Alliance, Nebraska

The town was originally named Grand Lake. When the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad came to Grand Lake in 1888, the railroad superintendent, G.W. Holdrege, wanted to change it to a simple one-word name closer to the beginning of the alphabet, which he thought would be better for business.{{cite web | url=http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/boxbutte/alliance/ | title=Alliance, Box Butte County | publisher=University of Nebraska | work=Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies | access-date=30 July 2014}} The U.S. Post Office gave Holdrege permission, and he picked "Alliance" for the new name of the town. Alliance was incorporated as a city in 1891.{{cite book|last=Shumway|first=Grant Lee|title=History of Western Nebraska and Its People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7RM1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA204|year=1921|publisher=Western publishing & engraving Company|page=204}}

The Alliance Army Airfield was established in 1942. Construction was completed in August 1943 and the Army Air Corps used the facility as a training base until the end of World War II. The facility was transferred from the federal government to the City of Alliance in 1953 and is currently in use as the Alliance Municipal Airport.

In the Lakota language, Alliance is known as {{lang|lkt|čhasmú okáȟmi}}, meaning "Sand River Bend".{{cite book |last=Ullrich |first=Jan F. |title=New Lakota Dictionary |url=http://www.lakotadictionary.org/nldo.php |edition=2nd |year=2014 |publisher=Lakota Language Consortium |location=Bloomington, IN |isbn=978-0-9761082-9-0 |access-date=2014-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018034145/http://www.lakotadictionary.org/nldo.php |archive-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=dead }}

Alliance is located at the western edge of Nebraska's Sand Hills. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|4.73|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.72|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2012-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}

Located in the High Plains, Alliance's climate is rather typical of the surrounding region. Under the Köppen climate classification, the town features a BSk climate, commonly described as a "Cold Steppe", with winters just below the {{convert|-3|°C|°F|1}} threshold needed to be classified as a Continental climate, if it had enough precipitation to not be arid or semi-arid.

The all-time record high for Alliance is {{convert|110|°F|°C}}, set in 1983, and the all-time record low is {{convert|-42|°F|°C}}, set in 1989. Precipitation is significantly higher in summer than in winter, with the wettest month being June, and the driest month being January.

{{Weather box

|width= auto

|single line= yes

|location= Alliance Municipal Airport, Nebraska

|Jan high F= 38.2

|Feb high F= 40.5

|Mar high F= 51.2

|Apr high F= 58.8

|May high F= 68.5

|Jun high F= 80.7

|Jul high F= 88.5

|Aug high F= 86.6

|Sep high F= 77.4

|Oct high F= 62.0

|Nov high F= 49.2

|Dec high F= 38.4

|year high F=

|Jan low F= 10.0

|Feb low F= 12.2

|Mar low F= 21.6

|Apr low F= 28.3

|May low F= 38.7

|Jun low F= 49.3

|Jul low F= 55.9

|Aug low F= 53.6

|Sep low F= 42.8

|Oct low F= 29.0

|Nov low F= 17.6

|Dec low F= 8.9

|year low F=

|Jan record high F= 70

|Feb record high F= 77

|Mar record high F= 84

|Apr record high F= 91

|May record high F= 101

|Jun record high F= 105

|Jul record high F= 110

|Aug record high F= 105

|Sep record high F= 102

|Oct record high F= 91

|Nov record high F= 80

|Dec record high F= 72

|year record high F=

| Jan mean F =24.1

| Feb mean F =26.3

| Mar mean F =36.4

| Apr mean F =43.6

| May mean F =53.6

| Jun mean F =65.0

| Jul mean F =72.2

| Aug mean F =70.1

| Sep mean F =60.1

| Oct mean F =45.5

| Nov mean F =33.4

| Dec mean F =23.7

| year mean F =

|Jan record low F = -31

|Feb record low F = -40

|Mar record low F = -25

|Apr record low F = -12

|May record low F = 7

|Jun record low F = 27

|Jul record low F = 33

|Aug record low F = 30

|Sep record low F = 15

|Oct record low F = -8

|Nov record low F = -25

|Dec record low F = -42

|year record low F=

|precipitation colour= green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.20

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.28

|Mar precipitation inch = 0.60

|Apr precipitation inch = 1.72

|May precipitation inch = 2.65

|Jun precipitation inch = 2.90

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.40

|Aug precipitation inch = 1.49

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.26

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.91

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.24

|Dec precipitation inch = 0.23

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|unit precipitation days= 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days= 2.8

|Feb precipitation days= 4.2

|Mar precipitation days= 4.8

|Apr precipitation days= 8.4

|May precipitation days= 11.6

|Jun precipitation days= 10.9

|Jul precipitation days= 8.5

|Aug precipitation days= 7.7

|Sep precipitation days= 6.9

|Oct precipitation days= 6.4

|Nov precipitation days= 3.4

|Dec precipitation days= 3.2

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|Jan sun = 179

|Feb sun = 190

|Mar sun = 230

|Apr sun = 246

|May sun = 277

|Jun sun = 308

|Jul sun = 340

|Aug sun = 306

|Sep sun = 266

|Oct sun = 237

|Nov sun = 179

|Dec sun = 163

|year sun=2921

|source 1=NOAA(precipitation, mean temperatures){{Cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00024044&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |title=Station: ALLIANCE MUNI AP, NE US USW00024044 |access-date=2024-09-01 |work=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020 |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |pages=1, 2 |format=PDF}}

|source 2= The Weather Channel{{Cite web |url= http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/USNE0008|title= Alliance, NE Monthly Averages|publisher= The Weather Channel|access-date=December 4, 2011 }} Chiniki{{Cite web|url= http://www.chinci.com/travel/pax/w/2125693/Evensk/RU/Russia/0/#1%7C5%7Ctravel%7Cpax%7C5%7C5693164%7CAlliance%7CUS%7CThe%20United%20States%7CAmerica/Denver%7CUS.NE%7CPPL%7C42.1016344%7C-102.8721450%7CNebraska|title= Alliance, Nebraska Weather|publisher= Chinci World Atlas|access-date= December 4, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161130151445/http://www.chinci.com/travel/pax/w/2125693/Evensk/RU/Russia/0/#1%7C5%7Ctravel%7Cpax%7C5%7C5693164%7CAlliance%7CUS%7CThe%20United%20States%7CAmerica/Denver%7CUS.NE%7CPPL%7C42.1016344%7C-102.8721450%7CNebraska|archive-date= November 30, 2016|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all}}

|date=March 2012}}

{{US Census population

|1890= 829

|1900= 2535

|1910= 3105

|1920= 4591

|1930= 6669

|1940= 6253

|1950= 7891

|1960= 7845

|1970= 6862

|1980= 9920

|1990= 9765

|2000= 8959

|2010= 8491

|2020= 8151

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 16, 2013}}
2012 Estimate{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|access-date=October 16, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019235623/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html|archive-date=October 19, 2013}}

}}

The 2020 United States census{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-09-16 |website=data.census.gov}} counted 8,151 people, 3,445 households, and 2,173 families in Alliance. The population density was 1,666.9 per square mile (642.8/km{{sup|2}}). There were 4,036 housing units at an average density of 825.4 per square mile (318.3/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 80.75% (6,582) white, 0.76% (62) black or African-American, 4.17% (340) Native American, 0.82% (67) Asian, 0.06% (5) Pacific Islander, 4.72% (385) from other races, and 8.71% (710) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 15.0% (1,286) of the population.

Of the 3,445 households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18; 49.7% were married couples living together; 24.7% had a female householder with no husband present. 33.8% of households consisted of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 2.9.

25.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 102.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 95.3 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-09-16|website=data.census.gov}} estimates show that the median household income was $57,898 (with a margin of error of +/- $14,867) and the median family income $83,969 (+/- $16,048). Males had a median income of $42,001 (+/- $8,679) versus $26,975 (+/- $5,462) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $34,457 (+/- $4,215). Approximately, 9.6% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under the age of 18 and 13.1% of those ages 65 or over.

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-06-24}} of 2010, there were 8,491 people, 3,559 households, and 2,276 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1798.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,075 housing units at an average density of {{convert|863.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 87.5% White, 0.5% African American, 4.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 4.2% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.3% of the population.

There were 3,559 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 39.8 years. 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,959 people, 3,565 households, and 2,392 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,879.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,062 housing units at an average density of {{convert|852.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 89.09% White, 0.49% African American, 3.40% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.31% from other races, and 2.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.94% of the population.

There were 3,565 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $39,408, and the median income for a family was $47,766. Males had a median income of $39,122 versus $22,561 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,584. About 10.6% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

File:St. Agnes Academy from NE 1.JPG

Alliance Public Schools operates five schools: Early Childhood Center (birth to age 5), Emerson Elementary (kindergarten through grade 2), Grandview Elementary (grades 3–5), Alliance Middle School (grades 6–8), and Alliance High School (grades 9–12).

St. Agnes Academy is the local parochial school, in association with Holy Rosary and St. Bridget Catholic Churches. St. Agnes is located within a historic building designed by noted architect William L. Steele.

Alliance is served by the Alliance Municipal Airport, three miles southeast of the city, which it owns. In the 12 months ending in January 2021, the airport received 2,882 passengers, or an average of just 8 per day, making it the least-used airport in the mainland United States.{{cite web|title=STRANDED at the LEAST USED Airport in Mainland USA!|date=2021-05-09|access-date=2021-06-13|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64DkJDCkIgE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/64DkJDCkIgE| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|website=Youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}

The BNSF railway line from the northern exit of the Powder River Basin, one of the largest coal-mining areas of the world, to Alliance and the eastern United States, sees a rather large number of coal trains every day,{{Cite web |url=http://www.trainpics.de/gallery/usa/usa-crawfordhill/e-crawfordhill.html |title=Trainpics: USA - Crawford Hill|access-date=2008-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719095227/http://www.trainpics.de/gallery/usa/usa-crawfordhill/e-crawfordhill.html |archive-date=2011-07-19 |url-status=dead }} to power plants in the Midwest and South.{{cite web|url=http://www.pentrex.com/plains.html |title=Trains on the High Plains (VHS video)|access-date=2008-09-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521091055/http://pentrex.com/plains.html |archive-date=2009-05-21 }} In the southern areas of Alliance there is a large train yard which hosts many of these coal trains.

Among the city's attractions is Carhenge, an assemblage of thirty-eight vehicles built in the model of Stonehenge by Jim Reinders and thirty-five family members in the summer of 1987. The sculpture was constructed on the farm of Reinders's late father just north of Alliance. Other works have been built in the surrounding area of the sculpture.Phaneuf, Paul. [http://www.carhenge.com/about_us.htm History of Carhenge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202130834/http://www.carhenge.com/about_us.htm |date=2009-02-02 }}, Friends of Carhenge

==Notable people==

* Jimmy Abegg, visual artist, member of Rich Mullins' A Ragamuffin Band and Vector{{cite book |last1=Brothers |first1=Jeffrey Lee |title=Hot Hits: Ac Charts 1978-2001 |date=2003|isbn=978-1-4107-3294-1 |page=16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fad4hVQ5-FsC&pg=PA16}}

• Moon Bloodgood, actress/model, born in Alliance
• David Bunnell, publisher, writer{{cite web |last1=Markoff |first1=John |title=David Bunnell, Whose Magazines Were Tech World Must-Reads, Dies at 69 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/22/technology/david-bunnell-dead.html |website=The New York Times |date=October 21, 2016}}
• Helen Duhamel, businesswoman and broadcaster, attended St. Agnes Academy in Alliance
• James Emanuel, poet and critic{{cite web |last1=Yardley |first1=William |title=James A. Emanuel, Poet Who Wrote of Racism, Dies at 92 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/12/books/james-a-emanuel-poet-who-wrote-of-racism-dies-at-92.html |website=The New York Times |date=October 11, 2013}}
• Jordan Hooper, basketball player for WNBA's Chicago Sky; born in Alliance{{cite web |title=Jordan Hooper WNBA Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/h/hoopejo01w.html |website=Basketball-Reference}}
• LeRoy J. Louden, Nebraska legislator{{cite web |title=Nebraska State Historical Society Collection Record |url=https://history.nebraska.gov/sites/history.nebraska.gov/files/doc/Louden%2C%20LeRoy%20J.%2C%201936-.pdf |website=history.nebraska.gov}}
• Luke Redfield, singer/songwriter, spent a portion of his youth in Alliance{{cite web |last1=Todd |first1=Michael |title=Luke Redfield Rediscovers Nebraska {{!}} Q&A |url=https://hearnebraska.org/feature/luke-redfield-rediscovers-nebraska-qa/ |website=Hear Nebraska |date=July 12, 2011}}
• Peary Rader, American bodybuilder and magazine publisher from Nebraska. He was the founding publisher of Iron Man from 1936 to 1986. Died in Alliance.
• Tim Walz, 2024 vice presidential candidate, governor of Minnesota, U.S. House of Representatives member, Alliance high school football coach and geography teacher.{{Cite web |last=Freedman |first=Samuel G. |date=2024-08-05 |title=High School Project on Genocide Was a Portent of Real-Life Events - T… |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/education/23education.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=New York Times |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240805031636/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/education/23education.html |archive-date=2024-08-05}}
• Tony Wilbrand, American basketball player{{Cite web|url=https://static.big12sports.com/custompages/pdfs/mbasketball/1112guide/record-book-a.pdf|title=All-BIG 12 Awards|access-date=2023-05-11}}

The second half of Ann Patchett's 1997 novel The Magician's Assistant is set entirely in Alliance.{{cite news | first = Suzanne | last = Berne | title = Sleight of Hand | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/16/books/sleight-of-hand.html?exprod=permalink&partner=permalink | work = The New York Times | date = 1997-11-16 | access-date = 2007-07-18}}

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.localschooldirectory.com/city-schools/Alliance/NE |title=Alliance Schools |work=Local School Directory |publisher=Local School Directory.com |access-date=April 10, 2012 }}

[http://apschools.schoolfusion.us/ Alliance Public Schools] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202053651/http://apschools.schoolfusion.us/ |date=2017-02-02 }}, subpages under "Schools" tab. Retrieved January 28, 2017.

{{cite web |url=http://www.ne-ba.org/about_us-hall_of_fame.asp?id=41 |title=Helen Duhamel: Hall of Fame 1992 |year=1992 |work=Nebraska Broadcasters’ Association Hall of Fame |publisher=Nebraska Broadcasters’ Association |location=Omaha, Nebraska |access-date=April 10, 2012 |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016031455/http://www.ne-ba.org/about_us-hall_of_fame.asp?id=41 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web |url=http://bbccatholic.com/school |title=Saint Agnes Academy |publisher=Holy Rosary and St. Bridget Catholic Churches |location=Alliance, Nebraska |access-date=April 10, 2012 }}

}}

{{Wikivoyage|Alliance (Nebraska)}}

• [http://www.cityofalliance.net City of Alliance]
• [http://www.alliancechamber.com Alliance Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.alliancetimes.com Alliance Times-Herald newspaper]
• {{Coord|42.101382|-102.870272}}

{{Box Butte County, Nebraska}}

{{Nebraska county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Box Butte County, Nebraska

Category:Cities in Nebraska

Category:County seats in Nebraska