BlockFairfield, Nebraska
11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1898 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Fairfield Township. It lies in ZIP code area 68938. The Survey maps it on the Fairfield quadrangle. 330 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,778 feet above sea level.
On record in Fairfield
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
Fairfield Carnegie Librarylisted 2001
Population over time
2 figuresFairfield fell from 387 to 330 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 | 387 | |
| 2020 | 330 | -57 (-15%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
6 surveys from 11 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.
- 1898 USGS Superior quadrangle1:125000, 3 printings
- 1955 USGS Grand Island quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1957 USGS Grand Island quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Grand Island quadrangle1:250000
- 1969 USGS Fairfield quadrangle1:24000
- 1985 USGS Red Cloud quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
2 since 2018Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 2 fires within 5 miles of Fairfield between 2018 and 2020, burning about 4 acres in total. None 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 |
|---|---|
| Equipment and vehicle use | 1 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 July 2020 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District | MASSIE |
| 10 April 2018 | Debris and open burning | 3.5 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
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 Fairfield: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broderick Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Storms near this place
52 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Fairfield in 52 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 22 hail, 20 thunderstorm wind, 6 heavy rain, 4 tornado. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2014 | Tornado (EF3) | Fairfield | $12,500,000 | This tornado was reported initially as a multi-vortex tornado for several miles before taking on a more traditional look south of Saronville, where it was described as a wedge tornado. Based upon reports and video, it appears the entire mesocyclone of the storm was near ground level southwest of Sutton. It was one of the strongest tornado of the day in south central Nebraska, rated an EF3 with the peak wind estimated to be 150 MPH. Rear flank downdraft winds resulted in damage on the south side of the tornado track and in addition to the damage to Sutton itself, areas east of Clay Center, southwest of Sutton through northwest of Grafton were affected. Power poles and trees were damaged or snapped, irrigation pivots were overturned, and a few homes and outbuildings suffered damage.||Damage from this tornado was first noted north of Fairfield, where large tree limbs were knocked down and power poles broken. The tornado shifted mainly east across Highway 14 south of Clay Center, with additional tree damage as well as irrigation pivots overturned. It then started to move to the northeast, crossing Highway 41 east of Clay Center and Highway 6 a few miles west of Sutton, but powerful rear flank downdraft winds of 100 mph hammered Sutton and areas south-southwest of town, causing widespread property damage. Moving in between Saronville and Sutton, the tornado then started a more east-northeast path, crossing Road 6 north of Sutton before dissipating approximately 5 miles northeast of town.||As the tornado approached and crossed Highway 6 it intensified to it strongest point. Damage peaked a few miles north of Sutton, where the EF-3 rating was assigned, resulting from the destruction of a home. Elsewhere along the path, a few other homes sustained less significant damage than the one north of Sutton, and a number of other outbuildings and grain bins were also damaged or destroyed. Many trees were damaged, destroyed or contained debris (mainly from destroyed grain bins), irrigation pivots were overturned and power poles broken. |
| July 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $1,000,000 | A wind gust of 76 MPH was recorded by a mesonet station located two miles west-northwest of Fairfield at 11:09 PM CDT. A wind gust of 61 MPH was recorded by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Fairfield at 11:11 PM CDT. The Cooperative Observer located six miles east-southeast of Clay Center estimated wind speeds of at least 70 MPH. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Fairfield | $250,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $200,000 | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $200,000 | no account filed |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $175,000 | Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH. Emergency management reported a large tree downed near the intersection of Road 310 and Road L. Two irrigation pivots were flipped approximately six miles southeast of Clay Center, and minor porch and tractor damage was reported at a farmstead approximately six miles east-southeast of Clay Center. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $100,000 | A line of thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts up to 80 MPH moved across the county. A large tree was downed in Fairfield. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $100,000 | Wind gusts were estimated at 70 MPH, with power outages reported across the area. Numerous reports of tree damage in Fairfield, including a large tree which was uprooted and fell onto a vehicle, crushing the front end. A tree branch approximately 4 to 6 inches in diameter fell onto a house, putting a hole into the roof. |
| May 2016 | Tornado (EF0) | Fairfield | $75,000 | This tornado touched down approximately 2 miles east of Fairfield, traveling east-northeast before lifting approximately 5 miles east of Fairfield. Damage along this path included at least one irrigation pivot as well as minor damage to the front walkway overhang at the school. Windows were blown out of numerous vehicles in the school parking lot, and a concession area under construction suffered minor damage. The tornado crossed Highway 14, damaging fencing and trees before lifting a couple miles east of the highway. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 85 MPH. |
| April 2009 | Tornado (EF0) | Fairfield | $60,000 | This tornado started south of Fairfield, where a roof was blown off of a barn and power lines were downed. This tornado then moved to the northwest, coming to an end just west of Fairfield, destroying three outbuildings and causing damage to two homes along its path. |
| June 1997 | Hail | Fairfield | $60,000 | no account filed |
| August 2021 | Hail | Fairfield | $50,000 | Hail ranging in size from quarters to ping pong balls was reported. |
| May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $50,000 | Wind gusts estimated at 70 mph resulted in 2 irrigation pivots being overturned. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $40,000 | no account filed |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $30,000 | A wind gust 63 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles east-southeast of Fairfield. Emergency management also reported damage to a grain bin in the area. |
| May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $30,000 | Approximately 20 cars suffered window damage at Sandy Creek School from thunderstorm wind gusts picking up gravel in the parking lot. |
| May 2016 | Hail | Fairfield | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 2012 | Hail | Fairfield | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2009 | Hail | Fairfield | $20,000 | Nickel to ping pong ball size hail was reported. |
| July 2009 | Hail | Fairfield | $20,000 | Nickel to half dollar size hail reported. |
| June 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $10,000 | A storm chaser reported minor roof damage two miles east of Fairfield. |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $5,000 | Some tree branches were downed in Fairfield, with power outages also reported. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | $5,000 | Measured by a Nebraska Department of Roads sensor at the junction of Highways 14 and 74. |
| May 2016 | Hail | Fairfield | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Hail | Fairfield | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Hail | Fairfield | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | - | A wind gust of 66 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles east-southeast of Fairfield. A gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles north-northwest of Edgar. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | - | A mesonet station located four miles northeast of Fairfield measured wind gusts of 64 MPH and 69 MPH. A wind gust of 60 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles southeast of Clay Center. A NWS Cooperative Observer located six miles east-southeast of Clay Center estimated wind gusts to be near 70 MPH, and also reported near-zero visibility due to blowing dust. |
| June 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | - | A wind gust of 65 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles west-northwest of Fairfield. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | - | Wind gusts estimated to be between 65 and 70 MPH caused damage to an irrigation pivot. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | - | Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | - | Widespread wind gusts of 70 to 85 MPH occurred along this path. A 85 MPH wind gust was measured by a mesonet station located 2 miles west-northwest of Fairfield, and a 70 MPH wind gusts was measured by a mesonet station located 2 miles north-northeast of Deweese. Building damage was reported in the Glenvil and Fairfield areas, with the COOP building in Fairfield losing an entire wall. Numerous trees and power lines were down across the Glenvil, Fairfield and Deweese areas. Several area pivots were damaged, and a grain bin collapse occurred in Fairfield. There was considerable crop damage in the area, including at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center located west of Clay Center, where several buildings were also damaged. |
| September 2018 | Heavy Rain | Fairfield | - | A multi-day rainfall total of 7.00 was reported 2 miles south of Fairfield. |
| September 2018 | Heavy Rain | Fairfield | - | A 24 hour rainfall total of 4 inches was reported, with the brunt of the rain falling between 5 PM CDT on the 1st and 4 AM CDT on the 2nd. A total of 3.5 inches was also reported in the Lawrence area. |
| April 2017 | Hail | Fairfield | - | Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported in the area along this path. |
| June 2015 | Hail | Fairfield | - | Dime to quarter size hail fell during this time. |
| October 2013 | Heavy Rain | Fairfield | - | A rainfall total of 4.16 inches occurred. |
| June 2012 | Heavy Rain | Fairfield | - | Rain total of 3.20 inches for the past 24 hours. Report comes from the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network. The rain began during the late afternoon on June 14th, with the last round of rain ending during the early morning hours of June 15th. |
| May 2011 | Heavy Rain | Fairfield | - | Storm total rainfall of 3.58 inches was reported by a NeRAIN observer. |
| August 2010 | Heavy Rain | Fairfield | - | Storm total rainfall amount was 4.4 inches. |
| May 2004 | Tornado (F1) | Fairfield | - | A tornado was reported by volunteer firemen and storm chasers on Highway 74 just west of Fairfield. The chasers wind equipment recorded a wind gust just over 105 mph. |
| August 2025 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| July 2023 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| March 2016 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| April 2016 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| May 2015 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| April 2012 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| May 2012 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Hail | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
| July 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fairfield | - | no account filed |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anan | 4.8 miles | 11 | |
| Deweese | 5.6 miles | 11 | |
| Clay Center | 6.8 miles | 12 | |
| Spring Ranch (historical) | 7.0 miles | 11 | |
| Edgar | 8.2 miles | 12 | |
| Glenvil | 9.3 miles | 13 | |
| Verona | 11.2 miles | 15 | |
| Harvard | 12.9 miles | 12 |
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 Fairfield | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1842438 | 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 829208. 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.