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Nemaha County, Kansas

43 topographic sheets cover 20 settlements here, and 12 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

12 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Kansas within the United States
Nemaha County within Kansas

What the record shows

  • 313 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 12 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 8 buildings, 2 structures, 1 object and 1 district.
  • 1 of the 12 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 20 populated places in this county; 20 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

12

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Clear Creek Camel Truss Bridgestructure200303000360
Hand-Dug City Water Wellstructure200707000141
Lake Nemaha Dam Guardrailobject200808000620
Marion Hallbuilding200101000411
Nemaha County Jail and Sheriff's Housebuilding200404000455
Old Albany Schoolhousebuilding197272000518
Prairie Grove Schoolbuilding200606000113
Seneca Main Street Historic Districtdistrict200606000770
St. Mary's Churchbuilding198080001470
US Post Office-Sabethabuilding198989001650
US Post Office-Senecabuilding198989001651
John Waggoner Housebuilding2025100011682

Wildfire, 2000 to 2020

141 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 141 of them, burning about 5,411 acres. 1 started naturally and 2 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined72
Debris and open burning53
Equipment and vehicle use7
Smoking6
Arson/incendiarism2
Natural1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
10 April 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined420 acresKansas Forest Servicenot named
22 March 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined225 acresKansas Forest Service21
25 April 2001Debris and open burning220 acresHorton AgencyPOO
20 February 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined200 acresKansas Forest Service360
5 March 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined170 acresKansas Forest Service362
2 August 2017Debris and open burning160 acresNemaha County396
4 August 2017Debris and open burning160 acresNemaha County397
10 March 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined160 acresKansas Forest Service334

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1952 to 2026

60 of 513 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 513 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 3 injuries and about $11,039,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail245
Thunderstorm Wind187
Tornado38
Flash Flood32
Flood7
Lightning3
Funnel Cloud1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2014Tornado (EF3)Bern2 hurtA tornado touched down around the intersection of highway 71 and 63 around 1030 pm CDT. The damage path moved southeast and included several homes that were severely damaged and one totally destroyed. The worst damage occurred to a slab home anchored to the foundation by anchor bolts installed with nuts and washers every 12-18 inches. All exterior and interior walls were destroyed however the debris was primarily laid on top of the slab with some debris blown to the south. Two adult residents took shelter in a tub and survived with minor injuries although the tub was gone and it was suspected to have been blown into a lake to the south. The tornado damage path continued southeast for approximately 6.5 to 7.5 miles total. EF3 rating with winds to around 140 mph. The end time of the tornado was around 1043 pm CDT.
April 1999Tornado (F1)Seneca1 hurt, $100,000A small tornado struck near Seneca and damaged a few farm homes and out buildings. One person was injured.
May 1993Tornado (F2)Centralia$5,000,000The longest track tornado of the day moved southwest to northeast across Nemaha county miraculously producing no deaths or injuries. However significant damage occurred to about 20 different farms or farmsteads and related business, machinery and buildings. The tornado just missed populated areas and remained generally in fields and farm areas. Excessive rain in the days after the storm hampered cleanup. Property damage from the tornado was estimated at $1.1 million. In some areas the tornado was about 1/2 mile wide while in other areas damage was only about 100 yards wide. At times the tornado had multiple vortices.
June 1998Tornado (F2)Sabetha$3,500,000no account filed
July 1994Thunderstorm WindSeneca$500,000High winds knocked over a large silo on a farrow house killing at least 15 hogs and trapping many others for several days. Other damage to trees, buildings and power lines was reported in the area.
May 2007Flash FloodSabetha$400,000Water reported flowing over rural roads north of Sabetha.
April 1999Tornado (F1)Seneca$350,000A tornado touched down 5 miles east of Seneca and moved northeast for about 10 miles. Considerable damage occured to 6 farm buildings. Twelve hogs were killed.
December 1975Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
March 2006Tornado (F1)Sabetha$200,000This F1 tornado touched down 7.5 miles south of Sabetha, damaged one farmstead, then moved east-northeast to the Brown county border, roughly 6 miles south of Sabetha, where it damaged a second farmstead. Debris from the first homestead was scattered over a mile northeast. Some of the debris was lodged in treetops in a nearby woods. Other wood debris was driven several feet into the ground. The tornado had a path length of about 2 miles in Nemaha County with a path width of about 100 yards. The tornado then crossed the border into Brown County. The damage in Nemaha county was estimated at $200,000. This tornado formed in a bow echo that produced an otherwise wide swath of wind damage.
May 1996Tornado (F1)Baileyville$95,000no account filed
May 2007Flash FloodSabetha$50,000Several reports of minor street flooding but one road was reported completely under water.
April 1999Thunderstorm WindCentralia$50,000Strong winds damaged 3 to 4 houses near Centralia.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindBaileyville$50,000Winds around 70 mph caused widespread tree and power line damage. Structural damage also occurred to some buildings.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindSabetha$50,000High winds tore the metal roof from a large horse barn south of town. Chunks of the flying metal hit a horse in the adjacent corral severing its foot just above the hoof. The horse had to be destroyed. The wind also knocked down power lines and trees.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindSeneca$50,000no account filed
April 1999Thunderstorm WindSabetha$40,000Several barns were blown down and doors on tin sheds were damaged.
July 1997HailWoodlawn$40,000no account filed
July 1997HailWoodlawn$40,000no account filed
May 1997Thunderstorm WindSabetha$40,000no account filed
July 1997HailSeneca$30,000no account filed
June 2010Thunderstorm WindCorning$25,000Trained spotters throughout Nemaha County reported 70 to 80 mph wind gusts associated with a strong storm that passed through the county. A large silo and many trees were blown over near Centralia. Two Barns, an outbuilding, and trees were destroyed near Corning.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindCentralia$25,000Strong winds blew down a barn.
June 1960Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1997Tornado (F1)Woodlawn$20,000no account filed
July 1997Tornado (F1)Seneca$15,000no account filed
April 2026Flash FloodCentralia$10,000Kansas department of transportation is shutting down highway K-187 near 112th road due to flooding.
April 2026Flash FloodCentralia$10,000Black Vermillion River is out of its banks and threatening the community.
April 2026FloodSeneca$10,000The Nemaha River is out of its banks and 146th street is closed west of highway 63.
February 2004Thunderstorm WindSt Benedict$10,000Strong winds damaged 3 homes and 2 outbuildings.
September 2001Thunderstorm WindSeneca$10,000Strong winds damaged the roofs of several houses. Several small trailers were tipped over. A propane tank was blown loose from its moorings and upended.
May 1997Flash FloodSabetha$10,000no account filed
September 2001LightningSabetha$6,000Lightning started a fire that destroyed a barn.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindBaileyville$5,000Trained spotters and law enforcement officers reported 70 to 80 mph wind gusts across Nemaha County. In Seneca, tow large trees were broken. Power lines were damaged and power went out in Seneca.
June 1999Flash FloodSeneca$5,000Between 3 and 7 inches of rain fell causing flash flooding doing extensive agricultural damage and closing several roads and highways for a time. Several trailer homes were also evacuated for a time. Some businesses and homes were flooded with some minor damage.
July 2001LightningSabetha$4,000Lightning struck a house and started a fire that did some damage to the interior.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindSeneca$3,000no account filed
June 2000Thunderstorm WindCentralia$2,000Eighty mph winds caused a roof to collapse.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindSabetha$2,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindSeneca$2,000no account filed
July 1997HailWoodlawn$2,000no account filed
May 2005Flash FloodCentralia$1,000Fast flowing water running across highway 187.
May 2005Flash FloodSeneca$1,000Fast flowing water running across highway 36 and other area rural roads.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindCentralia$1,000no account filed
June 2000Thunderstorm WindSeneca$500Strong winds blew down a tree and blew out two windows in a law enforcement vehicle.
March 2026HailCorning-Quarter size hail fell in the town of Corning. Report relayed from emergency management.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindWoodlawn-This is a delayed Report. Spotter called in with tree damage with unknown diameter.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindSabetha-On US highway 36 at the Nemaha and Brown Co line.
July 2025FloodCentralia-Part of southbound lane of Highway 187 covered by water.
May 2024HailBaileyville-Ping pong ball size hail near Baileyville.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca-Personal weather station.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca-Multiple trees down in Seneca, truck blown off Highway 36 east of town.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca-Personal weather station in Seneca.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindOneida-Personal weather station.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindSabetha-Personal weather station.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca Arpt-Wooden frame of a 40 by 80 foot building blown over, with one wall remaining.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca-Large tree 2 to 3 feet in diameter downed.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindCentralia-A tree around 8-12 inches in diameter was snapped. A home took siding and window damage, and a sheet metal roof was peeled back on a carport-style outbuilding.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindCorning-Estimated by trained spotter.
April 2023Thunderstorm WindCorning-Report of several large trees at least a foot in diameter blown down.
April 2023HailBaileyville-Golf ball sized hail reported.

Every populated place in the county

20

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.