is located just a few miles north of thePlatte River, one of Nebraska's most prominent rivers on which many of the state's major cities and towns sit.[citation needed]
The Grand Island Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick counties. Hamilton was added to the metropolitan area in 2012. The Grand Island MSA is home to 76,479 people (2023 estimate), making itone of the smallest in the United States.[15]
In 1981, a plume of contaminated groundwater was discovered beneath theCornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, which occupies 20 square miles (52 km2) west of Grand Island. The plume extended northeast of the plant and migrated towards Grand Island. Hazardous level ofRDX andTNT were discovered,[18] remnants of the explosives produced at the plant during various wars. In 1987, the Army burned about 40,000 tons of explosives-contaminated soil. In 1998, a pump-and-treat facility that continues to operate was built to cycle contaminated water through an explosives residue-removal system. The Army injected "hot spots" of contamination substances to curtail the contamination.[citation needed] As of 2014[update], TNT and RDX were still present.[18] Construction of a primary water detention cell for flood control has been delayed by the slow cleanup.[18]
The2020 United States census[21] counted 65.146 people, 19,601 households, and 12,983 families in Grand Island. The population density was 1,765.7 per square mile (681.9/km2). There were 20,758 housing units at an average density of 689.9 per square mile (266.4/km2). The racial makeup was 65.82% (34,970)white, 3.53% (1,876)black or African-American, 1.62% (859)Native American, 1.31% (695)Asian, 0.07% (35)Pacific Islander, 17.33% (9,205) fromother races, and 10.33% (5,491) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race was 32.0% (16,585) of the population.
Of the 19,601 households, 35.4% had children under the age of 18; 46.5% were married couples living together; 25.2% had a female householder with no husband present. 27.5% of households consisted of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.1.
27.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 103.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 100.8 males.
The 2016-2020 5-yearAmerican Community Survey[22] estimates show that the median household income was $56,513 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,441) and the median family income $66,755 (+/- $4,142). Males had a median income of $37,579 (+/- $2,047) versus $29,532 (+/- $1,595) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $33,197 (+/- $1,293). Approximately, 9.3% of families and 11.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.2% of those ages 65 or over.
As of thecensus[23] of 2010, there were 48,520 people, 18,326 households, and 11,846 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,707.8 inhabitants per square mile (659.4/km2). There were 19,426 housing units at an average density of 683.8 per square mile (264.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.0%White, 2.1%African American, 1.0%Native American, 1.2%Asian, 0.2%Pacific Islander, 13.1% fromother races, and 2.4% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 26.7% of the population.
There were 18,326 households, of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% weremarried couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.20.
The median age in the city was 34.7 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 42,940 people, 16,426 households, and 11,038 families living in the city.[citation needed] The population density was 2,000.2 inhabitants per square mile (772.3/km2). There were 17,421 housing units at an average density of 811.5 per square mile (313.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.72%White, 0.42%African American, 0.33%Native American, 1.31%Asian, 0.17%Pacific Islander, 9.64% fromother races, and 1.42% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 15.94% of the population.[citation needed]
There were 16,426 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% weremarried couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09.[citation needed]
In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.[citation needed]
The median income for a household in the city was $36,044, and the median income for a family was $43,197. Males had a median income of $28,925 versus $20,521 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $17,071. About 9.9% of families and 12.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those aged 65 or over.[citation needed]
In 2010, Grand Island became the home of the Nebraska State Fair.[24] Each year, the fair attracts thousands of people to the city, with a record attendance of over 300,000 in 2024.[25]
The Stuhr Museum, also known as the Museum of the Pioneer Prairie, is a museum located in southwestern Grand Island.[26] The museum houses over 140,000 artifacts from early settlers in central Nebraska, and features aliving history village called Railroad Town. Railroad Town is designed to evoke an 1890s-era prairie village and made up of many original period structures moved to the museum.[27]
Grand Island has amayor–council government. The mayor and a ten-membercity council are elected in nonpartisan elections. Two members are elected from each of the city's five wards to staggered four-year terms.[29] At the most recentmayoral election, incumbent Mayor Roger G. Steele was re-elected to a second term.
Interstate 80 is located 4 miles (6 km) south of Grand Island.U.S. Route 281 is the main north-south route in the city, running through the city's west edge south toHastings, and north toO'Neill.U.S. Route 30 runs east-west through the center of Grand Island.
The city's transit system is entirely demand-responsive, with rides requiring reservation 24 hours in advance.[34] As of 2023, Grand Island is the largest city in Nebraska without fixed-route public transit. Fixed route service was studied, but not recommended, in the GO Grand Island Transit 2023 Transit Development Plan.[35]
Grand Island also sports a total of fifteentraffic circles, many of which are near each other. This system allows for particularly efficient through-traffic while sacrificing speed and barring transportation to some locations by certain, longer vehicles.[36] Of these fifteen recorded roundabouts, fourteen are designated "official," while one is reportedly an "unofficial" insertion into the Grand Island's public transportation network.[37]
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
^"Station: Grand Island AP, NE".U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. RetrievedJanuary 13, 2022.
^Bain, David Haward (2004).The Old Iron Road: An Epic of Rails, Roads, and the Urge to Go West. New York City, New York: Penguin Books. pp. 60–2.ISBN0-14-303526-6.
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