Grand Island, Nebraska
Grand Island is the seat of Hall County, situated in the south-central part of the US State of Nebraska. With a population of 53,131 inhabitants, the city is considered the state's fourth-most populous city. The city was named after a neighboring island in Platte River located 28 miles upstream called La Grande Île (French for "Big Island") that was discovered by French settlers in the 1700s. Grand Island is well known for housing the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center, which is a governmental institution specialized in training and providing certification to law enforcement officers in the state. It is also the home of the Southern Power District, which provides electricity to southern Nebraska.
Geography And Climate Of Grand Island
Grand Island is a small city situated in Hall County in the US State of Nebraska. The city stands at an elevation of 567m, with the Platte River flowing south to it. Grand Island covers an area of 73.94 sq. km, making it the third-largest city in Nebraska in terms of area. It is divided into 73.58 sq. km of land and 0.36 sq. km of water. And the city is located 86.84 miles west of Nebraska’s capital, Lincoln. Grand Island is a major city in the Grand Island Metropolitan Area, which comprises four counties in Nebraska.
According to the Köppen climate classification, Grand Island experiences a humid continental climate with warm, wet summers and dry, cold winters. The average annual temperature is 50.8°F, with July and January recording the highest (76.2°F) and lowest (25.1°F) average temperatures, respectively. On average, Grand Island gets 38.2 inches of rain every year, with June reporting the most amount of rain (14 inches). The city receives an average snowfall of 29 inches per year, where January records the most quantity of snow (6.5 inches). The day duration varies along the year, where the longest day is recorded on June 21 (15 hours, 7 minutes), and the shortest day is recorded on December 21 (9 hours, 14 minutes). The sky is cloudy mainly between October and June. The rest of the year is mostly clear.
Brief History Of Grand Island
For hundreds of years, the Pawnee Indians had lived on the territory that would later become Grand Island. Disease introduced from Europe quickly devastated their numbers. An island called La Grand Isle was settled by French fur trappers that named the island in the late 1700s. In 1857, German settlers in Iowa moved to Nebraska to find an island to settle on, which was the La Grand Isle. The Germans had built houses and farms, but they couldn't find a market to sell their goods. Then the Fort Kearny market opened, and Grand Island became the final site passengers could get supplies before crossing the plains during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Union Pacific Railroad (UP) surveyors tapped a land called Grand Island Station, located inland from the La Grand Isle, where many of the German settlers had newly moved to. Then, in 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad was established, which boosted trade and business. In 1870, this station was inhabited by 1,057 people, and in 1872, it was incorporated as Grand Island.
The Population And Economy Of Grand Island
According to the latest US Census, Grand Island has a population of 53,131 residents with a median age of 35 and a population density of 666.75 inhabitants per sq. km. As for the racial distribution, 76.3% of the population are white (Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic/Latino), and 3.5% are African-American or Black. The rest are distributed among Asians, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other races. English is spoken by 73% of the population. The rest speak Spanish (23.8%), Asian and Pacific Islander languages (1.1%%), Indo-European languages (0.4%), and other foreign languages (1.7%). Only 35% of the population in Grand Island are naturalized U.S. citizens. And veterans make up 6.8% of Grand Island’s population, of which 87.1% are males, and 12.9% are females. As per the same 2020 Census, 66.8% of the population are employed, with a poverty rate of 11.8%. The homeownership rate in Grand Island is 58.8%, where the median gross rent cost is $780 per month, with a median household value of $148,200.
Attractions In Grand Island
Platte River
Historically, this river played an essential role in the history of western settlers as it acted as a route for their trails. It is also a perfect place for hiking and enjoying recreational activities like wildlife and bird watching along the river.
Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer
This museum is a 200-acre campus that is dedicated to preserving the memory of pioneers who built Grand Island in the late 1800s. It is a great place to have a vivid experience through historical exhibits and hands-on educational activities.
Crane Trust Nature And Visitor Center
This center’s main objective is to preserve the Platte River's physical, hydrological, and ecological integrity to ensure its safety for different species of animals and plants.
Nebraska State Fair
Grand Island has been the host of the Nebraska State Fair since 2010, which runs over 11 days by the end of summer or the beginning of fall. The fair includes competitive games, carnival amusement rides, musical concerts, and a display of industrial products.
Grand Island Little Theatre
This theatre was started in 1960 by the city’s residents. And now, it has become a complete volunteer organization that preserves theatrical production and provides entertainment to people with a passion for theatre.
