Editing Sprague, Nebraska (section)

==History==
In 1865, a settlement called Centerville established a post office in the area, but never grew into a sustainable community.<ref name=":0" /> Sprague was established in 1888 when the [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]] was extended to that point and was named after a local Civil War veteran, William Sprague, and his wife, Amy.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/lancaster/sprague/ | title=Sprague, Lancaster County | publisher=University of Nebraska | work=Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies | accessdate=August 19, 2014}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://lancaster.ne.gov/sprague/history.aspx|title=Sprague, NE - Historical Background|website=lancaster.ne.gov|access-date=March 25, 2018}}</ref> In 1894, a station named "Martell" was established and platted by the Rock Island Railroad nearby, but the village was never incorporated.<ref name=":0" /> Sprague was incorporated in 1913, when it was no longer required there be a population of at least 200 people.<ref name=":0" />

In 1912 and again in 1927, fires broke out and burned down much of the business sector of Sprague.<ref name=":1" /> In 1963, the Bluestem Conservation Dam was built in the area, creating a 325-acre lake.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ohranger.com/bluestem-lake|title=Bluestem Lake {{!}} Oh, Ranger!|website=www.ohranger.com|language=en|access-date=March 25, 2018}}</ref> A conservation area was created around Bluestem Lake, creating 742 acres of recreational area.<ref name=":2" /> The lake increased numbers of retirement communities and recreational homes in the area, though it remains primarily rural and agricultural.<ref name=":0" />