Amherst, Nebraska Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools
The current estimated population of Amherst is 250, with 50% male and 50% female. The population has remained stable, reflecting the town’s small-town character and agricultural base.
City Facts
- Year founded: 1890
- County: Buffalo County
- Land area: 0.27 square miles
- Population density: 926 people per square mile
- Area code: 308
- Zip code: 68812
Geography and Location
Amherst is located in south-central Nebraska, in Buffalo County, about 15 miles northwest of Kearney. The town is surrounded by farmland, with agriculture being the primary economic driver, particularly corn and soybeans. Amherst is a close-knit rural community with a strong agricultural tradition. The area experiences a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers.
Demographics
Median resident age: 41.6 years
Median household income: $39,545
Median house value: $64,100
Population by Race
Races in Amherst:
- White Non-Hispanic (98.9%)
- American Indian (0.7%)
Ancestries: German (63.2%), Irish (15.2%), United States (11.2%), English (10.5%), Polish (9.0%), Danish (3.6%).
Elevation: 2235 feet
Land area: 0.2 square miles
Population by Education
For population 25 years and over in Amherst
- High school or higher: 88.3%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.1%
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4%
- Unemployed: 2.6%
- Mean travel time to work: 26.7 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Amherst village
- Never married: 18.8%
- Now married: 66.7%
- Separated: 0.8%
- Widowed: 3.8%
- Divorced: 10.0%
0.7% Foreign born
Population change in the 1990s: +47 (+20.4%).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Amherst:
- RICHARD H YOUNG HOSPITAL (about 18 miles; KEARNEY, NE)
- GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL (about 18 miles; KEARNEY, NE)
- PHELPS MEMORIAL HEALTH CENTER (about 29 miles; HOLDREGE, NE)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Amherst:
- KEARNEY MUNI (about 21 miles; KEARNEY, NE; Abbreviation: EAR)
- HASTINGS MUNI (about 62 miles; HASTINGS, NE; Abbreviation: HSI)
- CENTRAL NEBRASKA REGIONAL (about 68 miles; GRAND ISLAND, NE; Abbreviation: GRI)
Other public-use airports nearest to Amherst:
- BREWSTER FIELD (about 28 miles; HOLDREGE, NE; Abbreviation: HDE)
- PIONEER VILLAGE FIELD (about 33 miles; MINDEN, NE; Abbreviation: 0V3)
- JIM KELLY FIELD (about 35 miles; LEXINGTON, NE; Abbreviation: LXN)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Amherst:
- UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY (about 14 miles; KEARNEY, NE; Full-time enrollment: 5,588)
- CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 54 miles; GRAND ISLAND, NE; Full-time enrollment: 3,730)
- FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 135 miles; HAYS, KS; Full-time enrollment: 4,572)
- NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 138 miles; NORFOLK, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,732)
- BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 174 miles; GREAT BEND, KS; Full-time enrollment: 2,268)
- SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE AREA (about 178 miles; LINCOLN, NE; Full-time enrollment: 5,137)
- UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT LINCOLN (about 179 miles; LINCOLN, NE; Full-time enrollment: 19,806)
Schools
Public high school in Amherst:
- AMHERST HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 147; Grades: 07 – 12)
Public primary/middle school in Amherst:
- AMHERST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 123; Grades: PK – 06)