Editing Norfolk, Nebraska (section)

===Automobile age===
In 1900, the city had a population of 3,883, nearly quadruple its population of a decade earlier. By 1910, it had more than 6,000 people, comprising roughly one-third of Madison County's population of 19,101.<ref name=histbuild />{{rp|14}} In 1915, petitions were filed for an election to move the [[county seat]] from [[Madison, Nebraska|Madison]] to Norfolk. The measure, however, failed to secure the necessary number of votes.<ref name=madisonhistory>Madison County Historical Society. ''125 Years of Memories: 1867-1992''. Locally published, 1993.</ref>{{rp|20}}

In the 1910s, development began on the [[Meridian Highway]] as a direct north–south route across the United States; the route of the highway ran through Norfolk. The 1924 completion of the [[Meridian Highway Bridge|Meridian Bridge]] across the Missouri River at the Nebraska-South Dakota border made the highway a continuous year-round thoroughfare. In 1926, it was designated as [[U.S. Route 81|U.S. Highway 81]].<ref name=meridian>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100620230030/http://nebraskahistory.org/histpres/nebraska/pierce/PC00-Meridian_Highway.pdf "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Meridian Highway".]}} Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 2010-01-03.</ref> A second federal highway, [[U.S. Highway 275]], received its designation in 1939; it follows the Elkhorn valley upstream from Omaha through Norfolk to [[O'Neill, Nebraska|O'Neill]]. During [[World War II]], the segment from Norfolk to O'Neill was a portion of the Strategic Network of Highways; as such, it was given a high priority for federal funds for materials and for federal maintenance funds.<ref>Koster, George E. [http://www.dor.state.ne.us/history/docs/history-general.pdf "A Story of Highway Development in Nebraska".] Nebraska Department of Roads. 1997. p. 44. Retrieved 2010-01-03.</ref>

[[File:Karl Stefan Airport SE View.JPG|thumb|alt=One-story building with two-story central section; rounded corners|Former terminal building, [[Norfolk Regional Airport|Karl Stefan Airport]]]]

Air travel developed in Norfolk beginning with the establishment of a flying school in 1928. The school's field gradually expanded and was improved. In 1942 the [[Works Progress Administration|WPA]] began construction of a [[Norfolk Regional Airport|municipal airport]] at the site. Although construction materials were limited during World War II, Norfolk received priority as an auxiliary field to several war-related airports, including [[Sioux Gateway Airport|Sioux City Air Field]]. After the war, Congressman [[Karl Stefan]], a resident of Norfolk and a member of the Congressional Air Policy Board, used his influence to secure further funding for the airport. Commercial passenger flight through the airport began in the early 1950s.<ref name=airport1>Ebeling, Mary R., and Christina Slattery.  {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100620195053/http://nebraskahistory.org/histpres/nebraska/madison/MD00-023_Karl_Stefan_Airpt.pdf "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Karl Stefan Memorial Airport Administration Building".]}} {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110307215553/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/index.shtml Nebraska State Historical Society.]}}  Retrieved 2011-11-03.</ref>

In the 1970s, another attempt was made to move the county seat from Madison to Norfolk. In a 1975 county-wide election, the move's proponents failed to secure a simple majority. A 60% majority would have been necessary for the measure to pass.<ref name=madisonhistory/>{{rp|8}}

On September 26, 2002, three gunmen robbed a [[U.S. Bancorp|US Bank]] branch in Norfolk, killing five people in the process. This was the nation's deadliest bank robbery in at least a decade.<ref>[http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/119002.html "Five Dead in Norfolk Bank Robbery".] WOWT-TV website. 2002-09-26. Retrieved 2009-12-30.</ref> The three gunmen, Jose Sandoval, Jorge Galindo and Erick Vela, were arrested the same day as was their accomplice Gabriel Rodriguez. All four men were later convicted and sentenced for their roles in the crime. Sandoval, Galindo and Vela were given the [[death penalty]], whereas Rodriguez received life imprisonment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://journalstar.com/norfolk-bank-robbery-a-timeline/article_cadab6c1-36e5-5401-b5a3-eb777cfedcbd.html|title=Norfolk bank robbery: A timeline|work=Lincoln Journal Star|last=Pilger|first=Lori}}</ref> Additionally, Sandoval pleaded guilty to two additional murders that occurred before the bank robbery and was given a life sentence for each victim.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://norfolkdailynews.com/news/convicted-u-s-bank-murderer-adds-another-two-murders-to-his-body-count/article_78d54e1e-9e2f-51fa-a5be-82046faad7b5.html|title=Convicted U.S. Bank murderer adds another two murders to his body count|last=Schulz|first=Tricia|work=Norfolk Daily News|date=July 22, 2008|accessdate=November 26, 2024}}</ref>