33 topographic sheets cover 13 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
5 National Register listings published here · the county-history sources tell 2 stories and name 2 people · people the book names include Prof. Perrigoue'S Fight With Fire (Concord Township, 1896) · Hon. H. P. Shumway (Wakefield Township, 1896) (machine-read).
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
Among them: Indian Scare And Massacre; Burglars In Town. These passages come from the identified county-history source books. Each inset names its own source and opens the exact section it comes from.
| The following story - written by one of our family -was published several years ago in an Omaha paper. The story is founded on the great scare of 1862, and the murder of the Wiseman family, both of which have already been described in these pages, and which took place about a year apart, but for the purposes of this story are represented as occurring at the same time.
Before the railroad struck this country, no such person as a burglar was ever known to visit it. Whether the people were too poor to be robbed or whether a lack of the necessary swift transportation to and from, caused the burglar fraternity to give Dixon county the go by, cannot be said. It may be that the way with which the people dished out the law to Miller the murderer of Dunn, may have made thieves a little skittish about coming here to do professional work.
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 | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Cook Blacksmith Shop | building | 1974 | 74001106 |
 | Dixon County Courthouse | building | 1990 | 89002247 |
| Emerson City Park | site | 2018 | 100002165 | |
 | Ponca Historic District | district | 1979 | 79001438 |
 | Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Salem Church | building | 1983 | 83001088 |
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 81 of them, burning about 856 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 48 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 13 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 11 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 4 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 3 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 1 |
| Smoking | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 April 2014 | Debris and open burning | 135 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 19 March 2017 | Recreation and ceremony | 90 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 10 April 2014 | Debris and open burning | 81 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 4 April 2008 | Debris and open burning | 42 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 18 April 2017 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 40 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 28 March 2005 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 35 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 20 December 2017 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 30 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 1 April 2012 | Equipment and vehicle use | 25 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 366 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 2 injuries and about $37,699,030 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Hail | 173 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 130 |
| Tornado | 23 |
| Flash Flood | 19 |
| Flood | 18 |
| Lightning | 2 |
| Heavy Rain | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1953 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | 1 hurt, $2,500 | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponca | 1 hurt | Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including some large trees blown down. Some of the tree debris caused damage to homes. The winds also caused other damage to buildings, including a garage which was destroyed, a shed overturned, windows broken, and roof and siding damage. Power lines and poles were blown down, resulting in power outages. A woman suffered a back injury and a broken arm when hit by debris. |
| July 1986 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | $25,000,000 | no account filed |
| March 2019 | Flood | Wakefield | $3,500,000 | Water was over Highway 20 between 583 Avenue and 5835 Avenue. In addition, flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges. |
| May 1992 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 1980 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| July 1999 | Flash Flood | Ponca | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| October 2013 | Tornado (EF2) | Wakefield | $500,000 | A tornado, crossing into Dixon County from Wayne County, severely damaged the roofs of two houses, one of which was a manufactured house, and caused damage to the siding and windows of the houses. Windows of at least one other house were blown out. The tornado also overturned a camper, destroyed or severely damaged a grain bin, numerous farm outbuildings, farm storage buildings, several pieces of farm equipment, and flattened corn crops in several areas. The tornado caused tree damage along its path, including trees uprooted and snapped off at the trunks, and blew down power poles and power lines. |
| April 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponca; Allen; Martins | $500,000 | Strong thunderstorm winds caused nearly $500,000 in damage to buildings across the county. The most damage extensive was around Ponca and Allen. |
| July 1996 | Flash Flood | Newcastle | $500,000 | no account filed |
| April 1974 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Newcastle | $200,000 | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dixon | $200,000 | no account filed |
| August 2011 | Hail | Maskell | $100,000 | Large hail punched a hole in the roof of a home, caused other damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles, and severely damaged crops. The amount of crop damage was not known. |
| August 2011 | Hail | Martinsburg | $100,000 | Large hail caused widespread crop damage, destroying some corn crops completely. The hail also damaged roofs and siding on buildings, and severely dented vehicles and broke windows. A stock trailer was destroyed by the large hail in combination with damaging winds. The hail, also in combination with damaging winds, caused severe tree damage. |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emerson | $100,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage, resulting in power outages. Large trees downed by the winds blocked state highway 35. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Emerson | $100,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including numerous large branches down. |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dixon | $100,000 | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Hail | Newcastle | $100,000 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Tornado (EF1) | Wakefield | $50,000 | A tornado, crossing into Dixon County from the south, severely damaged the roof and garage of a farm home. The tornado also blew down power poles and lines, and caused tree and crop damage. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Martinsburg | $50,000 | Thunderstorm winds, in combination with very large hail, caused damage to roofs and siding of homes, destroyed a stock trailer, and caused widespread crop and tree damage. |
| August 2011 | Hail | Waterbury | $50,000 | Large hail, driven by strong winds, broke numerous windows, dented vehicles, and caused widespread crop damage. |
| August 1993 | Tornado (F1) | Wayne | $50,000 | A tornado briefly touched down northeast of Wayne. The tornado destroyed a garage, damaged a grain bin and auger, and knocked down cottonwood trees. |
| July 2022 | Flash Flood | Allen | $25,000 | A gravel road was completely washed out near the intersection of 584th Avenue and 870 Road. |
| August 2011 | Hail | Hurleys Arpt | $25,000 | Large hail caused damage to roofs and siding of homes, and caused tree damage. The hail also damaged crops in the area. |
| May 1975 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Tornado (EF1) | Dixon | $20,000 | A tornado, crossing into Dixon County from the west, damaged several farm buildings, trees, electrical poles and lines, and crops. |
| July 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponca | $20,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and large branches, resulting also in damage to vehicles. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponca | $20,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage. A few buildings were damaged by flying debris. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Newcastle | $20,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including some trees which were blown down. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Newcastle | $15,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a few trees blown down. The winds also blew down power lines, causing a power outage. |
| September 2019 | Flood | Newcastle | $10,000 | Runoff from heavy rainfall (4.59 inches at Hurley, 4.24 inches at Menno, and 8.14 inches at Clayton) brought the Missouri River at Ponca (gage site MRPN1) to a crest 3.06 feet above flood stage on September 15. The river remained in minor flood stage at the end of the month. |
| August 2011 | Hail | Martinsburg | $10,000 | Large hail broke windows and dented vehicles. Hail accumulation and resulting fog caused a semi truck to tip over, causing minor injuries to the driver. The hail also caused an unknown amount of crop damage. |
| October 2019 | Flood | Newcastle | $5,000 | A continuation from September, the Missouri River at Ponca (gage site MRPN1) started the month at 0.55 feet above flood stage on October 1, and fell below flood stage on October 4. Property damage costs are rough estimates. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Newcastle | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage, producing a power outage. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Martinsburg | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds destroyed a farm building. |
| June 2003 | Lightning | Emerson | $5,000 | Lightning struck a house, starting a roof fire. |
| July 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dixon | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage. |
| September 1997 | Hail | Wakefield | $5,000 | Large hail damaged a camper and trees. |
| May 1995 | Tornado (F0) | Dixon | $5,000 | A tornado damaged sheds, power lines and trees. The tornado was observed and reported by fire department personnel. |
| June 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Newcastle | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponca | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 1996 | Hail | Newcastle | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 1959 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| August 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wakefield | $2,000 | Thunderstorm winds damaged farm outbuildings and caused tree damage, including at least one tree blown down. |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponca | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several large branches down. |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Dixon | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds turned over and damaged an irrigation system. NEBRASKA, (OMA),July 1995 |
| May 1980 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $30 | no account filed |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponca | - | A 58 mph thunderstorm outflow wind gust was measured by a personal weather station. |
| April 2025 | Hail | Wakefield | - | Observed hail varied from pea to penny size. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Newcastle | - | NE Highway 12 was blocked by several large trees down in Newcastle. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponca | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Newcastle | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wakefield | - | A large section of a 50-60 foot tree was blown down at the cemetery, along with other spotty thunderstorm wind damage around town to tree limbs. |
| June 2025 | Flash Flood | Ponca | - | Running water and mud entered a local residence on the west side of Ponca. |
| June 2025 | Flash Flood | Hurleys Arpt | - | Highway 9 was closed near the intersection with 589 Avenue due to water and considerable debris over the road. |
| June 2025 | Hail | Ponca | - | Occasional quarter to ping pong ball size hail fell during heavy rainfall. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponca | - | Thunderstorm winds snapped several large tree limbs and overturned two irrigation pivots. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waterbury | - | Six inch diameter tree limbs were downed by thunderstorm winds. |
| June 2025 | Flash Flood | Ponca | - | A five-foot diameter culvert was overtopped by runoff with a foot or more of water running over the road. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 2 workings inside this county. All of them still produce. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 1 |
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kneifl Pit & Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Schram Lime Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer |
History of Dixon County, Nebraska. Its Pioneers, Settlement, Growth and Development, and Its Present Condition--its Villages, Townships, Enterprises and Leading Citizens, Together with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men, Incidents of Pioneer Life, Etc devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. All 5 are reproduced here in full. Each row shows the township's own shape and where it lies in the county, drawn from the Census Bureau's boundary. Which settlements belong to which township is computed from that same boundary, not taken from the book.
| Shape and position in the county | Township | Settlements in it | Length | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord Township | Concord, Dixon | 30,710 words | 18 | |
| Hooker Township | Lime Grove, Maskell | 626 words | 0 | |
| Newcastle Township | Lembke Landing, Newcastle | 1,617 words | 0 | |
| Ponca City | Ponca | 1,997 words | 1 | |
| Wakefield Township | Wakefield | 1,914 words | 2 |
One book written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 12 chapters in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| Chapter 19 | 3,130 words |
| Chapter 3 | 5,901 words |
| Chapter 4 | 4,519 words |
| Chapter 5 | 4,168 words |
| Chapter 6 | 3,319 words |
| Chapter 7 | 2,363 words |
| Chapter with an unread heading (no. 7 of those read) | 7,004 words |
| Chapter 10 | 3,193 words |
| Chapter 11 | 3,163 words |
| Chapter 12 | 4,009 words |
| Chapter 13 | 15,595 words |
| Chapter 18 | 4,089 words |
Everyone History of Dixon County, Nebraska. Its Pioneers, Settlement, Growth and Development, and Its Present Condition--its Villages, Townships, Enterprises and Leading Citizens, Together with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men, Incidents of Pioneer Life, Etc stops to write about, with the section that describes them. Among them are the men who founded the place and governed the Territory. Each name opens the passage itself, in the words of 1896.
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.
57025 · Near Boy Scout Hill · Burbank quadrangle
19 sheets, 1898 to 1994
No longer a settlement
Newcastle township · 68757 · Near Boy Scout Hill · Burbank quadrangle
19 sheets, 1898 to 1994
Galena township · 68770 · On Daily Branch · Martinsburg quadrangle
18 sheets, 1898 to 1986
The vanished settlements of Dixon County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
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