Editing Laurel, Nebraska

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Laurel, Nebraska
| settlement_type          = [[City]]

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Laurel, Nebraska 2nd St E from Elm St.JPG
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = Downtown Laurel looking east from 2nd and Elm St. prior to the Downtown Revitalization Project finished in 2021.
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Cedar_County_Nebraska_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Laurel_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Laurel, 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        = [[Cedar County, Nebraska|Cedar]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Keith Knudsen<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://laurelne.com/about-us/government/|title = Contact Us / Government}}</ref>
| 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           = 3.50
| area_land_km2            = 3.50
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi         = 1.35
| area_land_sq_mi          = 1.35
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est           = 968
| pop_est_as_of            = 2021
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=January 25, 2023}}</ref>
| population_total         = 975
| population_density_km2   = 277.37
| population_density_sq_mi = 718.40

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 1493
| coordinates              = {{coord|42|25|44|N|97|05|49|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 68745
| area_code                = [[Area code 402|402]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 31-26350<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2395644<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395644}}</ref>
| website                  = [https://laurelne.com/ Official City website]
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
}}

'''Laurel''' is a city in [[Cedar County, Nebraska]] located at the merger of Highway 20 and Highway 15 in the northeast corner of the state. Laurel sits roughly 40 miles east of [[Norfolk, Nebraska]], west of [[Sioux City, Iowa]], and south of [[Yankton, South Dakota]]. [[Wayne State College]] in [[Wayne, Nebraska]] is 15 miles south of Laurel. Its population was 975 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>

==History==
Laurel was founded in 1893 and was originally named Claremont Junction. The present name is after Laura Martin, the daughter of one of the city's founders.

In 2021 the city completed its last phase of a $2.6 million Downtown Revitalization Project which included removing the median from and pouring new concrete on East 2nd (Main) Street, widening the downtown sidewalks, and constructing a new city hall which houses the city offices, senior center, and can be used for parties and events.

Also in 2021 the city opened its new fire hall in thanks to fundraising and donations. The new fire hall holds up to seven fire engines, two ambulances, and has storage, a classroom, and common area spaces. The volunteer fire department and EMS are housed out of the hall.

In 2024, Laurel finished construction on their school building which houses the elementary and high school students. The former high school was demolished, a new addition was added, and the remainder of the school that still stood was completely renovated. This was part of a $25 million bond that passed in 2021 by a single vote, 596–595.

==Schools==
Laurel is located within the [http://www.lccschool.org/ Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School District].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lccschool.org/|title=Laurel Concord Coleridge Public School|website=www.lccschool.org}}</ref> Currently the Elementary and High School are based in Laurel. Their mascot is the Bears.

==Churches==
Laurel is served by four community churches:
* Faith Community Church, [[Nondenominational Christianity]]
* Immanuel Lutheran Church, [[Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod]]
* United Lutheran Church, [[Association of Free Lutheran Congregations]]
* United Presbyterian Church, [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]]

As well as two churches in nearby [[Concord, Nebraska]]:
* Concord Evangelical Free Church, [[Evangelical Free Church of America]]
* Concordia Lutheran Church, [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1900 = 514
| 1910 = 514
| 1920 = 830
| 1930 = 864
| 1940 = 861
| 1950 = 944
| 1960 = 922
| 1970 = 1009
| 1980 = 1031
| 1990 = 981
| 2000 = 986
| 2010 = 964
| 2020 = 975
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
}}

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], 964 people in 415 households, including 263 families, lived in the city. The population density was {{convert|983.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The 474 housing units had an average density of {{convert|483.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 96.8% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.4%.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-06-24}}</ref>

Of the 415 households, 26.3% had children under 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were not families. About 33.5% of households were one person and 16.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26, and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age was 44.7 years; 22.6% of residents were under 18; 6.4% were between 18 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 24.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]], 986 people in 414 households, including 264 families, were in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,072.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 466 housing units had an average density of {{convert|506.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 99.49% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.10% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.30%.<ref name="GR2" />

Of the 414 households, 26.3% had children under 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were not families. About 32.9% of households were one person, and 22.9% were one person 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28, and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 23.3% under 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 30.2% 65 or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.

The median household income was $29,722, and for a family was $35,662. Males had a median income of $26,731 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,500. About 6.0% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==
* [[Mark Calcavecchia]], professional [[golf]]er
* [[James Coburn]], actor

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://laurelne.com/ City of Laurel (Official site)]
* [http://www.lccschool.org/ Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School District]

{{Cedar County, Nebraska}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1892 establishments in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Cities in Cedar County, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Cities in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1892]]