Editing Big Springs, Nebraska

{{Other uses|Big Springs (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Big Springs, Nebraska
| settlement_type    = [[City (United States)|City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Big Springs, Nebraska downtown 2.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Downtown Big Springs, looking north up Pine Street
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Deuel_County_Nebraska_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Big_Springs_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Big Springs, Nebraska
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Nebraska]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Nebraska|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Deuel County, Nebraska|Deuel]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 18, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 1.15
| area_land_km2      = 1.15
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.44
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.44
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 394
| population_density_km2 = 343.38
| population_density_sq_mi = 889.39

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
| utc_offset         = -7
| timezone_DST       = MDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -6
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 3370
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|03|39|N|102|04|28|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 69122
| area_code          = [[Area code 308|308]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 31-04895<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2398119<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2398119}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
}}

'''Big Springs''' is a city in [[Deuel County, Nebraska|Deuel County]], [[Nebraska]], United States. The population was 400 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].

==History==
The first name of the settlement was "Lone Tree", after a large cottonwood tree standing alone on the prairie near the town. It was believed to be over 100 years old at the time of first settlement and could be seen by riders on the [[Pony Express]] and travelers on the [[Oregon Trail]]. Sam Bass's gang reportedly divided $60,000 in loot under the tree from an 1877 robbery of a Union Pacific train.<ref name="Virt Neb"/>

The railroad named this stop "Big Springs" in 1867. Spring water from near the track was used by steam locomotives until 1950.<ref name="Virt Neb"/>

Big Springs was [[plat]]ted in 1884,<ref>{{cite book|last=Shumway|first=Grant Lee|title=History of Western Nebraska and Its People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7RM1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA204|year=1921|publisher=Western publishing & engraving Company|page=204}}</ref> and named for the stream that runs through town.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dlas_EPVGFEC | title=Nebraska Place-Names | publisher=University of Nebraska Press | author=Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. | year=1960 | pages=52}} A [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=englishunsllc 1925 edition] is available for download at [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ University of Nebraska—Lincoln Digital Commons.]</ref> The Big Springs post office, established in 1884, was officially called Bigspring until 1943.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=NE&county=Deuel |title=Deuel County |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |accessdate=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827054025/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=NE&county=Deuel |archivedate=August 27, 2014 }}</ref> The village of Big Springs was incorporated in 1917.<ref>{{cite book|last=Shumway|first=Grant Lee|title=History of Western Nebraska and Its People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7RM1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA232|year=1921|publisher=Western publishing & engraving Company|page=232}}</ref>

The county fair was held in Big Springs from 1889 to 1932. [[Chappell, Nebraska|Chappell]], the only other town in the county, became the county seat.<ref name="Virt Neb"/>

In 1884, the first church services were held by the Rev. E. E. Mount in the [[Phelps Hotel]]. The first church in the county, called Prospect Church, was a [[sod house|sod building]] constructed {{convert|9|mi}} north of town in 1887.<ref name="Virt Neb">{{cite web|title=Big Springs, Deuel County|url=http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/deuel/bigsprings/|website=Virtual Nebraska|publisher=University of Nebraska - Lincoln|accessdate=April 25, 2016}}</ref>

In 1965, [[Duane Earl Pope]] robbed the Farmers State Bank in Big Springs, killing 3 people.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|0.44|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=June 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

[[Interstate 76 (west)|Interstate 76]] intersects [[Interstate 80 in Nebraska|Interstate 80]] near the village. [[U.S. Route 30 in Nebraska|U.S. Route 30]], formerly known as the [[Lincoln Highway]], intersects [[U.S. Route 138 in Nebraska|U.S. Route 138]] approximately three miles to the north.

==Climate==
Big Springs has a continental [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk''). The station being far inland means it is prone to vast temperature swings. On average between 1991 and 2020, the coldest day of the year had a high of {{convert|15|F|C}} and the warmest night had a low of {{convert|69|F|C}}.<ref name= "NOWData NWS Big Springs, NE"/> High [[diurnal temperature variation]] is common year round. On average there are 173 air frosts but just 28 ice days.<ref name= "NOWData NWS Big Springs, NE"/>

{{Weather box|width = auto
|location = Big Springs, Nebraska (1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1918–1919 & 1940–present)
|collapsed = 
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 76
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 95
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 111
|Jul record high F = 112
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 107
|Oct record high F = 98
|Nov record high F = 85
|Dec record high F = 73
|year record high F = 112
|Jan avg record high F = 62
|Feb avg record high F = 67
|Mar avg record high F = 78
|Apr avg record high F = 84
|May avg record high F = 92
|Jun avg record high F = 98
|Jul avg record high F = 101
|Aug avg record high F = 99
|Sep avg record high F = 96
|Oct avg record high F = 87
|Nov avg record high F = 75
|Dec avg record high F = 64
|year avg record high F = 103
|Jan high F = 41.9
|Feb high F = 44.9
|Mar high F = 55.3
|Apr high F = 63.0
|May high F = 72.4
|Jun high F = 83.8
|Jul high F = 89.5
|Aug high F = 87.6
|Sep high F = 80.2
|Oct high F = 66.8
|Nov high F = 53.5
|Dec high F = 42.5
|year high F = 65.1
|Jan mean F = 27.1
|Feb mean F = 30.2
|Mar mean F = 39.5
|Apr mean F = 47.4
|May mean F = 57.6
|Jun mean F = 68.9
|Jul mean F = 74.6
|Aug mean F = 72.4
|Sep mean F = 63.4
|Oct mean F = 50.0
|Nov mean F = 37.4
|Dec mean F = 27.8
|year mean F = 49.7
|Jan low F = 12.4
|Feb low F = 15.6
|Mar low F = 23.6
|Apr low F = 31.8
|May low F = 42.8
|Jun low F = 54.0
|Jul low F = 59.6
|Aug low F = 57.1
|Sep low F = 46.7
|Oct low F = 33.1
|Nov low F = 21.3
|Dec low F = 13.1
|year low F = 34.3
|Jan avg record low F = -7
|Feb avg record low F = -2
|Mar avg record low F = 8
|Apr avg record low F = 20
|May avg record low F = 29
|Jun avg record low F = 43
|Jul avg record low F = 52
|Aug avg record low F = 48
|Sep avg record low F = 34
|Oct avg record low F = 18
|Nov avg record low F = 6
|Dec avg record low F = -9
|year avg record low F = -13
|Jan record low F = −33
|Feb record low F = −28
|Mar record low F = −22
|Apr record low F = -10
|May record low F = 19
|Jun record low F = 31
|Jul record low F = 38
|Aug record low F = 35
|Sep record low F = 22
|Oct record low F = 5
|Nov record low F = −13
|Dec record low F = −37
|year record low F = -37
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.31
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.42
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.88
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.04
|May precipitation inch = 2.52
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.83
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.72
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.16
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.58
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.25
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.48
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.37
|year precipitation inch = 17.56
|Jan snow inch = 4.0
|Feb snow inch = 7.0
|Mar snow inch = 3.9
|Apr snow inch = 3.5
|May snow inch = 0.2
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 1.6
|Nov snow inch = 2.1
|Dec snow inch = 5.4
|year snow inch = 27.7
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = "NOWData NWS Big Springs, NE">
{{cite web 
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=lbf
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| accessdate = July 26, 2022}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 408
|1930= 595
|1940= 569
|1950= 527
|1960= 506
|1970= 472
|1980= 505
|1990= 495
|2000= 418
|2010= 400
|2020= 394
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 24, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 400 people, 186 households, and 119 families residing in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|909.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 217 housing units at an average density of {{convert|493.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 94.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.0% of the population.

There were 186 households, of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.65.

The median age in the village was 50.1 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.6% were from 25 to 44; 37.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.8% male and 51.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 418 people, 187 households, and 124 families residing in the village. The population density was {{convert|1,135.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 216 housing units at an average density of {{convert|586.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 95.93% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.48% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.35% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.24% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.26% of the population.

There were 187 households, out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the village was $29,583, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $25,536 versus $15,962 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $16,319. About 5.4% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
<references />

{{Deuel County, Nebraska}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Deuel County, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Villages in Nebraska]]