Minden, Nebraska
Pinpointed in south-central Nebraska, the pioneering town of Minden can take visitors back to a simpler time. Discovered in 1876 by Swedish, Danish, and German settlers, the group named the village after the town of Minden in Germany. The early colonists considered the region to be the center of servicing the agricultural industry. At present, locals and visitors can enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights displayed in the winter or take a step into history at the local pioneering attractions.
Geography And Climate Of Minden
Minden is a small city situated in Kearney County in the south-central portion of the US State of Nebraska. The city is located approximately Thirty-five miles north of the Kansas - Nebraskan border. Heading 135 miles East on I-80 is where Lincoln, the capital city of Nebraska, is found. Looking in the opposite direction, 307 miles west of Minden, adventurers may stumble upon the Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming Tri-State marker. Traveling 207 miles north, the Missouri River intersects at the states of Nebraska and South Dakota borderline.
The township rests at 662m above sea level and is particularly dry and sunny for much of the year. The Minden area can see around 221 sunny days each year. Outdoor activities are very popular during the summer months, thanks to the high temperatures that can reach 31.1˚C and low precipitation chances. In the fall, it is cool and dry; the total rainfall for the entire season is 5.4 inches of rain. Low temperatures in the winter hover around -6.1˚C. February is the snowiest month, with an average snowfall of 2.6 inches. Entering spring, temperatures range from 8.8˚C to 25.5˚C, and the wettest month of the year is May, with a total average of 3.8 inches of rainfall.
Brief History Of Minden
Before 1867, the town of Minden was open prairie and had no residents or buildings. The early settlers of Kearney County voted 165 to 67 to relocate the courthouse that was in Lowell to Minden. Minutes north, Fort Kearny was founded to protect travelers on the Oregon Trail, 19 years before the town of Minden had been established. In 1882, the city grew very quickly, with nearly 300 inhabitants. Major rail lines such as the Burlington & Missouri Railroad reached the city in 1883, followed by the Kansas City and Omaha routes by 1887. Minden is also referred to as "The Christmas City," known for its 100-year-old tradition of placing more than 10,000 light decorations throughout the village. Lights are displayed from the rail depot to the center of the city. The Kearny County Courthouse is currently free of charge to view this spectacular light show. According to southern Nebraskans, the courthouse can be seen for miles on clear nights.
Population And Economy Of Minden
According to the current US census, 2,906 people reside in Minden. It is within the top 50 most populated cities in all of Nebraska. 87% of the population is ethnically Caucasian, 14% is Hispanic, and only 0.1% is indigenous. The median household income is $50,739, which drags 10.5% of families below the poverty line. This city employs 1,420 locals, with most working in manufacturing, retail, and health care. The construction industry is the highest-paying industry in the area. The average construction salary is $55,403.
Attractions In Minden
Minden Opera House
The historical opera house was constructed in 1891 by Wray Thorn. Wray was a Civil War Veteran who became a successful entrepreneur who also owned the local general store. The venue brought many traveling acts and bands throughout its days in history. After years of renovations, the new Minden Opera House reopened in the year 2000. The rebuilding cost the city 2.8 million dollars. Nowadays, it has become the Center for the Arts in South Central Nebraska.
Pioneer Village
Founded in 1953, Pioneer Village was created by Harold Warp, who grew up on a Nebraskan homestead. Harold bought the old country school in 1948 to save it from being demolished. Several other municipal and government buildings were rescued from destruction by Warp. His goal was to preserve the milestone years of the 1830s when industrialization had been discovered in the US. The village is home to over 50,000 artifacts and incredible informative exhibits.
Kearny County Historical Museum
The historical building complex is a free admission museum. Over 7000 relics are on display that dates back to as early as the Civil War. The buildings include the first school, post office, and the first rail stations. Tourists can enjoy historical articles, old pictures, books, newspapers, and many more interactive displays inside the structures.
