Editing Hastings, Nebraska

{{short description|City in and county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Hastings, Nebraska
|settlement_type          = [[List of cities in Nebraska|City]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Hastings, Nebraska 2nd Street S side 1.JPG
|image_caption            = Downtown Hastings: 2nd Street, looking eastward, November 2012
|image_flag               = HastingsNEflag.png
|image_seal               =
|image_blank_emblem       = HastingsNElogo.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|blank_emblem_size        = 

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Adams_County_Nebraska_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Hastings_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within [[Adams County, Nebraska|Adams]] and [[Nebraska]]
|image_map1               = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|35|46|N|98|23|24|W|region:US-NE_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Nebraska|County]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Nebraska}}
|subdivision_name2        = [[Adams County, Nebraska|Adams]]

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1872
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        = 
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1874

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          =

<!-- Area -->
|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           = 38.97
|area_total_sq_mi         = 15.05
|area_land_km2            = 38.51
|area_land_sq_mi          = 14.87
|area_water_km2           = 0.46
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.18
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- General information -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1926
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset = &minus;6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST = &minus;5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 68901-68902
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 402|402]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 31-21415
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 838051<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|838051}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[United States Numbered Highway System|U.S. Routes]]
|blank2_info              = [[File:US 6.svg|20px|link=U.S. Route 6 in Nebraska]] [[File:US 34.svg|20px|link=U.S. Route 34 in Nebraska]] [[File:US 281.svg|25px|link=U.S. Route 281 in Nebraska]]
|website                  = {{URL|cityofhastings.org}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = 
|population_total = 25152
|population_density_sq_mi = 1691.46
|population_density_km2 = 653.09
}}

'''Hastings''' is a [[List of cities in Nebraska|city]] in and the [[county seat]] of [[Adams County, Nebraska|Adams County]], [[Nebraska]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=[[National Association of Counties]]}}</ref>  The population was 25,152 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], making it the [[List of cities in Nebraska|8th most populous city in Nebraska]].

[[Edwin Perkins (inventor)|Edwin Perkins]] invented [[Kool-Aid]] in Hastings in 1927; the town celebrates the invention with the Kool-Aid Days festival every August.<ref>[https://www.kool-aiddays.com/ "Kool-Aid Days".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701171116/https://www.kool-aiddays.com/ |date=2019-07-01 }}  Retrieved 2012-11-16.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://hastingsmuseum.org/kool-aid-history/ |title=History: Kool-Aid: Hastings Museum |publisher=[[Hastings Museum]] |access-date=February 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205191059/http://hastingsmuseum.org/koolaid/kahistory.htm |archive-date=February 5, 2009 }}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Hastings operated the largest [[Naval Ammunition Depot]] in the United States, and for this reason was awarded the distinction of [[World War II Heritage City|American World War II Heritage City]] by the National Park Service in 2023.<ref>[https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-park-services-announces-new-american-world-war-ii-heritage-cities.htm/ "National Park Service 2023-24 American WWII Heritage Cities".]</ref>

==History==
===Settlement===
Hastings was founded in 1872 at the intersection of the [[Burlington and Missouri River Railroad]] and the St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad. It was named for Colonel D. T. Hastings of the [[St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad]], who was instrumental in building the railroad through Adams County.<ref>''A History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways'', 2nd ed. Chicago, 1908, {{OCLC|38707348}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=q_lKAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA11 p. 11].</ref><ref>''Nebraska History'' 58 (1977) [https://books.google.com/books?id=4vI7AAAAIAAJ&q=Hastings.+Colonel+D.+T.+Hastings+of+the+Grand+Island+and+St.+Joseph+railroad+was+instrumental+in+bringing+the+railroad p. 539].</ref><ref>Elton Perkey, ''Perkey's Nebraska Place-Names'', Publications of the Nebraska State Historical Society 28, Lincoln: [[Nebraska State Historical Society]], 1982, {{OCLC|9488791}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=VzQUAAAAYAAJ&q=Hastings.+Colonel+D.+T.+Hastings+of+the+Grand+Island+and+St.+Joseph+railroad+was+instrumental+in+bringing+the+railroad p. 2].</ref> The area was previously open plain: the [[Donner party]] passed through on its way to [[California]] in 1846 and a pioneer cemetery marker in Hastings bears an inscription taken from Tamsen Donner's journal: "The country between the Blue and the [[Platte River|Platte]] is beautiful beyond compare. Never have I seen so varied a country so suitable to cultivation."<ref name=spilinek />{{Rp|9}} In the 1870s, railroads lured European immigrants to the new state of Nebraska with advertisements. Hastings' first settlers were English, from [[Liverpool]], and were quickly joined by other English, Irish, Germans, Danes, and [[Volga Germans|Germans from Russia]].<ref name=spilinek />{{Rp|9}}

Between 1872 and 1880, when the population had grown to 2,800, Hastings was a boomtown. Settlers first built sod houses, dugouts, and shanties, then houses and stores. The city was incorporated in April 1874, and in September 1878, after a five-year [[county seat war]], the county seat was transferred to Hastings from [[Juniata, Nebraska|Juniata]].<ref>Catherine Renschler, [http://www.adamshistory.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=42 Prairie to Prominence: Hastings' First 10 Years] at Adams County Historical Society, retrieved April 6, 2010.</ref> However, a fire in 1879 destroyed 33 buildings downtown. The city was rebuilt between 1880 and 1890 in fireproof materials and in a more planned fashion, with characteristically ornate [[Victorian architecture|Victorian buildings]], many designed by [[Charles C. Rittenhouse]], the first practicing architect in Adams County and also mayor for ten years.<ref name=architects>[http://www.adamshistory.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=42 Rittenhouse and Way: Architects of Hastings' First Half Century] at Adams County Historical Society, retrieved April 6, 2010.</ref> Thanks to the railroads, the city enjoyed great prosperity during the [[Gilded Age]]. The population grew to 13,500. This period of expansion ended with the drought and agricultural depression of the 1890s; the town's population fell to 7,000 and would not reach 15,000 until 1930.<ref name=spilinek />{{Rp|9}}

African Americans have lived in Hastings since the 1860s. In 1876, Horace G. Newsom started the first [[List of African-American newspapers in Nebraska|Black-owned newspaper in Nebraska]].<ref>Paz, D.G. (1996). "The Black Press and the Issues of Race, Politics, and Culture on the Great Plains of Nebraska, 1865-1985". In Suggs, Henry Lewis (ed.). ''The Black Press in the Middle West, 1865-1985.''</ref>

===20th Century===
Hastings saw renewed growth from 1900 to 1930, which is reflected by buildings in the [[American Craftsman|Craftsman]], [[Prairie School|Prairie]], [[Colonial Revival architecture|Colonial Revival]], and [[American Foursquare]] styles. The leading [[Arts and Crafts movement|Arts and Crafts]] architect was [[Claude W. Way]].<ref name=architects/> Hastings had four brickyards and in 1911 was producing more bricks than any other city in Nebraska,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adamshistory.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=36|title=Central Hastings Historic District|work=Adams County Historical Society|access-date=April 6, 2010}}</ref> and all the paving bricks.<ref name=villageprofile>{{cite web|author=Elizabeth Spilinek|url=http://www.villageprofile.com/nebraska/hastings/01/topic.html |title=History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420031455/http://www.villageprofile.com/nebraska/hastings/01/topic.html|archive-date=2010-04-20|work=Hastings, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce|year=2006|access-date=April 6, 2010}}</ref> During this period, the city also became known as the cigar-making capital of Nebraska. The largest cigar factory, the Kipp Cigar Company, was by 1921 hand-rolling one-fifth of all cigars produced in Nebraska; in 1925 it produced half, a total of 10 million.<ref name=spilinek />{{Rp|72}}<ref>[http://www.adamshistory.org/index.php?Itemid=36&id=57&option=com_content&task=view Kipp Cigar Company] at Adams County Historical Society, retrieved April 4, 2010.</ref> Cigars lost their popularity to cigarettes between the two World Wars, and in the 1930s the [[Great Depression]] again brought the town's expansion to a halt.{{Citation needed|date = August 2014}}

[[File:Photograph with caption "'View Looking East on First Street in Hastings, Nebraska." - NARA - 283495.jpg|thumb|right|Looking east on First Street, circa 1944]]

In 1942, the Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD) was constructed, initiating explosive growth: Hastings' population grew from 15,000 to 23,000 in under a year and there was a critical shortage of housing, which prompted both alteration of existing housing stock and rapid construction of new neighborhoods.<ref name=spilinek />{{Rp|10}} Once [[World War II]] ended, staff was reduced at the ammunition depot, bringing Hastings' last growth period to an end in 1950, and the depot eventually closed.{{Citation needed|date = August 2014}} The NAD also significantly increased the city's African American population, which went from 70 Black residents in 1940 to more than 1,000 by 1943.<ref>[https://hastingsmuseum.org/vital-contributions-page-7/ "Women & the Naval Ammunition Depot,"] Hastings Museum. Retrieved December 28, 2022.</ref>

===Kool-Aid===
[[Kool-Aid]] was invented by [[Edwin Perkins (inventor)|Edwin Perkins]] in Hastings. All of his experiments took place in his mother's kitchen. Its predecessor was a liquid concentrate called Fruit Smack. To reduce shipping costs, in 1927, Perkins discovered a way to remove the liquid from Fruit Smack, leaving only a powder; this powder was named Kool-Aid. Perkins moved his production to [[Chicago]] in 1931 and Kool-Aid was sold to [[General Foods]] in 1953.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hastingsmuseum.org/koolaid/kahistory.htm|title=History of Kool-Aid|publisher=Hastings Museum of Culture and History|access-date=May 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615160059/http://www.hastingsmuseum.org/koolaid/kahistory.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 15, 2008 }}</ref> Hastings still celebrates a yearly summer festival called Kool-Aid Days on the second weekend in August in honor of their city's claim to fame. Kool-Aid is known as [[Nebraska]]'s official [[soft drink]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/631464/Nebraska-takes-sweet-turn-names-Kool-Aid-state-drink.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114000829/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/631464/Nebraska-takes-sweet-turn-names-Kool-Aid-state-drink.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 14, 2012|work=Deseret News|title=Nebraska takes sweet turn, names Kool-Aid state drink|date=May 22, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.thefencepost.com/article/20110809/NEWS/110809900/1032&ParentProfile=1001 | work=The Fence Post | title=Nebraska's official soft drink celebrated at the 14th Annual Kool-Aid Days on Aug. 12-14 | first=Angela | last=Gustafson | date=August 9, 2011 | access-date=February 19, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526175356/http://www.thefencepost.com/article/20110809/NEWS/110809900/1032%26ParentProfile%3D1001 | archive-date=May 26, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===21st century===
Today, Heartwell Park and Central Hastings, two of the oldest neighborhoods, are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name=spilinek>{{cite book|title=Hastings: Then & Now|isbn=978-0-7385-6121-9|first=Elizabeth H|last=Spilinek|publisher=[[Arcadia Publishing]]|year=2009}}</ref>{{Rp|10}} The Hastings Symphony Orchestra performs in the [[Chautauqua Pavilion (Hastings, Nebraska)|Chautauqua Pavilion]], built in 1907 and on the National Register of Historic Places, while the Hastings Community Theatre performs in the auditorium of the former Spencer Park School, built during the housing shortage of the 1940s. The city has adapted several of its historic buildings to new uses. [[Central Community College (Nebraska)|Central Community College]] is housed in buildings of the former Naval Ammunition Depot. St. Michael's Elementary School (formerly the Lincoln Elementary School building), built in 1912, is now the police headquarters. The [[Clarke Hotel]], built in 1914 and also on the National Register of Historic Places, is now the Kensington, a home for senior citizens.<ref name=spilinek />{{Rp|10}} Spencer Park, an 840-unit "village" built to house workers in the 1940s, is now Good Samaritan Retirement Village.<ref name=villageprofile/>

In 2000, there were 200 African Americans living in Adams County, with almost all living in Hastings. According to the [[U.S. Census]], in 2022 African Americans comprise .6% of the city's population.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/hastingscitynebraska#qf-headnote-a "QuickFacts Hastings city, Nebraska"], US Census. Retrieved December 28, 2022.</ref>

On June 24, 2007, Hastings won Yahoo's Greenest City in America competition.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dawn Kawamoto|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9734074-7.html|title=Yahoo names greenest city in America|work=CNET news blog|date=June 25, 2007|access-date=4 April 2010}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|13.66|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|13.48|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.18|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<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]]|access-date=2012-06-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-07-02}}</ref>

===Climate===
A [[National Weather Service]] Forecast Office is located in Hastings, serving central and south-central Nebraska and six counties in north-central [[Kansas]]. The data below are from the WRCC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ne3660|title=HASTINGS 4 N, NEBRASKA - Climate Summary|website=wrcc.dri.edu|access-date=2018-07-19}}</ref>

Hastings has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Dfa]]) with short, cold, and snowy winters and hot, rainy summers with mild nights.

{{Weather box
|location = Hastings, Nebraska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present) 
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F  = 76
| Feb record high F  = 80
| Mar record high F  = 90
| Apr record high F  = 96
| May record high F  = 105
| Jun record high F  = 110
| Jul record high F  = 116
| Aug record high F  = 111
| Sep record high F  = 105
| Oct record high F  = 97
| Nov record high F  = 86
| Dec record high F  = 80
| year record high F = 116
| Jan avg record high F  = 59.5
| Feb avg record high F  = 65.2
| Mar avg record high F  = 76.7
| Apr avg record high F  = 85.2
| May avg record high F  = 91.4
| Jun avg record high F  = 96.6
| Jul avg record high F  = 99.1
| Aug avg record high F  = 96.9
| Sep avg record high F  = 93.4
| Oct avg record high F  = 86.1
| Nov avg record high F  = 73.6
| Dec avg record high F  = 60.8
| year avg record high F = 100.4
| Jan high F  = 35.9
| Feb high F  = 40.3
| Mar high F  = 52.6
| Apr high F  = 62.8
| May high F  = 72.9
| Jun high F  = 83.5
| Jul high F  = 87.4
| Aug high F  = 85.0
| Sep high F  = 78.5
| Oct high F  = 65.2
| Nov high F  = 50.6
| Dec high F  = 38.5
| year high F = 62.7
| Jan mean F  = 25.7
| Feb mean F  = 29.5
| Mar mean F  = 40.4
| Apr mean F  = 50.5
| May mean F  = 61.5
| Jun mean F  = 72.2
| Jul mean F  = 76.4
| Aug mean F  = 73.8
| Sep mean F  = 66.1
| Oct mean F  = 52.8
| Nov mean F  = 39.2
| Dec mean F  = 28.5
| year mean F = 51.3
| Jan low F  = 15.4
| Feb low F  = 18.7
| Mar low F  = 28.2
| Apr low F  = 38.2
| May low F  = 50.1
| Jun low F  = 60.8
| Jul low F  = 65.3
| Aug low F  = 62.9
| Sep low F  = 53.7
| Oct low F  = 40.5
| Nov low F  = 27.8
| Dec low F  = 18.6
| year low F = 40.0
| Jan avg record low F  = -5.8
| Feb avg record low F  = -1.3
| Mar avg record low F  = 8.3
| Apr avg record low F  = 22.9
| May avg record low F  = 35.3
| Jun avg record low F  = 49.1
| Jul avg record low F  = 54.8
| Aug avg record low F  = 52.3
| Sep avg record low F  = 38.7
| Oct avg record low F  = 23.1
| Nov avg record low F  = 10.4
| Dec avg record low F  = -0.9
| year avg record low F = -10.3
| Jan record low F  = -30
| Feb record low F  = -30
| Mar record low F  = -15
| Apr record low F  = 5
| May record low F  = 22
| Jun record low F  = 34
| Jul record low F  = 45
| Aug record low F  = 40
| Sep record low F  = 26
| Oct record low F  = 4
| Nov record low F  = -7
| Dec record low F  = -23
| year record low F = -30
| precipitation colour    = green
| Jan precipitation inch  = 0.61
| Feb precipitation inch  = 0.80
| Mar precipitation inch  = 1.36
| Apr precipitation inch  = 2.98
| May precipitation inch  = 4.48
| Jun precipitation inch  = 3.74
| Jul precipitation inch  = 3.58
| Aug precipitation inch  = 3.37
| Sep precipitation inch  = 2.16
| Oct precipitation inch  = 1.97
| Nov precipitation inch  = 1.21
| Dec precipitation inch  = 0.86
| year precipitation inch = 26.54
| Jan snow inch  = 6.8
| Feb snow inch  = 7.5
| Mar snow inch  = 3.8
| Apr snow inch  = 1.7
| May snow inch  = 0.0
| Jun snow inch  = 0.0
| Jul snow inch  = 0.0
| Aug snow inch  = 0.0
| Sep snow inch  = 0.0
| Oct snow inch  = 1.1
| Nov snow inch  = 2.3
| Dec snow inch  = 5.6
| year snow inch = 28.4
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in.
| Jan precipitation days  = 5.3
| Feb precipitation days  = 5.6
| Mar precipitation days  = 7.3
| Apr precipitation days  = 9.2
| May precipitation days  = 12.2
| Jun precipitation days  = 10.2
| Jul precipitation days  = 8.9
| Aug precipitation days  = 9.7
| Sep precipitation days  = 7.0
| Oct precipitation days  = 6.9
| Nov precipitation days  = 5.2
| Dec precipitation days  = 5.1
| year precipitation days = 91.0
| unit snow days = 0.1 in.
| Jan snow days  = 4.6
| Feb snow days  = 4.7
| Mar snow days  = 2.8
| Apr snow days  = 1.1
| May snow days  = 0.1
| Jun snow days  = 0.0
| Jul snow days  = 0.0
| Aug snow days  = 0.0
| Sep snow days  = 0.0
| Oct snow days  = 0.5
| Nov snow days  = 1.8
| Dec snow days  = 4.1
| year snow days = 19.7
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web 
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=gid
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| accessdate = January 13, 2022}}</ref><ref name = NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00253660&format=pdf
| title = Station: hastings 4N, NE
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = January 13, 2022}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population|align=left
|1880= 2817
|1890= 13584
|1900= 7188
|1910= 9338
|1920= 11647
|1930= 15490
|1940= 15145
|1950= 20211
|1960= 21412
|1970= 23580
|1980= 23045
|1990= 22837
|2000= 24064
|2010= 24907
|2020= 25152
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 24, 2013}}</ref><ref name=USCensus2020>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hastingscitynebraska,US/PST045221|title=United States Census Bureau QuickFacts|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 13, 2022}}</ref>
}}

Hastings is the principal city of the Hastings, Nebraska [[Hastings micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which consists of Adams and [[Clay County, Nebraska|Clay]] counties.

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-12-18 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> counted 25,152 people, 10,137 households, and 6,139 families in Hastings. The population density was 1,691.5 per square mile (653.1/km{{sup|2}}). There were 11,103 housing units at an average density of 746.7 per square mile (288.3/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 83.16% (20,917) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]], 0.99% (250) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black or African-American]], 0.66% (167) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.62% (408) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% (9) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.88% (1,480) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 7.64% (1,921) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 13.0% (3,343) of the population.

Of the 10,137 households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18; 44.1% were married couples living together; 30.1% had a female householder with no husband present. 33.6% of households consisted of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 3.0.

23.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 95.5 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-12-18|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> estimates show that the median household income was $52,747 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,112) and the median family income $72,458 (+/- $6,758). Males had a median income of $36,612 (+/- $2,682) versus $22,994 (+/- $2,354) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $29,221 (+/- $1,883). Approximately, 9.4% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.4% of those under the age of 18 and 8.5% of those ages 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 24,907 people, 10,110 households, and 6,160 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1847.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 10,847 housing units at an average density of {{convert|804.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.0% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 9.8% of the population.

There were 10,110 households, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 36.8 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 24,064 people, 9,610 households, and 5,948 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,448.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 10,333 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,051.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.39% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.79% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.42% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.02% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.39% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.96% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.58% of the population.

There were 9,610 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $35,461, and the median income for a family was $44,688. Males had a median income of $29,633 versus $21,262 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,941. About 5.6% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service at [[Hastings station (Nebraska)|station in Hastings]], operating its [[California Zephyr]] daily in each direction between [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]] and [[Emeryville, California]], across the bay from [[San Francisco]].  Hastings is served by major highways, including east-west [[U.S. Route 6 in Nebraska|U.S. Highways 6]] and [[U.S. Route 34 in Nebraska|34]], and north-south [[U.S. Route 281 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 281]]. Burlington Avenue is the main street running from south to north in Hastings; northward it leads to U.S. 281. Hastings is approximately {{convert|14|mi|km|0}} south of [[Interstate 80 in Nebraska|Interstate 80]].

[[Hastings Municipal Airport]], owned and operated by the City of Hastings, serves the city.

==Education==
The school district is the [[Hastings Public Schools (Nebraska)|Hastings Public Schools]].

Hastings has several elementary schools. The largest public elementary is Alcott. Others include Hawthorne, Watson, and Lincoln. Zion Classical Academy serves students in grades Preschool–8. There was a new middle school that opened in the fall of 2008. The high schools are [[Hastings Senior High School (Nebraska)|Hastings High School]] (public) Athletics Class B and St. Cecilia's (Catholic) Athletics class C–2.

Just outside town is [[Adams Central Junior-Senior High School]] (public rural) Athletics Class C.

[[Hastings College]] is a private liberal arts college, affiliated with the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]], and founded in 1882. [[Central Community College (Nebraska)|Central Community College]], a two-year technical college, began serving students in 1966, and it occupies the site of the old Naval Ammunition Depot.<ref name=spilinek />{{Rp|10}}

==Fisher Fountain==
[[File:Fisher Rainbow Fountain from S.JPG|thumb|alt=Circular fountain in park with water jets coming from sides|Fisher Rainbow Fountain; in the background is the Hastings Utilities complex (2010)]]

The Jacob Fisher Rainbow Fountain in Highland Park shoots continuously changing arrays of water jets (reaching heights of 67 feet) while green, yellow, orange, red, magenta, and blue lights illuminate the water in varying patterns.

Fisher Fountain was originally a temporary exhibit at the 1932 Adams County Fair, called the Electric Fountain. It was invented by Edward R. Howard and became a symbol of hope during the [[Great Depression]] and [[Dust Bowl]]. Because of its popularity, it was moved to the park and made permanent. A competition among schoolchildren to rename it resulted in two winning names that were combined: Rainbow Fountain, and Fisher Fountain after Mayor Jacob Fisher.<ref>[http://www.adamshistory.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=116&Itemid=48 Fountain to Fountain Tour Book] at Adams County Historical Society, retrieved April 4, 2010.</ref> According to Spilinek,<ref name=spilinek />{{Rp|79}} it was set up on the grounds of Hastings Utilities.

Fisher Fountain was renovated in 1982 but was then dynamited by vandals in 1984. Its destruction aroused a strong community response. $63,000 was raised to rebuild it, and it was rededicated on Mother's Day in 1985.<ref>Adams County Historical Society.</ref>

==Hastings Museum==
The [[Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History]] is in an art deco building funded by $75,000 from the [[Works Progress Administration]] and completed in 1939. [[Albert Brooking]], who founded the museum in 1926 and provided it with many exhibits, including Indian relics, fossils, and the largest private collection of mounted birds in the US,<ref>J. Harold Hamil, [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/resources/OLLibrary/who1940/co/adams.htm Adams County], ''Who's Who in Nebraska'', 1940.</ref> was buried in the basement in 1946.<ref name=spilinek />{{Rp|80}} The museum currently houses the Lied Super Screen Theatre, McDonald Planetarium, and local and regional exhibits including the largest diorama of [[whooping crane|whooping]] and [[sandhill crane]]s in the world.<ref>[http://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/bluebook/46-52.pdf Recreation and Places of Interest] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527091301/http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/bluebook/46-52.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527091301/http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/bluebook/46-52.pdf |archive-date=2010-05-27 |url-status=live |date=2010-05-27 }}, Nebraska State Legislature.</ref> The [[Adams County Historical Society]] is located within the museum.

==Naval Ammunition Depot==
{{Main|Naval Ammunition Depot}}
The Naval Ammunition Depot, constructed on {{convert|49000|acre|km2}} southeast of Hastings and in operation from 1942 to 1946, was the largest United States [[World War II]] naval munitions plant, encompassing over 2,200 structures valued at $71 million. Hastings was chosen as the location for the plant because of its central location. In 1945 it employed 6,692 civilians in addition to 125 officers and 1,800 enlistees.<ref>[http://www.adamshistory.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=42 The Naval Ammunition Depot] at Adams County Historical Society, retrieved April 4, 2010.</ref>

The plant was reactivated in the [[Korean War]] but decommissioned between 1958 and 1966, and the site now houses a US Department of Agriculture research station, training facilities for the National Guard and Reserves, an industrial park, Central Community College, and a golf course.

==Parks and recreation==
Hastings has twenty parks and recreational facilities throughout the city. The city offers recreational and leisure programs and operates the Aquacourt Water Park, the City Auditorium, Lake Hastings, Chautauqua Pavilion, Duncan Field, the Pioneer Spirit Trail, Smith Softball Complex, Brickyard Park Amphitheater, and Heartwell Lake.<ref>[http://www.cityofhastings.org/parks/index.htm Parks & Recreation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506063136/http://www.cityofhastings.org/parks/index.htm |date=2011-05-06 }}, City of Hastings Nebraska, retrieved April 5, 2010.</ref>

==Media==
{{main|Media in Hastings, Nebraska}}
The principal newspaper in Hastings is the ''[[Hastings Tribune]]'', published six days a week.<ref name=aboutus>[http://hastingstribune.com/aboutus.php "About Us,"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20101021020151/http://hastingstribune.com/aboutus.php |date=2010-10-21 }} ''Hastings Tribune''.</ref>

[[KNHL]]'s studio is located north of Hastings on [[U.S. 281]].

==Notable people==
{{div col}}
* [[Marc Boerigter]], football player
* [[Stan Campbell]], football player
* [[James F. Capalino]], businessperson
* [[Adam Carriker]], football player
* [[Clarence L. "Ben" Coates]], computer scientist
* [[Dorothy Weyer Creigh]], Nebraska historian
* [[Sandy Dennis]], theater and Academy Award-winning film actress
* [[Charles Henry Dietrich]], Governor of Nebraska and U.S. Senator
* [[Stephen Goodin]], football player
* [[Robert Keith Gray]], influential Republican public relations specialist
* [[Francis Greenlief]], [[United States Army]] Major General and [[Chief of the National Guard Bureau]]
* [[Neal Hefti]], jazz musician and composer
* [[Sheila Hicks]], fiber artist
* [[Johnny Hopp]], Major League baseball player
* [[Rollin Kirby]], political cartoonist<ref name=villageprofile/>
* [[Gwen Lee]], stage and film actress
* [[Les Nunamaker]], Major League baseball player
* [[Tom Osborne]], [[University of Nebraska]] football coach and [[United States House of Representatives|Congressman]]
* [[Edwin Perkins (inventor)|Edwin Perkins]], inventor of [[Kool-Aid]]
* [[Randall Ray Rader]], former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
* [[Carrie Renfrew]] (1858–1948), author
* [[Fred Andrew Seaton|Fred A. Seaton]], [[United States Secretary of the Interior|U.S. Secretary of the Interior]] 1956–61.
* [[Rick Sheehy]], lieutenant governor of Nebraska 2005–13
* [[Teddi Smith]], [[Playboy Playmate|''Playboy'' Playmate]] (July 1960)
* [[Zach Sterup]], football player
* [[Jeri Kehn Thompson]], political commentator, wife of Sen. [[Fred Thompson]]
* [[Gerald Lee Warren]], journalist
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{portal|Nebraska}}
* [[List of municipalities in Nebraska]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Adams County, Nebraska]]
* [[Andy (goose)|Andy]], the footless goose

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Hastings, Nebraska}}
* {{official website|http://www.cityofhastings.org}}

{{Adams County, Nebraska}}
{{Nebraska county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Hastings, Nebraska| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Adams County, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Cities in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Hastings Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[Category:County seats in Nebraska]]