Sterling is a village in Johnson County,

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

, United States. The population was 482 at the 2020 census.

History

Sterling 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 Survey System, Public Lands Surveys to ...

ted in 1870 when the Atchison and Nebraska Railroad was extended to that point. The village was named after

Sterling, Illinois Sterling is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States, along the Rock River. The population was 14,782 at the 2020 census, down from 15,370 in 2010. Formerly nicknamed "Hardware Capital of the World", the city has long been associate ...

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

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

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 476 people, 206 households, and 126 families residing in the village. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...

was . There were 229 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 99.8%

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

and 0.2% from other races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino people of any race were 1.7% of the population. There were 206 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were

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

living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age in the village was 40.8 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 507 people, 223 households, and 134 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 234 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 98.62%

, 0.39% Native American, and 0.99% from two or more races.

or Latino people of any race were 1.18% of the population. There were 223 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were

living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.01. In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the village was $30,313, and the median income for a family was $43,036. Males had a median income of $28,839 versus $25,000 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the village was $16,302. About 4.5% of families and 6.7% 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 1.9% of those under age 18 and 19.0% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

The Johnson County Fair is an annual event held each year in August. The event includes parades, carnival rides, livestock shows and exhibits, arts and crafts, and a softball tournament. The Antique Tractor & Machinery Show is an annual event held each year in August and is sponsored by the Deer Creek Sodbusters, a club dedicated to the preservation of America's agricultural heritage. The event began in 1983 as a plowing bee, and is now an antique show with family entertainment. The event received national recognition in 1999 when it was officially designed a "Local Legacy" by the U.S. Library of Congress.

Parks and recreation

The Wirth Brothers Lake is a twenty-seven acre lake located nine miles from Sterling. The area offers tent camping, fishing, and an archery range.

Notable persons

* Hal Borland, author and editor. * Gail Kopplin, member of the

Nebraska Legislature The Nebraska Legislature (also called the Unicameral) is the legislative branch, legislature of the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, Lincoln. With 49 members, known as "senators ...

Education

Sterling is part of the Sterling Public Schools district. The district has an elementary school, middle school and high school. Students attend Sterling High School.

References

External links

Sterling, Nebraska homepage

Sterling Public Schools

ePodunk: profile for Sterling, Nebraska
{{authority control Villages in Johnson County, Nebraska Villages in Nebraska