Atkinson, Nebraska
9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1989. It stands in Atkinson Township. It lies in ZIP code area 68713. It stands on Mill Race. The Survey maps it on the Atkinson quadrangle. 1,306 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 2,106 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Atkinson
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 1 record
Brantly Sturdevant Houselisted 1999
Population over time
2 figuresAtkinson grew from 1,245 to 1,306 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 | 1,245 | |
| 2020 | 1,306 | +61 (+5%) |
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 Atkinson quadrangle1:24000
- 1955 USGS O'Neill quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1959 USGS O'Neill quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1969 USGS O'Neill quadrangle1:250000
- 1986 USGS Atkinson quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
- 1989 USGS O'Neill quadrangle1:250000
Fires near this place
14 since 2010Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 14 fires within 5 miles of Atkinson between 2010 and 2020, burning about 19 acres in total. 2 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 |
|---|---|
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 4 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 4 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3 |
| Natural | 2 |
| Debris and open burning | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2017 | Natural | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 28 August 2017 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 25 August 2014 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | under an acre | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 17 August 2017 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 20 July 2011 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 13 July 2017 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 11 July 2017 | Natural | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 28 June 2015 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
Mines and quarries near this place
1 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Atkinson: 1 producer. All of them still produce. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funks Pit & Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 143 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Atkinson in 143 storm reports between 1993 and 2024: 95 hail, 31 thunderstorm wind, 11 tornado, 3 flood. The reports record 1 death. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1997 | Lightning | Atkinson | 1 killed | A 55 year-old man was struck and killed by lightning while riding a horse moving cattle in a meadow 22 miles southwest of Atkinson. |
| April 2000 | Tornado (F1) | Atkinson | $200,000 | Tornado was intermittently on the ground for six miles and destroyed or damaged several farm buildings, knocked down power lines, fences, and trees. Four center pivot systems were also damaged or destroyed. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | $120,000 | Law enforcement reported six grain bins blown over 7 miles north of Atkinson. |
| March 2019 | Flood | Atkinson | $100,000 | Roads 877 and 876 are closed due to water over the roadway. Flooding also reported at the Golf Course. |
| June 2010 | Flood | Atkinson | $100,000 | Flooding was reported by the public in Atkinson after four inches of rainfall flooded the town lumberyard, outlying areas, and produced minor flooding in town. Numerous rainfall reports of three to four inches were received in the area. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Atkinson | $100,000 | Atkinson law enforcement reported baseball size hail. The large hail broke windows at the Atkinson Country Club, damaged roofs, broke windows, severely damaged vehicles, and destroyed corn crops. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | $50,000 | Irrigation pivot turned over and power lines reported down. |
| October 1998 | Tornado (F2) | Atkinson | $50,000 | Tornado touched down on the northeast edge of Atkinson and remained on the ground for nearly 1 mile. The tornado destroyed a pole barn. It also carried a metal shed 100 yards and damaged trees and feed bunks. The tornado touched down two more times, once 1 mile north of Atkinson, just east of Highway 11, and again 2 miles north of Atkinson, just west of Highway 11, doing minor tree damage. |
| June 2014 | Hail | Atkinson | $50,000 | no account filed |
| May 2016 | Tornado (EF0) | Atkinson | $40,000 | At 225 PM CST a landspout tornado briefly touched down 1 mile north of Atkinson that produced minor damage to a tractor's wind shield and small garage before lifting while moving into an alfalfa field. The tornado was rated an EF-0 with highest winds estimated at 70 mph. |
| June 2003 | Tornado (F0) | Atkinson | $25,000 | The tornado broke power poles and mature trees, damaged a house roof on a farmstead, and moved a detached garage off of its foundation. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | $20,000 | Numerous large trees and power lines down in town. |
| October 1998 | Tornado (F1) | Atkinson | $20,000 | Tornado touched down 20 miles south of Atkinson 1 mile west of Highway 11. The tornado damaged two ranches 18 miles south of Atkinson taking a roof off of a barn, damaging several farm buildings, and destroying numerous trees. The tornado was on the ground for most of its 5 mile path. |
| August 2007 | Hail | Atkinson | $20,000 | no account filed |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | $15,000 | A picnic shelter that was under construction at the city park was damaged. Also, the corner of a center pivot irrigation system was flipped upside down. |
| July 2001 | Hail | Atkinson | $15,000 | no account filed |
| October 1998 | Tornado (F0) | Atkinson | $10,000 | Tornado touched down briefly destroying a small calf shed. |
| May 2002 | Hail | Atkinson | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | $7,000 | Wind gusts from thunderstorms broke windows in homes and snapped off numerous large tree limbs. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds broke off large tree limbs and tore shingles off roofs. |
| August 1998 | Hail | Atkinson | $5,000 | Golfball hail damaged buildings and destroyed crops. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Atkinson | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2002 | Hail | Atkinson | $4,000 | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Atkinson | $3,000 | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Atkinson | $3,000 | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Hail | Atkinson | $2,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew 6 inch diameter tree limbs down. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Atkinson | $2,000 | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Hail | Atkinson | $1,500 | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Atkinson | $1,000 | no account filed |
| August 2024 | Hail | Atkinson | - | Time was estimated from radar. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Radio station relayed a report of tree damage in Atkinson. |
| April 2022 | Hail | Atkinson | - | Quarter sized hail with pea to marble size hail mixed in. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated up to 60 MPH reported at this location. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | A large 20 inch diameter cottonwood tree branch reported down at this location. Winds estimated at 70 MPH. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | No details. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Severe winds knocked out power to Atkinson. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Cooperative observer southwest of Atkinson estimated 60 mph wind gusts. |
| June 2020 | Hail | Atkinson | - | Ping pong ball sized hail reported at this location. |
| June 2020 | Hail | Atkinson | - | Dime to quarter sized hail covering the ground at this location. |
| June 2020 | Hail | Atkinson | - | Dime to quarter sized hail covering the ground at this location. |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Downed trees and power lines and minor building damage were reported in Atkinson. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Ten inch diameter tree was uprooted by the wind gust. |
| June 2016 | Flash Flood | Atkinson | - | Water reported across the road four miles east of Atkinson at 877 Road near 481 Avenue. |
| August 2013 | Heavy Rain | Atkinson | - | Street flooding reported in Atkinson. |
| August 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Trained spotters reported winds over 58 mph. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Spotter estimated 50 to 60 MPH winds six miles north of Atkinson. No damage was reported. |
| June 2011 | Flood | Atkinson | - | The rodeo grounds on the south edge of Atkinson has water backed up into it due to flooding from the Elkhorn river. |
| May 2011 | Tornado (EF0) | Atkinson | - | Dispatcher reported tornado briefly touched down in open field where foliage debris extended east along Highway 11. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | A trained spotter estimated 60 to 70 mph winds 6 miles south of Atkinson. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | The emergency manager reported 24 to 36 inch diameter trees were uprooted and chimneys blown from roofs overnight. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | The emergency manager reported 24 to 36 inch diameter trees were uprooted and chimneys blown from roofs overnight. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | The emergency manager reported 24 to 36 inch diameter trees were uprooted and chimneys blown from roofs by Severe Thunderstorm Winds. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Law enforcement reported a tree down from Thunderstorm Winds estimated at 60 mph. |
| August 2010 | Hail | Atkinson | - | The public reported pea to quarter sized hail along with wind gusts estimated to 60 mph or greater. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Spotters estimated thunderstorm wind gusts to 61 knots. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | A fast moving supercell thunderstorm produced severe criteria wind gusts north of Atkinson. |
| June 2009 | Hail | Atkinson | - | Strong winds accompanied the hail. |
| July 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | Power poles were broken as well as large trees which were broken off and in roadways. The AWOS at the O'Neill airport recorded a wind gust of 62 kts (71mph) at 10:33p.m. CDT. The bow echo that produced the winds also rolled across Cherry, Keya Paha, Boyd, Brown, and Rock counties. |
| April 2004 | Hail | Atkinson | - | Hail accumulated to the depth of 1 1/2 inches on Highway 11 indirectly causing a one vehicle rollover accident with 1 person injured as he was ejected from the vehicle. |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Atkinson | - | The strong winds broke off several large tree limbs. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stuart | 9.9 miles | 10 | |
| Emmet | 9.9 miles | 10 | |
| Wilson Ranch | 12.5 miles | 9 | |
| Inez | 16.6 miles | 9 | |
| Catalpa | 17.9 miles | 10 | |
| O'Neill | 18.2 miles | 11 | |
| Cleveland (historical) | 18.3 miles | 10 | |
| Midway | 20.5 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 Atkinson | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q965125 | 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 827106. 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.





