BlockFrom the record
2 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Dundy County, Nebraska
21 topographic sheets cover 8 settlements here, and 2 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 58 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 2 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 1 district and 1 building.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 8 populated places in this county; 8 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
2Every 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dundy County Courthouse | district | 1990 | 89002237 |
| Zorn Theatre | building | 2021 | 100006190 |
Wildfire, 1997 to 2020
44 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 44 of them, burning about 9,514 acres. 4 started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Equipment and vehicle use | 13 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 13 |
| Debris and open burning | 9 |
| Natural | 4 |
| Smoking | 2 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 2 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 1997 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6,000 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 7 December 2020 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1,150 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 14 January 2016 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 900 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 7 August 2012 | Equipment and vehicle use | 500 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 16 May 2019 | Natural | 477 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 7 November 2007 | Equipment and vehicle use | 140 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 5 October 2020 | Equipment and vehicle use | 140 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 29 June 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 75 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
Storms, 1953 to 2025
60 of 550 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 550 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 4 injuries and about $8,271,610 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Hail | 341 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 152 |
| Tornado | 36 |
| Flash Flood | 12 |
| Flood | 6 |
| Funnel Cloud | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1994 | Hail | Benkleman | 2 hurt, $5,000,000 | Wind driven hail up to baseball-size heavily damaged property and crops in a six mile wide swath from 19 miles north of Benkleman, south to the Kansas/Nebraska state line. Homes, autos, farm equipment and corn were damaged. After breaking windshields, the hail injured at least two motorists. Property damage was estimated near $2.8 million. Crop losses over 50,000 acres has been estimated at $7 million. |
| June 1967 | Tornado | not stated | 1 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 1957 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt, $30 | no account filed |
| June 1994 | Hail | Haigler | $500,000 | Thunderstorm winds estimated between 60 and 65 mph blew down trees and antennas. Outbuildings and mobile homes were flipped over. One garage and the vehicle inside were damaged. Shingles were lost from some roofs. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Haigler | $500,000 | Thunderstorm winds estimated between 60 and 65 mph blew down trees and antennas. Outbuildings and mobile homes were flipped over. One garage and the vehicle inside were damaged. Shingles were lost from some roofs. |
| March 2007 | Tornado (EF1) | Benkelman | $460,000 | Tornado moved into county from northern Cheyenne county, Kansas 3 miles SE of Benkelman, and dissipated 8 miles NNE of Benkelman. Total path length of the tornado was 15 miles, with 12 of those miles being in Dundy county. Three homes were affected by the tornado east of Benkelman, with one home north of Hwy 34 losing its roof and suffering significant property damage, including loss of a barn and other outbuildings. Other homes south of Hwy 34, just north of the golf course experienced damage, including loss of a garage and carport at one location, and garage and grain bins destroyed at another. The golf course experienced significant tree damage as well. |
| April 2013 | Tornado (EF1) | Benkelman | $250,000 | Report was first relayed to NWS from local newspaper, and later followed up with a storm survey. Extensive damage to one farm and feed yard. Several large outbuildings were destroyed, utility poles/fences were broken, a trailer was overturned and rolled. Farm implements were moved. At least two cows were put down due to injuries from the storm. |
| June 1984 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 1982 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 1982 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 2020 | Flash Flood | Sanborn | $100,000 | Multiple roads across the flooded part of the county were washed out. Notable road closures include Highway 34 closed from Benkelman to Highway 385 at Wray, River Road closed from Parks to Doane, and Avenue 328 closed due to four feet of water over the road. The flood waters also washed out part of the railroad between Parks and Haigler, stranding the train in Haigler. The Republican River at Benkelman reached a peak height of almost nine and a half feet. The record stage height is just over 13 feet.||Total damage for this event (both flash flood and flood) totaled between $100,000 and $108,000. |
| July 2020 | Flood | Parks | $100,000 | Multiple roads across the flooded part of the county were washed out. Notable road closures include Highway 34 closed from Benkelman to Highway 385 at Wray, River Road closed from Parks to Doane, and Avenue 328 closed due to four feet of water over the road. The flood waters also washed out part of the railroad between Parks and Haigler, stranding the train in Haigler. The Republican River at Benkelman reached a peak height of almost nine and a half feet. The record stage height is just over 13 feet. ||Total damage for this event (both flash flood and flood) totaled between $100,000 and $108,000. |
| April 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $76,000 | Several irrigation systems were toppled, tree branches were snapped and shingles removed from homes across northern Dundy county. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $50,000 | Thunderstorm winds estimated to 80 mph rolled a steel roof from building, downed branches 6-10 inches in diameter, destroyed a porch deck, broke windows at an auto dealership, and downed a 2 foot diameter tree. |
| May 1998 | Flash Flood | Benkelman | $50,000 | Around 5 inches of rain fell between 1800 and 2000 MST. Many homes had basements flooded with water and mud. Several cars were stalled. Roads were damaged. Waters started receding around 2100 MST, |
| June 2011 | Tornado (EF0) | Max | $35,000 | Storm chaser reported the tornado remained mostly over open fields in rural Dundy county. Newspaper accounts stated that one center pivot system was overturned, and a barn roof was damaged. |
| May 2023 | Flash Flood | Benkelman | $30,000 | Emergency manager reported Highway 34 and 61 were both closed due to flash flooding. Highway 34 was closed from Benkelman to Trenton while highway 61 was closed from Benkelman to Enders. Up to 8 feet of water over the road was reported by Fire and Rescue. At least one car and driver were stranded in the water and a secondary road was completely washed out. The eastern portion of Dundy county remained largely under water for the following days. |
| May 2023 | Flood | Benkelman | $30,000 | Highway 61 remained closed until at least the evening of the 28th when water was still 3 or more feet deep over the road between Benkelman and Enders. Highway 34 between Benkelman and Trenton also remained closed due to flood waters of an unknown depth. Of the parts of the highways and other county road that were starting to be above water on the 28th, washouts and other damage were reported. |
| July 2020 | Flash Flood | Parks | $30,000 | A small bridge in the Rock Creek channel near Rock Creek Lake, and part of a road, were washed away due to the prolonged rainfall. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $30,000 | A home lost about 20% of its roof, and five utility poles nearby were broken by a strong thunderstorm downburst. A patio fence was damaged and the last section of an irrigation pivot were blown over. |
| September 1985 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1978 | Tornado | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1971 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1971 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1953 | Tornado | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| April 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $20,000 | Strong straight-line winds peeled back much of the shingles and tarpaper on the second story roof of a home in Benkelman. Elsewhere in town, an 18-wheeler trailer was blown over on its side. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Haigler | $15,000 | Newspaper reported a semi-trailer was overturned near Haigler sometime during the evening. Time of this event is approximate based on reviewing Doppler radar archives. |
| June 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $15,000 | Big tree limbs down. Tin roof off barn and blown 200 yards to the east. Occurred 2 miles south of Hwy 61/34 intersection. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $10,000 | Tree uprooted and fallen on a house in town. Health of tree, or other details are unknown. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parks | $10,000 | A trained spotter reported thunderstorm wind damage about 3 miles west of Parks, NE with 5 inch tree limbs and power lines down. |
| August 1997 | Hail | Benkelman | $10,000 | Hail up to grapefruit size damaged vehicles, roofs, and siding and destroyed windows and windshields. The hail was accompanied by strong winds. At 1840 MST, 1.25 inch diameter hail was reported 16 miles north of Benkelman and winds broke 4 branches up to 3 inches in diameter. At 1841 MST winds estimated at 60 mph were reported 11 miles NNE Benkelman. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $9,000 | Emergency Manager reported at least 2 power poles leaning and 6 inch diameter tree limbs down due to the wind. Half of a locust tree was broken off in town with another uprooted. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $8,000 | Six power poles were broke along highway 34 ENE of Benkelman. A house nearby had an outbuilding nearly blown over. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parks | $5,000 | Estimated wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph occurred along with quarter size hail. Multiple tree limbs reported down in town by law enforcement. The time of this event was adjusted to 540 pm MDT based on Doppler radar information. |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parks | $5,000 | Garage damaged by thunderstorm winds. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Benkelman | $3,500 | An HP supercell produced a 1 mile wide swath of large hail. Hail broke windshield and caused damage to hood and roof of vehicle. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $3,000 | A healthy tree limb around six inches in diameter landed on top of a pickup truck. |
| July 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Haigler | $2,000 | Multiple tree limbs up to eight inches in diameter broken. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $2,000 | Wind toppled a carport and blew the metal top across the road. |
| August 1997 | Tornado (F1) | Benkelman | $2,000 | Weak tornado moving south southeast blew out windows and tore down tree branches. One inch hail was observed 2 miles east of tornado. |
| May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Colfer | $1,500 | Two trees, both half dead, blown over from thunderstorm winds. |
| July 2013 | Hail | Benkelman | $1,500 | Hail broke windows on south side of home. Largest hail was quarter size but a lot of smaller hail noted which covered the ground and drifted. |
| April 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Max | $1,000 | Strong winds blew majority of a barn roof off. Time and wind speed are estimated based on radar and local observations. |
| May 2023 | Flood | Colfer | $1,000 | The railroad was under water between MM 12 and 17 along highway 34, so the train has been shut down. County roads were not passable and washed out. The river was also running backwards. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $1,000 | A member of the public reported power lines down in the city of Benkelman. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Max | $1,000 | A mature pine tree was reported to be blown over. |
| August 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds collapsed the walls of an old shed. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Parks | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds broke numerous tree limbs up to 4 inches in diameter. |
| July 2009 | Hail | Parks | $1,000 | Hail and wind reportedly broke windows in their home. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman | $500 | Emergency Manager reported a 5 inch diameter tree limb blown down. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman Jones Arpt | $300 | A member of the public reported a couple 8 to 10 inch tree limbs down. |
| March 1992 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $250 | no account filed |
| June 1983 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $30 | no account filed |
| January 2025 | Hail | Max | - | Trained spotter reports hail around pea to penny sized. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Benkelman Jones Arpt | - | Multiple MPing reports of quarter to golfball size hail. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Haigler | - | Site Brunswig shop on WeatherLink reported the 67 mph wind gust. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman Jones Arpt | - | Recorded at mesonet station near Benkelman ID: Home. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benkelman Jones Arpt | - | AWN site Ellis reported a 58 mph wind gust. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Max | - | Weather link site Parman reported a 62 mph wind gust. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Parks | - | MPing report of quarter sized hail. |
Every populated place in the county
8Named 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.
-
Benkelman
Benkelman No. 2 precinct · 69021 · On Spring Creek · Benkelman quadrangle
7 sheets, 1954 to 1979
-
Haigler
Haigler precinct · 69030 · On North Fork Republican River · Haigler quadrangle
7 sheets, 1954 to 1979
-
Rainbow Fountain Park
Benkelman No. 2 precinct · 69021 · On Spring Creek · Benkelman quadrangle
7 sheets, 1954 to 1979
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.