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Kearney, Nebraska Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Kearney, Nebraska is a small city located in the south-central part of the state. It is situated in the Platte River Valley and is part of Buffalo County. The city has a population of around 32,000 people and covers an area of 10.5 square miles.

Kearney was founded in 1871 by settlers from Iowa who were looking to start a new life on the prairie. They named the city after Fort Kearny, which had been established nearby some years earlier to protect travelers along the Oregon Trail. Today, Kearney is home to several educational institutions, including University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), Central Community College (CCC), and Kearney Catholic High School. The town also boasts several cultural attractions such as museums and art galleries, as well as many outdoor activities like hiking and fishing.

The economy of Kearney is mainly driven by agriculture and manufacturing, with major employers such as Cargill Inc., JBS USA, Merrick Pet Care, Green Plains Renewable Energy, Sandhills Publishing Company and more. The city also serves as a regional hub for healthcare services with two hospitals – Good Samaritan Hospital and CHI Health Good Samaritan – both located within its boundaries.

Kearney’s downtown area offers a wide variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment options for residents and visitors alike. There are also several parks in town featuring facilities like playgrounds, picnic areas and sports fields that are great for spending time outdoors with family or friends. Additionally, there are numerous annual events held throughout the year that bring people together to celebrate different aspects of life in this charming Midwestern community – from summer festivals like Jazz Fest to winter activities like Snow Days on Central Avenue Mall.

Overall, Kearney is a great place to live or visit if you’re looking for an authentic small-town experience in Nebraska’s heartland region. It offers plenty of activities for all ages to enjoy within its friendly community atmosphere – whether you’re looking for outdoor recreation or cultural attractions – making it an ideal destination for anyone seeking a unique Midwest experience.

Population: 27,431. Estimated population in July 2024: 28,958 (+5.6% change)
Males: 13,186 (48.1%), Females: 14,245 (51.9%)

Buffalo County

Zip codes: 68845, 68847.

Demographics

Median resident age: 27.3 years
Median household income: $34,829
Median house value: $94,700

Population by Race

Races in Kearney:

  • White Non-Hispanic (93.1%)
  • Hispanic (4.1%)
  • Other race (1.7%)
  • Two or more races (1.2%)
  • American Indian (0.7%)
  • Black (0.6%)

Ancestries: German (41.4%), Irish (12.3%), English (10.7%), Swedish (8.0%), United States (5.0%), Danish (4.1%).

Elevation: 2153 feet

Land area: 11.0 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Kearney

  • High school or higher: 89.8%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.9%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 12.4%
  • Unemployed: 3.0%
  • Mean travel time to work: 13.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Kearney city

  • Never married: 38.6%
  • Now married: 47.2%
  • Separated: 0.7%
  • Widowed: 5.6%
  • Divorced: 7.8%

2.5% Foreign born (1.4% Latin America, 0.7% Asia, 0.3% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +2,438 (+9.8%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Kearney:

  • GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL (10 E 31ST STREET P O BOX 1990)
  • RICHARD H YOUNG HOSPITAL (P O BOX 1750, 1755 PRAIRIE VIEW PL)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Kearney:

  • KEARNEY COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES-HOSP (about 19 miles; MINDEN, NE)
  • PHELPS MEMORIAL HEALTH CENTER (about 28 miles; HOLDREGE, NE)
  • FRANKLIN COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 43 miles; FRANKLIN, NE)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Kearney:

  • KEARNEY MUNI (about 6 miles; KEARNEY, NE; Abbreviation: EAR)
  • HASTINGS MUNI (about 47 miles; HASTINGS, NE; Abbreviation: HSI)
  • CENTRAL NEBRASKA REGIONAL (about 58 miles; GRAND ISLAND, NE; Abbreviation: GRI)

Other public-use airports nearest to Kearney:

  • PIONEER VILLAGE FIELD (about 18 miles; MINDEN, NE; Abbreviation: 0V3)
  • BREWSTER FIELD (about 25 miles; HOLDREGE, NE; Abbreviation: HDE)
  • LOUP CITY MUNI (about 41 miles; LOUP CITY, NE; Abbreviation: 0F4)

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Kearney:

  • UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY (Full-time enrollment: 5,588; Location: 905 W 25TH ST; Public; Website: www.unk.edu; Offers Master’s degree)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Kearney:

  • CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 42 miles; GRAND ISLAND, NE; Full-time enrollment: 3,730)
  • FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 127 miles; HAYS, KS; Full-time enrollment: 4,572)
  • NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 133 miles; NORFOLK, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,732)
  • BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 162 miles; GREAT BEND, KS; Full-time enrollment: 2,268)
  • SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE AREA (about 165 miles; LINCOLN, NE; Full-time enrollment: 5,137)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT LINCOLN (about 166 miles; LINCOLN, NE; Full-time enrollment: 19,806)
  • WAYNE STATE COLLEGE (about 177 miles; WAYNE, NE; Full-time enrollment: 3,026)

Schools

Public high schools in Kearney:

  • KEARNEY SR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,411; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • KEARNEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 179; Grades: 07 – 12)

Private high school in Kearney:

  • KEARNEY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 334; Location: P.O. BOX 1866 110 EAST 35TH; Grades: 6 – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Kearney:

  • SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 540; Grades: 04 – 08)
  • HORIZON MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 503; Grades: 04 – 08)
  • NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 351; Grades: PK – 06)
  • MEADOWLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 260; Grades: PK – 06)
  • PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 258; Grades: PK – 06)
  • WINDY HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 241; Grades: PK – 06)
  • EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 239; Grades: PK – 06)
  • CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 239; Grades: PK – 06)
  • KENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 214; Grades: PK – 06)
  • BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 208; Grades: PK – 06)

Private primary/middle schools in Kearney:

  • ZION LUTHERAN ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 111; Location: 2421 AVENUE C BOX 778; Grades: PK – 7)
  • FAITH CHRISTIAN SCH OF KEARNEY (Students: 78; Location: PO BOX 1574; Grades: KG – 11)

Libraries

Library in Kearney:

  • KEARNEY PUBLIC LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTER (Operating income: $1,000,139; Location: 2020 FIRST AVENUE; 74,834 books; 1,575 audio materials; 1,583 video materials; 188 serial subscriptions)

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