50 topographic sheets cover 13 settlements here, and 28 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
28 National Register listings published here · the county-history sources name 2 people · people the book names include W. W. Mitchell (Wood River Township, 1920) (machine-read).
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 25 of them, burning about 271 acres. 2 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 | 13 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 5 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 2 |
| Natural | 2 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1 |
| Smoking | 1 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2014 | Debris and open burning | 60 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 2 August 2012 | Natural | 54 acres | Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District | BROOKS TRACT |
| 22 April 2018 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 41 acres | Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District | HANNON POLE FIRE |
| 16 May 2019 | Debris and open burning | 38 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 17 May 2019 | Debris and open burning | 38 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 1 December 2009 | Debris and open burning | 20 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 12 March 2008 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 10 December 2010 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 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 709 reports for this county, causing 5 deaths, 207 injuries and about $387,832,030 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Hail | 319 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 252 |
| Tornado | 80 |
| Heavy Rain | 19 |
| Flash Flood | 16 |
| Flood | 14 |
| Funnel Cloud | 8 |
| Lightning | 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 1980 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | 3 killed, 110 hurt, $250,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 1980 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 1 killed, 40 hurt, $25,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 1980 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 1 killed, 25 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 1980 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 18 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| October 1973 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 5 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| June 1980 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 5 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1980 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 2 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| August 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| July 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| May 1965 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | $25,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 2017 | Hail | Grand Is | $10,000,000 | Hail ranging from quarter to tennis ball size was reported across much of Grand Island. |
| May 2005 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $10,000,000 | Torrential rainfall of 5 to 11 inches during the evening led to widespread flash flooding over Adams, Buffalo, and Hall counties throughout the evening. |
| May 2024 | Hail | Grand Is | $5,000,000 | Hail up to two inches in diameter was reported across Grand Island. |
| May 1993 | Tornado (F2) | Upland to | $5,000,000 | Tornado touched down four miles southwest of Upland. Several farm buildings were destroyed and a house damaged. The tornado moved northeast in Kearney county with touchdowns eight miles south and four miles Minden. It crossed the Platte river east of Kearney. Funnel clouds were reported in eastern Buffalo county with 60 mph wind gusts at the Kearney Interstate 80 interchange. The tornado was last seen 1 1/2 miles east of Wood River in southwest Hall county. |
| May 1993 | Tornado (F2) | Prosser | $5,000,000 | Tornado touched down near Prosser. Equipment at a sand and gravel pit was damaged and five foot diameter cottonwood trees were uprooted. The tornado moved into southern Hall county and lifted. |
| June 2014 | Hail | Grand Is | $3,000,000 | Primarily northern and central portions of the city of Grand Island were pounded by hail ranging in size from quarters to baseballs for approximately 30 minutes. |
| March 1990 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| March 1990 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| August 1987 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 1984 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| October 1980 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| July 1973 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Hail | Grand Is | $2,000,000 | no account filed |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wood River | $1,800,000 | Emergency management reported tree and fencing damage across town, damage to the local ethanol plant, and at least a dozen irrigation pivots damaged north of town. |
| May 2024 | Hail | Wood River | $1,500,000 | Hail up to two inches in diameter was reported in and around Wood River. Shredded trees were reported in town, along with dented cars, broken windows, and damaged shingles. |
| August 1995 | Hail | Grand Island | $1,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 2022 | Hail | Wood River | $1,000,000 | Hail up to two inches in diameter was reported in and around Wood River. |
| May 2002 | Hail | Doniphan | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| August 1995 | Hail | Grand Island | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Grand Is | $750,000 | Damage reported from the wind gusts estimated near 80 MPH included a local housing company having a show home destroyed when it rolled, siding and window damage to a number of homes and recreational vehicles, and vehicle and roof damage at a local manufacturing plant. Tree damage was reported across town. Near the intersection of Highways 30 and 281, a personal storage facility was destroyed and a power pole was snapped and fell on a business. West of town, pivots were overturned and a number of train cars were derailed. |
| June 1997 | Tornado (F1) | Cairo | $750,000 | no account filed |
| May 2022 | Hail | Grand Is | $500,000 | Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported on the west and north sides of Grand Island. |
| July 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wood River | $500,000 | The peak measured wind gust was 84 MPH, recorded at 10:30 PM CDT by the Central Nebraska Regional Airport at Grand Island ASOS. Other measured wind gusts included 66 MPH at 10:34 PM CDT by a mesonet station located one mile northwest of Wood River and 63 MPH at 10:41 PM CDT by a mesonet station located four miles west-southwest of Wood River. County dispatch and broadcast media reported widespread tree damage across the county, including large healthy trees downed, with multiple power poles snapped and power lines downed. Underpasses in Grand Island were briefly impassible due to heavy rainfall. |
| August 2019 | Flood | Doniphan | $500,000 | Several homes experienced flooded basements and flooding from overflowing small lakes at the Amick Acres neighborhood west of Doniphan. With additional bouts of heavy rain, flooding persisted for over a week there. A CoCoRaHS observer near Doniphan measured an incredible 11.91 of rain between Aug. 21-26, and 16.76 for the entire month. |
| August 2019 | Flash Flood | Doniphan | $500,000 | Several homes experienced flooded basements and flooding from overflowing small lakes at the Amick Acres neighborhood west of Doniphan. With additional bouts of heavy rain, flooding persisted for over a week there. A CoCoRaHS observer near Doniphan measured an incredible 11.91 of rain between Aug. 21-26, and 16.76 for the entire month. Also, shorter-term, 24-hour rain totals from around Hall County on the 22nd (via CoCoRaHS) included 5.98 inches 4 miles south southwest of Alda, 4.54 inches 3 miles west of Doniphan, and 3.67 inches 6 miles west northwest of Hansen. |
| June 2014 | Hail | Grand Is | $500,000 | Hail ranging in size from quarters to golf balls was reported in Grand Island. |
| June 2014 | Hail | Grand Is | $500,000 | no account filed |
| June 2024 | Hail | Wood River | $400,000 | Hail up to quarter size hail was reported, likely accompanied by wind gusts near 50 MPH. Crops in the area were severely damaged. |
| May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wood River | $350,000 | Numerous irrigation pivots were overturned along an approximately 6 mile long path from Wood River south to near Interstate 80. In Wood River, large trees were damaged or destroyed and power poles were knocked down. Heavy rain from these thunderstorms resulted in the intersection of 140th and Holling Roads, just south of town, being covered in water. |
| June 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wood River | $300,000 | A wind gust of 70 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles west-southwest of Wood River. A storm chaser reported a flipped irrigation pivot along Highway 30 approximately three miles west-southwest of Wood River. |
| December 2021 | Hail | Grand Is | $300,000 | Hail ranging in size from peas to quarters was reported. This hail was accompanied by wind gusts near 85 MPH. |
| April 2024 | Flash Flood | Alda | $250,000 | Strong thunderstorms with heavy rainfall rates dropped 3 to 5 inches of rain in the Grand Island area, with much of that falling within 2 hours. Law enforcement reported multiple flooded intersections and stalled vehicles, and water coming up through a few manhole covers. |
| July 2022 | Tornado (EF1) | Grand Is | $250,000 | This EF1 tornado tracked nearly 10 miles through rural portions of far east central Hall and far southwestern Merrick counties during the very early morning hours of Monday, July 4th. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 110 MPH, based on the combination of damage to trees, some buildings and homes, and power poles. The tornado was estimated to be 200 yards wide at its widest point.||This tornado first touched down at 12:51 a.m. CDT in a rural area four miles south of downtown Grand Island (near the intersection of South Locust St. and Schimmer Drive) and quickly gained strength, continuing for nearly four miles within Hall County before crossing over into Merrick County near the intersection of Gunbarrel and Stolley Park Roads. Along its total path, it damaged over a half-dozen homes, including blown out windows, shingle and siding damage, and at least one home had part of its roof decking torn off (fortunately no injuries were reported). Other outbuildings and grain bins were damaged or destroyed, including a barn in Merrick County that was over 100 years old. Several power poles were snapped, along with trees and damage to crops. The damage pattern evident in corn fields had a distinct herringbone pattern...consistent with a tornadic wind field. ||This tornado formed in a trailing area of stratiform rainfall not usually conducive for tornadic development. The combination of a very moist, unstable airmass and very favorable wind shear for the time of day were key in the formation of the low-topped supercell which spawned the tornado. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | (Gri)Grand Is Rgnl A | $250,000 | A spotter on the northwest side of Grand Island estimated wind gusts to be between 80 and 90 MPH, while the Central Nebraska Regional Airport ASOS measured a gust of 85 MPH. There was a report of a few railroad cars being blown over in the area. This wind was accompanied by hail ranging in size from peas to quarters. |
| August 2017 | Hail | Cairo | $250,000 | Quarter size hail was accompanied by 60 MPH winds. |
| August 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cairo | $250,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH accompanied hail to the size of quarters. |
| May 2003 | Hail | Grand Is | $250,000 | no account filed |
| March 1990 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 1986 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| August 1980 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 1977 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| September 1977 | Tornado | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| December 2021 | Tornado (EF1) | Rosedale | $200,000 | This tornado touched down in far northeastern Adams County and continued into far southeastern Hall County. This tornado impacted three farmsteads. The maximum wind speed estimate of 100 MPH was based upon the collapse of an outbuilding at one farmstead. Partial roof loss was noted at one home, while another home had some superficial damage. Similar to other tornadoes, more irrigation pivots were overturned. The tornadic circulation probably crossed Highway 281 near the fuel supply facility south of Doniphan before lifting a mile or so south of Doniphan. |
| June 2022 | Hail | Cairo | $200,000 | no account filed |
| June 2006 | Hail | Wood River | $200,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Cairo | $200,000 | no account filed |
| August 2014 | Hail | Alda | $150,000 | Estimated wind gusts of 60 mph were also reported with the quarter size hail. This was reported by the general public driving on Interstate 80 and was relayed by law enforcement. |
| August 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alda | $150,000 | Quarter size hail also occurred along with the estimated 60 mph wind gusts reported the public driving on Interstate 80. This report was relayed by law enforcement. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Grand Is | $150,000 | Wind gusts estmiated up to 65 MPH affected mainly the southern side of town, with the main damage suffered by trees at a cemetery near Stolley Park and Webb Roads. A couple trees were uprooted and a few tree limbs were knocked down, which also brought down some power lines. There was also minor roof damage at an area fire station and minor car damage at a car dealership. |
| June 2009 | Hail | Wood River | $150,000 | Golf ball hail reported with a depth of 2 inches at times. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 3 workings inside this county. All of them still produce. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 2 |
| Talc-Soapstone | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island Mill | Talc-Soapstone | Producer | ||
| Amick Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Wood River Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
History of Hall County, Nebraska; a Narrative of the Past with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, and Chronological Presentation of Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religious, and Civic Development from the Early Days to the Present Time, and Special Analysis of Its Military and Civil Participation in the Late World War devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. All 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alda Township | Alda | 2,439 words | 2 | |
| Cameron Township | Cameron | 1,629 words | 0 | |
| Doniphan Township | Doniphan | 6,119 words | 17 | |
| Grand Island City | Grand Island, Kingwood Estates, Parkview, Pioneer Estates | 6,308 words | 13 | |
| Prairie Creek Township | Abbott, Ovina | 694 words | 0 | |
| Wood River Township | Wood River | 2,527 words | 8 |
One book written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 24 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.
Everyone History of Hall County, Nebraska; a Narrative of the Past with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, and Chronological Presentation of Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religious, and Civic Development from the Early Days to the Present Time, and Special Analysis of Its Military and Civil Participation in the Late World War 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 1920.
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.
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