Atkinson is a city in Holt County,

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...

, United States. The population was 1,245 at the 2010 census.

History

The first settlement at Atkinson was made ''circa'' 1875. Atkinson was

plat In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Surveys to show the distance and bea ...

ted in 1880, when the railroad was extended to that point. It was named for Col. John Atkinson, an original owner of the town site.

Geography

Atkinson is located at (42.531681, -98.976835). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2010, there were 1,245 people, 549 households, and 322 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was . There were 638 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.8%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 0.2%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.6% Native American, 0.1%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.2% from other races, and 0.2% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 549 households, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.3% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age in the city was 46.1 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 24.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 1,244 people, 537 households, and 322 families living in the city. The

was 932.8 people per square mile (361.1/km²). There were 640 housing units at an average density of 479.9 per square mile (185.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.95%

, 0.08%

, 0.08% Native American, 0.32% Asian, and 0.56% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population. There were 537 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were

living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% 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 2.91. In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $28,490, and the median income for a family was $36,094. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $17,656 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $17,085. About 10.0% of families and 14.6% 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 21.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Hay Days is the town's main celebration, a 3-4 day celebration that takes place every August. Started in the early 1900s to celebrate the end of hay harvest season, the event now includes dances, a parade, games in the park, duck races, and more.

Education

Atkinson has one high school, West Holt High School.

Notable people

Jim Hendricks Jim Hendricks was an American actor and former disc jockey best known for his role as movie host Commander USA on USA Network's '' Commander USA's Groovie Movies'' that ran from 1985 to 1989. Hendricks also acted in theater and on television i ...

, folk musician * Rodney L. Johnson,

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointe ...

in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...

* Bob Pease, Former Director of Urban Redevelopment Authority Of Pittsburgh"The story of urban renewal "
''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', May 21, 2000. Retrieved 2010-03-03 *

Meagan Winings The Miss Nebraska USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Nebraska in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Vanbros & Associates, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 2002, Nebraska joined the V ...

Miss Nebraska Teen USA The Miss Nebraska Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Nebraska in the Miss Teen USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Vanbros & Associates, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 2002, Nebrask ...

2004 and

Miss Nebraska USA The Miss Nebraska USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Nebraska in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Vanbros & Associates, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 2002, Nebraska joined the V ...

2009 * Jack Hoffman, cancer patient and fundraiser

References

{{authority control Cities in Nebraska Cities in Holt County, Nebraska