Minden, Nebraska
12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1897 and the latest in 1985. It stands in District 6. It lies in ZIP code area 68959. The Survey maps it on the Minden South quadrangle. 3,118 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 2,172 feet above sea level.
On record in Minden
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 3 records
Kearney County Courthouselisted 1990
W. T. Thorne Buildinglisted 1985
US Post Office-Mindenlisted 1992
Population over time
2 figuresMinden grew from 2,923 to 3,118 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 | 2,923 | |
| 2020 | 3,118 | +195 (+7%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
6 surveys from 12 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.
- 1897 USGS Red Cloud quadrangle1:125000, 4 printings
- 1955 USGS Grand Island quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1957 USGS Grand Island quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Grand Island quadrangle1:250000
- 1969 USGS Minden South quadrangle1:24000
- 1985 USGS Red Cloud quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
4 since 2003Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 4 fires within 5 miles of Minden between 2003 and 2017, burning about 131 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 | 2 |
| Debris and open burning | 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 September 2011 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 23 August 2003 | Debris and open burning | 30 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 17 March 2017 | Equipment and vehicle use | 40 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
| 16 March 2009 | Debris and open burning | 60 acres | Nebraska Forest Service | not named |
Storms near this place
60 of 79 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Minden in 79 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 35 hail, 33 thunderstorm wind, 5 tornado, 2 funnel cloud. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2002 | Hail | Minden | $20,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 2002 | Hail | Minden | $5,000,000 | no account filed |
| July 2024 | Tornado (EF1) | Minden | $500,000 | This tornado touched down in the area of the golf course, then moved southeast through the northeast part of town, just south of the airport. The ground circulation was likely small and somewhat disorganized at this stage, as most of the damage in town was to trees. The tornado grew in intensity on the northeast outskirts of town, where a couple metal buildings sustained roof and overhead door damage. The tornado appeared to track along the highway northeast of town before crossing into a corn field and overturning pivots. Based on storm chaser video, this is where the condensation funnel was largest and most obvious. The end of the track between 33 Road and 34 Road was confirmed by drone video submitted to the NWS. The estimated peak wind gust of 90 MPH and EF1 rating is based on the tree damage at the golf course and the damage to the metal buildings on the edge of town. The tornado width of 200 yards is estimated based on observed damage and storm chaser video. Extensive tree damage was noted further south across Minden, and appears to be the result of an intense rear flank downdraft surge of straight-line wind. |
| May 2024 | Tornado (EF0) | Minden | $350,000 | This EF0 rated tornado damaged a handful of irrigation pivots and trees along its over eight mile path. The peak wind speed was estimated to be 85 MPH, based upon tree damage near the middle of the path. This tornado was also noted by a drop in the WSR-88D correlation coefficient product. The drop coincides with the path, but damage was very limited. One possible theory is the lower correlation coefficient shown on radar was caused by corn stalks lifted into the air from several no-till fields. |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $250,000 | Report via broadcast media of tree damage across Minden, with some large limbed downed. Power line and pivot damage was reported just northeast of town. |
| June 2024 | Hail | Minden | $250,000 | Hail ranging in size from quarters up to two inches in diameter was reported along and within a few miles on each side of this path. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $250,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be as high as 80 MPH resulted in widespread tree damage across the southern half of Minden. Small and large tree limbs were snapped, tree trunks were snapped, and a few trees were uprooted. |
| October 2023 | Tornado (EF1) | Minden | $225,000 | This tornado was the strongest and longest of the day, touching down in Franklin County and crossing into Kearney County. This EF1 rated tornado with estimated peak winds of 90 MPH was on the ground for just over six miles and for about 10 minutes. Early on, the damage path was primarily found via corn stalks in fence and power|lines. Eventually the tornado overturned two pivots before reaching a farmstead near Highway 10 about eight miles south of Minden. Most structural damage was at the farmstead, including part of garage wall pushed from its foundation, damage to windows and trees and the top torn from a grain bin. The tornado crossed|the highway and gradually dissipated. The EF1 rating and subsequent 90 MPH wind speed estimate was based upon the damage to the garage, grain bin and tree damage at the farmstead. |
| August 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $150,000 | no account filed |
| May 2005 | Hail | Minden | $100,000 | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $100,000 | no account filed |
| June 2018 | Hail | Minden | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Hail | Minden | $30,000 | no account filed |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $25,000 | no account filed |
| August 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Hail | Minden | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 2008 | Hail | Minden | $20,000 | Penny to golf ball size hail was reported in Minden. |
| July 2006 | Hail | Minden | $20,000 | no account filed |
| May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $15,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be near 65 MPH resulted in multiple downed tree branches in Minden. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $15,000 | no account filed |
| June 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $15,000 | no account filed |
| May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | $10,000 | Two large trees limbs of 10 to 15 inches in diameter were downed in town. |
| May 2007 | Flash Flood | Minden | $10,000 | no account filed |
| April 2007 | Flood | Minden | $10,000 | no account filed |
| July 2006 | Hail | Minden | $10,000 | no account filed |
| August 1999 | Hail | Minden | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 2007 | Hail | Minden | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Hail | Minden | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | A wind gust of 62 MPH was measured by a mesonet located four miles west-southwest of Minden. |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | A wind gust of 66 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles west-southwest of Minden. |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located in Minden. |
| June 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | A wind gust of 69 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile south-southeast of Minden. |
| June 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH, blowing dust resulted in lowered visibility. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH resulted in scattered downed tree limbs in Minden, the largest being up to six inches in diameter. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | A wind gust of 72 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles west-southwest of Minden. |
| September 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles west-southwest of Minden. |
| April 2022 | Hail | Minden | - | Hail to up the size of ping pong balls was reported, accompanied by wind gust measured as high as 70 MPH. |
| April 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Wind gusts were estimated to be between near 75 MPH in the Minden area, as ping pong ball size fell. Just southwest of Minden, about one to three miles, 12 pivots were overturned. Tree damage was reported in Minden, including a large evergreen tree that was uprooted. A wind gust of 70 MPH was also measured by a mesonet station located three miles east-northeast of Heartwell. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located in Minden. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH and were accompanied by pea to dime size hail. |
| July 2020 | Hail | Minden | - | Quarter to ping pong ball size hail was reported. |
| April 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH accompanied hail up to 2 inches in diameter. |
| July 2017 | Heavy Rain | Minden | - | A storm total rainfall amount of 3.91 inches was measured. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | A few trees were knocked over, causing an intersection in town to be blocked. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Wind gusts estimated at 75 mph. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Wind gust estimated at 60 mph. |
| June 2005 | Hail | Minden | - | Winds gusts to 60 mph accompanied the hail. |
| April 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Thunderstorm winds knocked down several tree limbs. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Minden | - | Thunderstorm winds gusted to 80 mph at Heartwell and downed power lines in Minden. |
| May 2024 | Hail | Minden | - | no account filed |
| July 2024 | Hail | Minden | - | no account filed |
| May 2023 | Hail | Minden | - | no account filed |
| August 2022 | Hail | Minden | - | no account filed |
| May 2021 | Hail | Minden | - | no account filed |
| May 2019 | Hail | Minden | - | no account filed |
| May 2017 | Hail | Minden | - | no account filed |
| September 2010 | Hail | Minden | - | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Hail | Minden | - | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koller | 5.4 miles | 14 | |
| Keene | 8.0 miles | 13 | |
| Norman | 8.3 miles | 12 | |
| Axtell | 9.6 miles | 13 | |
| Heartwell | 9.8 miles | 14 | |
| Newark | 9.9 miles | 16 | |
| Valley City (historical) | 11.1 miles | 16 | |
| Kearney City (historical) | 11.2 miles | 20 |
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 Minden | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q180112 | 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 831340. 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.
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.





