Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron also is the United States Forest Service headquarters of the Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests, and the Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre, and Oglala National Grasslands. The Museum of the Fur Trade is located near Chadron, at the site of the American Fur Company's former Bordeaux Trading Post.

Succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples lived in the area for thousands of years. In historic times, tribes such as the Oglala Lakota (Oglala Sioux Tribe), Cheyenne and others lived in the area. The Sioux used this territory as a hunting ground after pushing other tribes to the west.

Chadron is named for Louis Chartran, a French-Indian (Métis) fur trapper who ran a trading post on

Chadron Creek in 1841. He was married to a Native American woman.

In 1884 the town was formally established when the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad was constructed through the area from Omaha, Nebraska, en route to Wyoming.{{cite web | url=http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/dawes/chadron/ | title=Chadron, Dawes County | publisher=University of Nebraska | work=Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies | access-date=4 August 2014}} Chadron was first named O'Linn for its founder Fannie O'Linn, who built a community at the confluence of the White River and Chadron Creek. This is where the railroad was expected to branch. When it was built six miles away on Bordeaux Creek, the townspeople packed up the entire town—buildings included—and moved it to the new location.[http://208.106.208.95/history/chadronhistory.php "Chadron history"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405075003/http://208.106.208.95/history/chadronhistory.php |date=April 5, 2008 }}, Chadron Chamber of Commerce, retrieved December 24, 2007

Among the founders of the town were the businessman Charles Henry King and his wife Martha. King established retail and freight businesses and banks in towns along the railroad's route; he capitalized on the flow of settlers and pioneers to the region. Four of the five King children were born in Chadron, including their second son Leslie Lynch King. In 1908 the family moved to Omaha, the business center of the state. In 1912 Leslie married, and in July 1913 became the father of the future president, Gerald Ford. King and his wife divorced soon after that.

During the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Chadron was the starting point of the 1,000-mile "Chadron-Chicago Cowboy Horse Race." Nine riders competed for the $1,000 prize to be the first to reach the entrance of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Among the riders was the former outlaw Doc Middleton. John Berry won the race in 13 days and 16 hours.[https://books.google.com/books?id=tCrgpwHv7wEC&dq=chadron+to+chicago+horse+race&pg=PA320 Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State, by Federal Writers' Project], 1939, Works Progress Administration; reprinted 1979 - University of Nebraska Press, {{ISBN|0-8032-6851-3}}

In the Lakota language, Chadron is known as čhápa wakpá otȟúŋwahe, meaning "beaver river city".{{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=2014-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018034145/http://www.lakotadictionary.org/nldo.php |archive-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=dead }}

Chadron is located at 3,400 feet in elevation. It is surrounded by prairie grassland, broken by a ridge of lightly forested hills to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|3.85|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.{{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 }}

The hillside letter C can be seen in the south. ({{coord|42.8152|N|103.0028|W|type:landmark_region:US-NE|name=Chadron C}})

Chadron has a highly variable four season humid continental climate (Koppen: Dfa). Summertime is usually hot, with high daily temperature ranges. Wintertime is relatively cold, with lows usually in the teens. Precipitation is light year round but peaks in May and June.{{Cite web|url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=cys|title=National Weather Service Climate|last=Team|first=National Weather Service Corporate Image Web|website=w2.weather.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=2020-04-22}}

According to the Western Regional Climate Center, the highest temperature recorded in Chadron since 1987 was {{convert|109|°F}} as July 2006; the lowest was {{convert|−40|°F}} in December 1989.{{Cite web|title=Chadron 3 SW, Nebraska - Climate Summary|url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ne1575|access-date=2020-06-25|website=wrcc.dri.edu}}

{{Weather box

|location = Chadron, Nebraska, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present)

|single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 70

| Feb record high F = 80

| Mar record high F = 96

| Apr record high F = 93

| May record high F = 98

| Jun record high F = 107

| Jul record high F = 110

| Aug record high F = 114

| Sep record high F = 110

| Oct record high F = 94

| Nov record high F = 86

| Dec record high F = 78

| year record high F = 114

|Jan avg record high F = 58.4

|Feb avg record high F = 62.6

|Mar avg record high F = 75.8

|Apr avg record high F = 81.7

|May avg record high F = 89.5

|Jun avg record high F = 96.5

|Jul avg record high F = 101.7

|Aug avg record high F = 100.9

|Sep avg record high F = 96.8

|Oct avg record high F = 86.4

|Nov avg record high F = 72.9

|Dec avg record high F = 61.2

|year avg record high F = 102.2

| Jan high F = 38.2

| Feb high F = 40.9

| Mar high F = 51.5

| Apr high F = 59.4

| May high F = 69.1

| Jun high F = 81.1

| Jul high F = 89.3

| Aug high F = 88.4

| Sep high F = 79.0

| Oct high F = 63.6

| Nov high F = 50.1

| Dec high F = 39.3

| year high F = 62.5

| Jan mean F = 25.3

| Feb mean F = 27.7

| Mar mean F = 37.2

| Apr mean F = 45.1

| May mean F = 55.5

| Jun mean F = 66.4

| Jul mean F = 74.0

| Aug mean F = 72.3

| Sep mean F = 62.3

| Oct mean F = 48.2

| Nov mean F = 35.8

| Dec mean F = 26.2

| year mean F = 48.0

| Jan low F = 12.5

| Feb low F = 14.5

| Mar low F = 23.0

| Apr low F = 30.9

| May low F = 41.9

| Jun low F = 51.7

| Jul low F = 58.6

| Aug low F = 56.1

| Sep low F = 45.7

| Oct low F = 32.8

| Nov low F = 21.5

| Dec low F = 13.1

| year low F = 33.5

|Jan avg record low F = -10.1

|Feb avg record low F = -8.1

|Mar avg record low F = 3.6

|Apr avg record low F = 15.4

|May avg record low F = 27.1

|Jun avg record low F = 39.2

|Jul avg record low F = 47.4

|Aug avg record low F = 44.3

|Sep avg record low F = 31.4

|Oct avg record low F = 14.7

|Nov avg record low F = 1.9

|Dec avg record low F = -6.7

|year avg record low F = -18.0

| Jan record low F = −28

| Feb record low F = −44

| Mar record low F = −26

| Apr record low F = -8

| May record low F = 17

| Jun record low F = 31

| Jul record low F = 37

| Aug record low F = 31

| Sep record low F = 15

| Oct record low F = −13

| Nov record low F = −16

| Dec record low F = −40

| year record low F = −44

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 0.55

| Feb precipitation inch = 0.64

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.34

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.16

| May precipitation inch = 2.99

| Jun precipitation inch = 3.22

| Jul precipitation inch = 1.93

| Aug precipitation inch = 1.70

| Sep precipitation inch = 1.50

| Oct precipitation inch = 1.39

| Nov precipitation inch = 0.69

| Dec precipitation inch = 0.64

| year precipitation inch = 18.75

| Jan snow inch = 5.8

| Feb snow inch = 8.6

| Mar snow inch = 7.9

| Apr snow inch = 5.6

| May snow inch = 1.4

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 4.7

| Nov snow inch = 6.3

| Dec snow inch = 10.0

| year snow inch = 50.3

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 4.1

| Feb precipitation days = 5.5

| Mar precipitation days = 5.6

| Apr precipitation days = 8.7

| May precipitation days = 11.0

| Jun precipitation days = 9.0

| Jul precipitation days = 7.2

| Aug precipitation days = 6.7

| Sep precipitation days = 6.0

| Oct precipitation days = 5.7

| Nov precipitation days = 4.3

| Dec precipitation days = 5.1

| year precipitation days = 78.9

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 4.0

| Feb snow days = 5.2

| Mar snow days = 3.6

| Apr snow days = 2.7

| May snow days = 0.6

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 1.7

| Nov snow days = 3.5

| Dec snow days = 5.1

| year snow days = 26.4

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=cys

| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = December 10, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00251575&format=pdf

| title = Station: Chadron 3SW, NE

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = December 10, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population|align=left

|1890= 1867

|1900= 1665

|1910= 2687

|1920= 4412

|1930= 4606

|1940= 4262

|1950= 4687

|1960= 5079

|1970= 5921

|1980= 5933

|1990= 5588

|2000= 5634

|2010= 5851

|2020= 5206

|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=2023-12-18 |website=data.census.gov}} counted 5,206 people, 2,247 households, and 1,139 families in Chadron. The population density was 1,334.9 per square mile (514.9/km{{sup|2}}). There were 2,603 housing units at an average density of 667.4 per square mile (257.5/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 82.37% (4,288) white, 3.07% (160) black or African-American, 5.44% (283) Native American, 0.85% (44) Asian, 0.08% (4) Pacific Islander, 1.92% (100) from other races, and 6.28% (327) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.0% (192) of the population.

Of the 2,247 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18; 40.1% were married couples living together; 32.3% had a female householder with no husband present. 35.7% of households consisted of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.8.

19.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 28.3% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 93.9 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-12-18|website=data.census.gov}} estimates show that the median household income was $48,344 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,822) and the median family income $66,281 (+/- $8,056). Males had a median income of $21,818 (+/- $7,517) versus $15,979 (+/- $2,369) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $18,940 (+/- $5,137). Approximately, 2.3% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under the age of 18 and 2.1% 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 5,851 people, 2,306 households, and 1,194 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1519.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,559 housing units at an average density of {{convert|664.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 87.8% White, 1.6% African American, 5.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.6% of the population.

There were 2,306 households, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.2% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 26.8 years. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 27.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 18.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,634 people, 2,187 households, and 1,150 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,553.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,441 housing units at an average density of {{convert|673.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.99% White, 0.66% African American, 3.30% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.

There were 2,187 households, out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.4% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.3% under the age of 18, 32.0% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $27,400, and the median income for a family was $44,420. Males had a median income of $30,353 versus $17,183 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,312. About 11.0% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Every July, Chadron hosts an annual community celebration called "Fur Trade Days," in honor of its origins as a fur and hide trading post for French and other settlers in the Great Plains during the 19th century. Chadron's Museum of the Fur Trade is the largest of its kind in the United States and attracts thousands of visitors every year.{{Cite web|url=https://furtradedays.com/|title=Fur Trade Says|publisher=Fur Trade Days|accessdate=11 August 2023}}

Chadron is served by Chadron Municipal Airport. Chadron City Transit offers dial-a-ride transit service within the city.

• {{jct|state=NE|US|20}}
• {{jct|state=NE|US|385}}

• Chadron State College
• Chadron Senior High School
• Chadron Middle School
• Chadron Intermediate School
• Chadron Primary School

{{unreferenced section|date=November 2009}}

• KCSR 610{{Cite web |title=Home — KCSR / KBPY |url=https://chadronradio.com/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=chadronradio.com |language=en-US}}

• KCNB, 94.7
• KQSK, 97.5
• KCNE, 91.9
• KBPY, 107.7

• The Chadron Record{{Cite web |title=The Chadron Record |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/community/chadron/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Rapid City Journal Media Group |language=en}}

• Poe Ballantine, novelist and essayist
• Don Beebe, former NFL wide receiver
• Justin Bruening, television actor
• James Dahlman, longtime mayor of Omaha, Nebraska
• Mary E. Smith Hayward, businesswoman; for 50 years, proprietor of the M. E. Smith & Co. Twin Stores in Chadron
• Charles Henry King, businessman known for founding Chadron and other cities; father of Leslie Lynch King
• Leslie Lynch King, Sr., the biological father of President Gerald Ford
• Tim Walz, 41st governor of Minnesota (2019–present) and candidate for U.S. Vice President in 2024
• Danny Woodhead, former football player, mostly for the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers and holder of a number of NCAA records

{{portal|Nebraska}}

• List of municipalities in Nebraska

{{reflist|22em}}

{{commons category-inline|Chadron, Nebraska}}

{{Wikivoyage|Chadron}}

• [http://www.chadron-nebraska.com City of Chadron]
• [http://www.chadronnews.com/ Chadron Record], newspaper

{{Dawes County, Nebraska}}

{{Nebraska county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Nebraska

Category:Cities in Dawes County, Nebraska

Category:County seats in Nebraska

Category:French-American history of Nebraska

Category:Populated places established in 1884

Category:1884 establishments in Nebraska