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Kearney, Nebraska

20 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1894 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Precinct 12. It lies in ZIP code area 68847. The Survey maps it on the Kearney quadrangle. 33,790 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 2,152 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Kearney within Buffalo County

On record in Kearney

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 12 of 16 shown

Every listing in Buffalo County

Population over time

3 figures

Kearney grew from 20,341 to 33,790 between 2000 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.

YearPeople Change
200020,341
201030,787+10,446 (+51%)
202033,790+3,003 (+10%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 20 printed sheets

Matched 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.

What the histories say of this town

25,277 words

1 chapter about Kearney from the published histories of the county, public domain and reproduced complete.

ChapterFrom Length
Buffalo County, Nebraska, and Its People : a Record of Settlement, OrgBuffalo County, Nebraska, and Its People : a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement (1916)25,277 words in 2 parts

Fires near this place

97 since 2007

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 97 fires within 5 miles of Kearney between 2007 and 2020, burning about 109 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
Missing data/not specified/undetermined35
Debris and open burning32
Equipment and vehicle use13
Fireworks8
Smoking3
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Recreation and ceremony1
Railroad operations and maintenance1
Natural1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
29 September 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
29 September 2010Debris and open burningunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
27 September 2010Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
24 September 2012Debris and open burningunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
22 September 2012Fireworksunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
21 September 2015Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
10 September 2012Smoking1.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
8 August 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Buffalo County

Mines and quarries near this place

4 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 4 workings within 5 miles of Kearney: 4 producers. 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 SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Broadfoot PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Cook Sand and GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Johnson Sand and Gravel CoSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Kearney PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every working recorded in Buffalo County

Storms near this place

60 of 156 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Kearney in 156 storm reports between 1994 and 2024: 78 hail, 53 thunderstorm wind, 13 heavy rain, 4 flash flood. The reports record 15 injuries. 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.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2002HailKearney15 hurt, $50,000,000All injuries were minor
May 2008Tornado (EF2)Kearney$11,000,000This tornado was the most organized tornado that hit the city of Kearney this night and was the most persistent. It appeared to stay on the ground for the majority of its 22 mile path in Buffalo County. The tornado did exit Buffalo County and entered Hall County. The tornado started in the northwest part of the city of Kearney where it damaged an apartment complex. It took the roof off of part of the complex, blew out a wall and stacked a couple of cars in the parking lot. The tornado then moved east, damaging trees in Harmon Park and took a part of the roof off a building near the hospital. At the Buffalo County Fairgrounds, it caused a portion of the Expo Center building to collapse. Two people in this building were shook up but not injured. The tornado then continued east to the Kearney Airport where it destroyed a hanger and the cooperate jet housed inside. The tornado then continued on east and northeast through rural parts of Buffalo County. Several farmsteads were hit but damage was limited to shingles removed from roofs, outbuildings damaged and empty grain bins destroyed. There were multiple power poles and lines down by this storm.
May 2023HailKearney$8,000,000Hail up to the size of ping pong balls was reported across Kearney.
December 2016Thunderstorm WindKearney$2,000,000Wind gusts estimated to up to 80 MPH caused damage in the Kearney area. Around 10 pine trees were blown down, as were a few irrigation pivots. Construction trailers were blown over near Kearney High School and a barn lean-to was damaged on 46th Avenue.
May 2019HailKearney$1,000,000Hail ranging in size from 1 to 2 inches in diameter was reported across Kearney.
April 2013Thunderstorm WindKearney$1,000,000Considerable tree damage was reported, including trees blocking roadways. Winds destroyed a mobile home, damaged residence halls on the University of Nebraska-Kearney campus, and also blew part of the roof off the UNK library.
May 2005HailKearney$1,000,000Hail ranging in size from golf balls to baseballs pounded Kearney. Nine sheriff's deputy cars were damaged by the hail.
April 2003HailKearney$500,000no account filed
May 1998Heavy RainKearney$500,000no account filed
September 2015HailKearney$400,000Hail ranging in size from quarter to tennis ball size was reported in the area. Inside the city of Kearney itself, hail was quarter to golf ball size.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindKearney$350,000no account filed
June 2022Thunderstorm WindKearney$300,000Wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH resulted in three flipped irrigation pivots.
September 2019HailKearney$150,000Most hail stones along and near this path were quarter to half dollar size, but hail up to 2 inches in diameter was reported north of Riverdale.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindKearney$125,000Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH. A power line was knocked down, resulting in starting a house fire.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindKearney$100,000Wind gusts were estimated at 70 MPH. A large tree was uprooted and a power pole was knocked down in Kearney.
June 2009HailKearney$100,000no account filed
June 1999Thunderstorm WindKearney$80,000no account filed
August 2017Thunderstorm WindKearney$75,000Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH. A trailer home was damaged when 3 trees were downed. Part of a tree knocked a hole through the roof, allowing water to get inside the home.
June 2008HailKearney$75,000no account filed
August 1999Thunderstorm WindKearney$75,000no account filed
June 2003LightningKearney$73,000Lightning struck a paint store and resulting fire caused $73,000 in damage.
June 2008Flash FloodKearney$70,000Widespread flooding occured across southern Buffallo county when 2 to 5.5 inches of rain fell during the early morning hours. The most significant flooding was found in and around Gibbon where they saw 5.26 inches of rainfall.
June 2000HailKearney$70,000no account filed
August 2014Thunderstorm WindKearney$50,000Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH. Trees branches were downed, a pole barn was damaged and a trailer was tipped over.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindKearney$50,000Widespread tree damage in town.
July 2023HailKearney$50,000no account filed
April 2007Flash FloodKearney$50,000no account filed
August 1997Thunderstorm WindKearney$40,000no account filed
June 2006Thunderstorm WindKearney$30,000no account filed
July 1996HailKearney$30,000no account filed
May 2012HailKearney$25,000Hail was accompanied by wind gusts estimated at 50 mph.
May 2012Thunderstorm WindKearney$25,000Wind gusts were estimated at 65 to 70 mph.
August 2007Flash FloodKearney$25,000Widespread street flooding in town. Some cars stalled in bumper deep water.
April 2013HailKearney$25,000no account filed
May 2012HailKearney$25,000no account filed
June 2008Thunderstorm WindKearney$25,000no account filed
July 2004Thunderstorm WindKearney$25,000no account filed
July 2004Thunderstorm WindKearney$25,000no account filed
June 2003LightningKearney$22,000Just minutes after one lightning ignited fire, the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department was called to another lightning started fire. This time the fire was at a detached garage and resulted in $22,000 in damage.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindKearney$10,000Local television station reported downed power lines on the southeast side of Kearney.
May 2008HailKearney$10,000Hail was accompanied by 45 MPH winds.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindKearney$10,000Large tree limbs blown down by winds estimated at 50 to 60 mph.
June 2009HailKearney$10,000no account filed
June 2004Thunderstorm WindKearney$10,000no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindKearney$10,000no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindKearney$6,000no account filed
July 2023Thunderstorm WindKearney$5,000Peak wind gusts included: 62 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located one mile west-southwest of Kearney; 59 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located one mile west of Kearney; 58 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located three miles southwest of Kearney. Some minor tree damage was reported in the southwest part of Kearney.
June 2008HailKearney$5,000Hail accompanied by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
May 1998HailKearney$5,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindKearney$5,000no account filed
July 1996HailKearney$5,000no account filed
July 1996HailKearney$5,000no account filed
July 1996HailKearney$5,000no account filed
August 2023Thunderstorm WindKearney$3,000Minor tree damage was reported in Kearney.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindKearney$1,000A line of thunderstorms moved southeast across central Nebraska producing wind gusts to 60 mph. A windshield was blown out of a car in Kearney.
April 2022HailKearney-Hail ranging in size from nickels to golf balls was reported in Kearney.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindKearney-A wind gust of 63 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles east-southeast of Kearney.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindKearney-A wind gust of 64 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles east-southeast of Kearney.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindKearney-A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles east-southeast of Kearney.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindKearney-A wind gust of 64 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles southwest of Kearney.

Every storm recorded in Buffalo County

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 PlaceDistance Sheets
Prairie View Estates0.0 miles20
R-Villa Courts1.8 miles20
Glenwood Park3.5 miles20
Buda4.7 miles16
Alfalfa Center5.2 miles18
Riverdale7.3 miles15
Odessa9.3 miles16
Amherst11.1 miles16

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 KearneyAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q846044The 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 830442. 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.