Ainsworth, Nebraska
9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1989. It stands in Ainsworth City. It lies in ZIP code area 69210. The Survey maps it on the Ainsworth quadrangle. 1,616 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 2,520 feet above sea level.
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Population over time
2 figuresAinsworth fell from 1,728 to 1,616 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,728 | |
| 2020 | 1,616 | -112 (-6%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
6 surveys from 9 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1954 USGS Ainsworth quadrangle1:24000
- 1955 USGS O'Neill quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1959 USGS O'Neill quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1969 USGS O'Neill quadrangle1:250000
- 1985 USGS Ainsworth quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
- 1989 USGS O'Neill quadrangle1:250000
Fires near this place
24 since 2009Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 24 fires within 5 miles of Ainsworth between 2009 and 2020, burning about 23 acres in total. 1 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 7 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 6 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 4 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 3 |
| Fireworks | 2 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
| Natural | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 August 2019 | Natural | under an acre | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 28 August 2020 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 30 July 2013 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 30 July 2012 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 17 July 2012 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 29 June 2012 | Fireworks | under an acre | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 28 June 2012 | Fireworks | under an acre | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 24 June 2020 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
2 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Ainsworth: 1 past producer, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costello Pit and Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Quinn Sand and Gravel | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 165 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Ainsworth in 165 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 112 hail, 38 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado, 4 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $1,000,000 | Severe thunderstorms producing several wet microbursts, led to violent winds in Ainsworth. Wind gusts, estimated at around 100 MPH, uprooted several mature trees in and around Ainsworth. Other mature trees were snapped above ground level. Numerous reports of power lines down, one of which, led to fire at a residence on the north side of Ainsworth. One house sustained significant damage as a mature tree impacted the roof of this residence. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $800,000 | A storm hit Ainsworth with damage significant that included the destruction of two buildings and many trees. Power lines were also downed by the winds and resulted in a power outage that lasted about two hours. The damage was most severe in a relatively concentrated zone, on the north side of the town, which is consistent with a microburst damage path. It was in that area where one of the buildings was destroyed. Debris from the steel building was scattered to the north up to 200 yards, and steel was twisted violently around trees north of the building site. |
| June 1997 | Hail | Ainsworth | $600,000 | no account filed |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $500,000 | Strong wind gusts estimated to 80 MPH destroyed a machine shed, cattle feeding shed, and hog shed 3 miles west of Ainsworth. A dry fertilizer plant also sustained heavy damage 2 miles west of Ainsworth. Three miles southwest of Ainsworth, a barn sustained heavy damage. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $500,000 | Law Enforcement reports numerous trees and power lines down as a result of thunderstorm winds in and around Ainsworth. |
| June 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $250,000 | A thunderstorm system produced strong wind with speed estimated in excess of 90 mph. The wind storm actually began in eastern Cherry County near Wood Lake and travelled across most of northern Brown County doing major damage to grain bins 10 miles west of Ainsworth. In the city of Ainsworth, numerous trees were broken and roofs were damaged by the wind. A tree fell on a 1998 Ford Pickup smashing the cab. The Pickup was a total loss. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $120,000 | Several center pivot irrigation systems were overturned by the strong winds. In addition, a few rafters and garage walls were blown down at the construction site of a home being built. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Ainsworth | $100,000 | The large hail damaged roofs, tore holes in the siding of homes, and damaged vehicles. Hail and heavy rain caused street flooding when storm drains become plugged. Waves created by passing motorists caused water to flow into basements. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $50,000 | Wet microbursts with wind speeds estimated up to 95 MPH, led to severe tree damage along highway 20 from approximately 3 miles east of Ainsworth to just north of Long Pine. There were several cases of mature-soft and hard wood trees heavily damaged along this line. Tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter were reported along with numerous uprooted trees. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $40,000 | Winds destroyed a 90 by 30 building. |
| May 2007 | Tornado (EF1) | Ainsworth | $40,000 | Storm spotters tracked the tornado as it entered Brown County from Blaine County around 33 miles south of Ainsworth. The tornado traveled north about 14 miles before lifting 19 miles south of Ainsworth. The tornado snapped trees and power poles, destroyed outbuildings, tore off part of a house roof and broke windows, moved a pickup truck and horse trailer, and picked up calves. The average path width of the tornado was 220 yards. The total path length was approximately 55 miles. |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $40,000 | Numerous large tree limbs were down. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $30,000 | Thunderstorm outflow winds broke off a couple of large trees, took down power lines, overturned a beer truck on Highway 20 west of Ainsworth, and pushed over large storage tanks at the agricultural co-operative business in Ainsworth. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Ainsworth | $25,000 | The large hail tore holes in the siding of a home and severely damaged a couple of vehicles. |
| August 2001 | Hail | Ainsworth | $20,000 | no account filed |
| June 2024 | Tornado (EF1) | Ainsworth | $15,000 | Tornado briefly touched down, rolling and severely damaging a single wide manufactured home. Other outbuildings were destroyed at this location which were significantly aged. Tree limbs were broken and trees snapped. |
| July 2009 | Hail | Ainsworth | $15,000 | Large hail fell along a one mile stretch of Highway 20. |
| July 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $15,000 | Strong winds damaged a covered porch and downed several tree limbs. |
| June 2008 | Tornado (EF0) | Ainsworth | $10,000 | A trained spotter reported the brief touchdown of the tornado. The tornado damaged corrals on a ranch. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $10,000 | Wind damage to house under construction. |
| August 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 2001 | Hail | Ainsworth | $8,000 | no account filed |
| July 2001 | Hail | Ainsworth | $6,000 | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Tornado (F0) | Ainsworth | $5,000 | Irrigation system was damaged as the tornado made a brief touchdown. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Ainsworth | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2006 | Hail | Ainsworth | $5,000 | no account filed |
| September 2005 | Hail | Ainsworth | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Hail | Ainsworth | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Hail | Ainsworth | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Hail | Ainsworth | $4,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down large tree limbs. |
| August 2002 | Hail | Ainsworth | $4,000 | no account filed |
| September 2005 | Hail | Ainsworth | $3,000 | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Ainsworth | $3,000 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Ainsworth | $2,000 | no account filed |
| August 2002 | Hail | Ainsworth | $2,000 | no account filed |
| September 2001 | Hail | Ainsworth | $2,000 | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Hail | Ainsworth | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Hail | Ainsworth | $2,000 | no account filed |
| August 1997 | Hail | Ainsworth | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 2004 | Hail | Ainsworth | $1,500 | no account filed |
| September 2005 | Hail | Ainsworth | $1,000 | no account filed |
| August 2025 | Hail | Ainsworth | - | Golf ball sized hail reported in Ainsworth. |
| May 2023 | Hail | Ainsworth | - | Quarter size hail was reported on the southwest side of Ainsworth. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | - | Public estimated 60 mph wind gusts south of Ainsworth. |
| July 2023 | Hail | Ainsworth | - | Public estimated quarter size hail southwest of Long Pine. |
| September 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | - | Thunderstorm wind gust of 60 MPH reported at this location. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | - | Public estimated 60 mph wind gusts north of Brewster. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | - | Winds gust recorded by automated weather observing system. |
| September 2019 | Flash Flood | Ainsworth | - | NDOT reports water over highway 20 at MM 239. |
| September 2019 | Flash Flood | Ainsworth | - | NDOT reports water over highway 7 at MM 31. |
| September 2019 | Flash Flood | Ainsworth | - | Meadville Ave. in Ainsworth has several areas washed out or damaged. A motorist had to be rescued from the washed out portion of the road. |
| June 2018 | Hail | Ainsworth | - | Report received via social media. |
| June 2016 | Hail | Ainsworth | - | A few golf ball size hail stones, but most were pea size. |
| July 2014 | Hail | Ainsworth | - | Hail covered the ground with heavy rainfall reported also. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | - | Strong winds downed a large tree limb. Time estimated from radar. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | - | A large limb approx. 4 inches in diameter broke off a tree. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | - | Ainsworth Fire Department reported thunderstorm wind gusts to 80 MPH. |
| May 2012 | Hail | Ainsworth | - | Hail fell on the south side of town. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | - | Public reported estimated 60 mph wind gusts which caused 3 to 4 inch tree branches to snap off. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ainsworth | - | Wind gusts to 63 mph were measured by automatic equipment at the Ainsworth municipal airport. |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandridge | 4.6 miles | 9 | |
| Long Pine | 8.6 miles | 9 | |
| Johnstown | 10.5 miles | 9 | |
| Winfield (historical) | 13.0 miles | 10 | |
| Raven | 18.9 miles | 9 | |
| Johnsons Corner | 23.9 miles | 9 | |
| Koshopah | 33.5 miles | 9 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Ainsworth | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q406128 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 826919. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
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.





