Hastings, Nebraska
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hastings is a city in Adams County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 24,064 at the 2000 census and was 25,437 by the 2005 estimate. It is the county seat of Adams CountyGR6. It is known as the town where Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in 1927, is home to Fisher Fountain, and during World War II operated the largest Naval Ammunition Depot in the United States. Hastings is also the birthplace of former University of Nebraska football coach and Congressman Tom Osborne.
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[edit] Transportation
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service through Hastings, operating its California Zephyr daily in each direction between Chicago and Emeryville, California, across the bay from San Francisco.
Hastings is served by major automobile routes, including east-west U.S. Highways 6 & 34, north-south U.S. Highway 281. Hastings is also within a short drive to Interstate 80.
[edit] Geography
Hastings is located at (40.589293, -98.391689)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.8 km² (10.0 mi²). 25.5 km² (9.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.31%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 24,064 people, 9,610 households, and 5,948 families residing in the city. The population density was 945.2/km² (2,448.5/mi²). There were 10,333 housing units at an average density of 405.9/km² (1,051.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.39% White, 0.79% African American, 0.42% Native American, 2.02% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.39% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.58% of the population.
There were 9,610 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,461, and the median income for a family was $44,688. Males had a median income of $29,633 versus $21,262 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,941. About 5.6% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Fisher Fountain
The Jacob Fisher Rainbow Fountain is the largest water fountain between Chicago and Denver and is located in the Highland Park of Hastings, NE. The fountain was considered a "sign of hope" for the town during the Great Depression and dust bowl.
Fisher Fountain was originally meant to be a temporary exhibit at the 1932 Adams County Fair, but was made permanent because of its popularity. The fountain was relocated to Highland Park in 1933.
The fountain's name was developed by school children during a contest held by the town. The two winning essays were combined to create the fountain's permanent name. Jacob Fisher was the mayor of Hastings when the Highland Park was first developed. The "Rainbow Fountain" describes intricate lighting of continuously changing arrays of water jets (which reach heights of 67 feet).
In early July 1984, Fisher Fountain was the target of brutal vandalism and blown up with dynamite. Although the perpetrators were never brought to justice, many citizens of Hastings held serious suspicions toward several farmers that lived outside the town and who had access to explosives. The destruction of such a beautiful local attraction aroused a strong community response. Many members of the town volunteered their time and quickly rebuilt the fountain. In defiance of the vandals, the Fisher Fountain was rebuilt to the exact specifications of the original and boasts no security besides a waist-high wrought iron fence. There is a simple plaque describing the attack and subsequent community efforts on the side of the fountain's pump house.[citation needed]
[edit] Naval Ammunition Depot
During World War II the Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD) was the largest of four munitions depots in the country and was known for producing nearly 40 percent of the Navy's ammunition supply at one point during WWII. Igloo-shaped, earth-covered bunkers still line US Highway 6.
[edit] External links
- City of Hastings, NE
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
