BlockFrom the record
5 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Wayne County, Nebraska
17 topographic sheets cover 6 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 55 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings and 1 district.
- 2 of the 5 listings were added during the 1970s.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 6 populated places in this county; 6 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
5Every 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Wayne Commercial Historic District | district | 2009 | 09001071 |
 | Wayne County Courthouse | building | 1979 | 79001458 |
 | Wayne Municipal Auditorium | building | 2002 | 02000273 |
 | Wayne United States Post Office | building | 2007 | 07001325 |
 | Dr. W. C. Wightman House | building | 1978 | 78001717 |
Wildfire, 2003 to 2020
93 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 93 of them, burning about 390 acres. 1 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 | 37 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 25 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 18 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 5 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 4 |
| Fireworks | 3 |
| Natural | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 December 2006 | Equipment and vehicle use | 150 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 13 March 2007 | Debris and open burning | 50 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 26 January 2014 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 50 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 13 February 2015 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 15 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 11 May 2011 | Natural | 11 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 23 February 2009 | Debris and open burning | 10 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 1 April 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 5 November 2010 | Equipment and vehicle use | 5.0 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 2024
60 of 208 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 208 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 16 injuries and about $8,136,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Hail | 94 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 76 |
| Tornado | 20 |
| Flash Flood | 13 |
| Funnel Cloud | 2 |
| Flood | 2 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2013 | Tornado (EF4) | Altona | 15 hurt | This violent tornado started 8 miles southwest of Wayne, Nebraska and flattened corn crops and tore off large limbs of some trees. Gaining strength as it headed northeast, the tornado struct a farmstead about 4.5 miles southwest of Wayne. Here barns and sheds were severely damaged or destroyed. The tornado became very wide at this point, nearly 1.25 miles wide. About 2 miles south of Wayne the tornado severely damaged a farmstead and then cased strong EF-3 damage to two homes along highway 15. The tornado then missed the downtown and residential district of Wayne and severely damaged a softball complex on the southeast side of town. ||The most significant damage occurred in the industrial part area on the east side of Wayne. Numerous metal building structures, some of them quiet large, sustained serious damage or were mangled into rubble. It was here the tornado was rated EF-3 with a couple of small pockets of low-end EF-4 damage. The tornado then crossed highway 35 and impacted the Wayne Municipal Airport. Two hangers were flattened. Some private aircraft were tumbled and ripped up. The automated weather observing station at the airport was also torn up. Continuing northeast, the tornado struck another farmstead and caused EF-2 damage to a home. Damage continued northeast at it tracked into Dixon County. The damage in the Wayne area was estimated at $50 million. |
| June 1953 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt, $2,500 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Tornado (EF4) | Altona | $3,000,000 | This tornado developed as the Pilger tornado was beginning to enter the rope stage. The Pilger tornado rotated around the south side of this developing tornado before completely dissipating. As this tornado moved north, along and to the east of State Highway 16 it grew in size and intensity. The tornado impacted numerous farmsteads along its path in eastern Wayne County producing varying degrees of damage, but the tornado was particularly violent in a two mile stretch between 853rd and 855th Roads where 4 houses were completely destroyed down to the foundation. The tornado also destroyed outbuildings, power poles, and debarked trees in these locations as well. The tornado became wrapped in rain as it moved to the east of Wakefield. The tornado entered Dixon County about 2.25 miles east of Wakefield. |
| April 2024 | Flash Flood | Winside | $2,000,000 | The Wayne County EM reported street flooding in Winside. |
| June 2014 | Tornado (EF4) | Altona | $1,500,000 | This is a continuation of the Pilger tornado that went through Stanton and Cuming into Wayne County. Once entering the county the tornado produced violent damage at two farmsteads where the houses were completely destroyed down to the foundation. The tornado finally started to narrow and weaken as a new tornado developed to the northeast. As this occurred the tornado narrowed and accelerated to the east northeast to the south of the new tornado before finally dissipating. |
| March 2019 | Flash Flood | Wayne | $1,300,000 | Heavy rain and snow melt caused flooding at Wayne State University, mainly at their Willow Bowl outdoor amphitheater. Wayne Municipal Airport was under water and did sustain damage. Also the walking trail in Wayne was damaged by flood waters. |
| June 2014 | Tornado (EF2) | Altona | $75,000 | This tornado, after crossing in front of the Pilger tornado, moved out of Cuming County and into Wayne County. The tornado continued for about 2 miles into the County before roping out and dissipating. As the tornado crossed into Wayne County it impacted a cattle ranch to the north of Y Road where over 300 head of cattle were killed as well as destroying outbuildings. As the tornado moved north northwest, while slowing, it impacted a brick home between 847th and 848th Roads where the second story was removed as well as some outside walls. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Wayne | $50,000 | Spotters reported water over roads in the city of Wayne. Also several county roads across the northern half of the county had water running over them in favored low spots. |
| June 2010 | Flood | Hoskins | $30,000 | Heavy rain from June 8th through the morning of the 11th caused flooding of small streams and creeks with widespread crop damage noted. Some county roads were damaged by flood waters and a bridge northwest of Carroll was washed out. |
| October 1956 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1955 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1953 | Tornado | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | $20,000 | Thunderstorm winds estimated at around 65 mph knocked the power out for some residents in Wayne. The winds also downed many large tree branches and uprooted several trees in town. A roof was also ripped off of a metal building in town by the winds. |
| May 1995 | Tornado (F0) | 2 S Wayne | $20,000 | Brief touchdowns from a tornado did minor damage to maintenance sheds, hog feeders, trees, and a utility shed. |
| October 1998 | Lightning | Wayne | $14,000 | Lightning strike caused a fire which destroyed a hog barn and killed 50 pigs. |
| August 2017 | Flash Flood | Wayne | $10,000 | Emergency management reports water was running over roads near the Wayne/Dixon County border. The flash flooding occurred with water over the roads generally between Wayne County County Roads 572 to 575 Avenue and between 860 to 864 Roads. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Randolph | $10,000 | Strong winds blew down a cattle shed. |
| May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | $10,000 | Roof blown off equipment building. |
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Wayne | $5,000 | Portions of Wayne county received unofficially up to 8 inches of rain over a several day period that ended Thursday morning 8/23. The heavy rain during the early morning hours of 8/23 caused flash flooding across at least 3 county roads in the southeast portion of the county. The flooding resulted in closure of the roads into the afternoon hours. The flooding affected mainly agricultural lowlands, but some gravel was washed out on county roads. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norfolk | $4,000 | Numerous trees and power lines downed. Debris near the intersection of Highways 57 and 35. Cars pushed around. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carroll | $3,000 | Emergency management reported a powerline down in the town of Carroll. |
| April 1964 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| October 1961 | Tornado | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| June 1955 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| May 2024 | Funnel Cloud | Sholes | - | The office received a report of a funnel cloud from the Cedar County 911 Call Center. |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Winside | - | The Wayne County EM reported part of a small garage roof was removed. There was additional damage to a power pole nearby. Surrounding trees were reported to have remained standing. The time was estimated based on radar. |
| April 2024 | Flash Flood | Wayne | - | The Wayne County EM reported one primary highway many secondary roads were under water in eastern Wayne County. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | A 58 mph wind gust was recorded on a personal weather station. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Winside | - | The emergency manager relayed reports of numerous outbuildings that were damaged. Trees were uprooted and powerlines were blown down in the area as well. |
| July 2024 | Hail | Wayne | - | The office received a couple reports of quarter sized hail in the town of Wayne from both public sources and emergency management. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | Emergency management reported several large trees damage with one uprooted. Corn in the surrounding area was also flattened. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | Emergency management reported several large tree limbs blown down on a farmstead. One limb fell onto a vehicle. |
| June 2024 | Flash Flood | Hoskins | - | Water was reported as partially covering county roads near Hoskins to the northeast by emergency management. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wakefield | - | A personal weather station measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sholes | - | A personal weather stationed measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | Public reported lots of damage to large treed throughout the city of Wayne. |
| May 2023 | Tornado (EF0) | Wayne | - | A brief tornado uprooted and snapped trees at two farmsteads. The tree damage was in a narrow swath near the road while the other buildings and trees just to the west were largely untouched. |
| May 2023 | Tornado (EF0) | Wayne | - | A tornado began in an open field and tracked across the east side of a farm, tipping a grain wagon, damaging trees, lifting an open shed, and damaging the roof of another shed. The debris was deposited up to 150 yards downstream where the track appeared to end in an open pasture prior to crossing 852nd road. Special thanks to Wayne County emergency management and Stanton County emergency management for assistance with the damage survey and drone-based evaluation. |
| September 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | Report of a large tree branch down on a road. |
| September 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne Arpt | - | The Wayne Airport AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 78 mph. |
| October 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wakefield | - | The office received photos from the public showing large tree branches down at a farm 6 miles south of Wakefield, Nebraska. The time of the event was estimated by radar. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carroll | - | Public reported trees uprooted and snapped. |
| May 2022 | Hail | Winside | - | Trained spotter reported ping pong ball sized hail. |
| August 2021 | Hail | Carroll | - | Trained spotter reported 1-inch hail. |
| August 2021 | Hail | Winside | - | Broadcast media relayed report of quarter sized hail. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | Several large branches greater than 8 inches in diameter broken from trees in Wayne. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | Report of several 8+ inch branches broken. |
| March 2019 | Flood | Wakefield | - | County roads department reports multiple county roads are under water in northwest Wayne. They are beginning to barricade roads. |
| September 2019 | Hail | Winside | - | The public reported quarter size hail. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | Large limbs were reported down across Wayne County. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | Large tree limbs down north of Wayne. |
| June 2018 | Flash Flood | Wakefield | - | More than 5 inches of heavy rain from thunderstorms caused significant rises of water out of creeks into cornfields. |
| June 2018 | Hail | Carroll | - | Nickel to quarter size hail 1/2 mile west of Carroll in Wayne County. |
| June 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne | - | A measured 67 mph wind gust occurred at the Wayne Airport AWOS. |
| June 2017 | Hail | Winside | - | A trained spotter reported quarter size hail. |
| August 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wayne Arpt | - | A 58 mph wind gust was measured at Wayne Airport. |
| June 2017 | Tornado (EF0) | Hoskins | - | Tornado started northeast of Hoskins where a barn lost part of it's roof. The tornado proceeded southeast and damaged another barn and grain bin before crossing into Stanton County. |
| June 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hoskins | - | Grain bins 4 miles north of Hoskins were destroyed. |
| June 2017 | Hail | Wayne | - | A trained spotter had quarter size hail and 50 to 60 mph winds. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Winside | - | Tree lines of 8 to 12 inches in diameter were reported downed by the strong winds. |
Every populated place in the county
6Named 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.