Editing McCook, Nebraska

{{short description|City in and county seat of Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = McCook, Nebraska
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = McCook, Nebraska Norris from E 1.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = George Norris Avenue in McCook, July 2010
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Red_Willow_County_Nebraska_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_McCook_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of McCook within Nebraska and Red Willow County
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Nebraska]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Nebraska|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Red Willow County, Nebraska|Red Willow]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Mike Gonzales
|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           = 14.14
|area_land_km2            = 14.14
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.46
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.46
|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         = 7446
|population_density_km2   = 526.64
|population_density_sq_mi = 1363.99

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset = &minus;6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST = &minus;5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 2582
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|12|19|N|100|37|34|W|region:US-NE_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 69001
|area_code                = [[Area code 308|308]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 31-29925
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2395061<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395061}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.cityofmccook.com cityofmccook.com]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}

'''McCook''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Red Willow County, Nebraska|Red Willow County]], [[Nebraska]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>  The population was 7,446 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
McCook was [[plat]]ted in 1882 when the [[Burlington and Missouri River Railroad]] was extended to that point.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/redwillow/mccook/ | title=McCook, Red Willow County | publisher=University of Nebraska | work=Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies | access-date=August 22, 2014 | archive-date=August 22, 2014 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140822231045/http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/redwillow/mccook/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=InM_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA134 | title=History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Volume 1 | publisher=S.J. Clarke Publishing Company | author=Burr, George L. | year=1921 | pages=134}}</ref> It was named in honor of [[Alexander McDowell McCook]], a [[Brigadier General (United States)|brigadier general]] in the [[Union Army]] during the [[American Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gotomccook.com/exploring-history|title=Exploring History in McCook, Nebraska|work=gotomccook.com|access-date=August 1, 2015|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627051004/http://www.gotomccook.com/exploring-history|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population|align=left
|1890= 2346
|1900= 2445
|1910= 3765
|1920= 4303
|1930= 6688
|1940= 6212
|1950= 7678
|1960= 8301
|1970= 8285
|1980= 8404
|1990= 8112
|2000= 7994
|2010= 7698
|2020= 7446
|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|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 16, 2013}}</ref><br>2012 Estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|access-date=October 16, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120100311/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html|archive-date=November 20, 2013}}</ref>
}}

===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 7,446 people, 3,328 households, and 1,733 families in McCook. The population density was 1,363.7 per square mile (526.6/km{{sup|2}}). There were 3,911 housing units at an average density of 716.3 per square mile (276.6/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 90.26% (6,721) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]], 0.54% (40) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black or African-American]], 0.43% (32) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.43% (32) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.16% (12) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.57% (266) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.61% (343) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 3.0% (289) of the population.

Of the 3,328 households, 18.6% had children under the age of 18; 40.2% were married couples living together; 31.7% had a female householder with no husband present. 41.9% of households consisted of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 3.1.

22.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 89.6 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 $44,961 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,970) and the median family income $63,060 (+/- $9,769). Males had a median income of $32,135 (+/- $8,325) versus $23,056 (+/- $5,565) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,273 (+/- $3,550). Approximately, 3.1% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.3% of those under the age of 18 and 2.8% of those ages 65 or over.

===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]]|access-date=June 24, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 7,698 people, 3,324 households, and 2,021 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1428.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,717 housing units at an average density of {{convert|689.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.9% of the population.

There were 3,324 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 40.7 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 19.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 7,994 people, 3,371 households, and 2,154 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,485.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,754 housing units at an average density of {{convert|697.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.37% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.18% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.45% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.91% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.91% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.53% of the population. The population was 7,410 in 2009.

There were 3,371 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $31,105, and the median income for a family was $40,455. Males had a median income of $28,065 versus $18,516 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,691. About 7.9% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.39|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]] |access-date=June 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

===Climate===
McCook's climate is formally classified as hot-summer [[humid continental climate|humid continental]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=14537&cityname=McCook%2C+Nebraska%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=McCook, Nebraska Climate Summary|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=February 12, 2015}}</ref> Due to the very hot and humid summers typical of the [[Midwest]] and the January daily mean averaging around {{convert|-3|C|F}}<ref name="Weatherbase">{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=14537&cityname=McCook-Nebraska-United-States-of-America|title=McCook, Nebraska Temperature Averages|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=February 12, 2015}}</ref> it has a little bit of influence of the [[humid subtropical climate|subtropical climate]]s to the south, although except during periods of [[chinook wind|chinook]] warming winter nights are much too severe for subtropical plants to thrive. Winters are generally cold and dry and summers hot and humid. Precipitation is concentrated in spring and summer, accumulating to an annual normal of {{convert|22.53|in|mm|abbr=on}}, the majority of which occurs from May through August.<ref name="NOWData NWS Goodland, KS (GLD) - MCKthr"/> Snowfall is generally light, with a normal of {{convert|28.8|in|cm|abbr=on}} per season, and generally occurs from November through April.<ref name="NOWData NWS Goodland, KS (GLD) - MCKthr"/>

Record temperatures range from {{convert|−30|F}} on January 12, 1912, up to {{convert|115|F}} on [[Summer 2012 North American heat wave|June 26, 2012]];<ref name="NOWData NWS Goodland, KS (GLD) - MCKthr"/> the record cold maximum is {{convert|−4|F}} on December 22, 1990 and December 22&ndash;23, 1989, while, conversely the record warm minimum is {{convert|88|F}} on August 1, 1935.<ref name="NOWData NWS Goodland, KS (GLD) - MCKthr"/> More typically, however, there is an average of 5.4&nbsp;days annually with a maximum at or above {{convert|100|F|1}}, 45&nbsp;days annually with a maximum at or above {{convert|90|F|1}}, 28&nbsp;days annually where the maximum stays at or below freezing, and 8.6&nbsp;days annually with a minimum at or below {{convert|0|F|1}}.<ref name="NCDC txt KMCK"/>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = McCook, Nebraska (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 78
|Feb record high F = 83
|Mar record high F = 93
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 106
|Jun record high F = 115
|Jul record high F = 114
|Aug record high F = 111
|Sep record high F = 107
|Oct record high F = 98
|Nov record high F = 89
|Dec record high F = 81
|year record high F = 115
|Jan avg record high F = 64
|Feb avg record high F = 70
|Mar avg record high F = 81
|Apr avg record high F = 87
|May avg record high F = 94
|Jun avg record high F = 101
|Jul avg record high F = 104
|Aug avg record high F = 101
|Sep avg record high F = 97
|Oct avg record high F = 89
|Nov avg record high F = 76
|Dec avg record high F = 65
|year avg record high F = 105
|Jan high F = 41.6
|Feb high F = 44.9
|Mar high F = 56.2
|Apr high F = 64.9
|May high F = 74.4
|Jun high F = 85.9
|Jul high F = 90.8
|Aug high F = 88.3
|Sep high F = 80.9
|Oct high F = 67.5
|Nov high F = 54.0
|Dec high F = 42.7
|year high F = 66.0
|Jan mean F = 27.7
|Feb mean F = 30.6
|Mar mean F = 40.3
|Apr mean F = 49.5
|May mean F = 59.7
|Jun mean F = 71.0
|Jul mean F = 76.3
|Aug mean F = 74.0
|Sep mean F = 65.4
|Oct mean F = 51.7
|Nov mean F = 38.8
|Dec mean F = 29.1
|year mean F = 51.2
|Jan low F = 13.8
|Feb low F = 16.2
|Mar low F = 24.5
|Apr low F = 34.1
|May low F = 45.0
|Jun low F = 56.2
|Jul low F = 61.7
|Aug low F = 59.6
|Sep low F = 50.0
|Oct low F = 35.9
|Nov low F = 23.6
|Dec low F = 15.5
|year low F = 36.3
|Jan avg record low F = &minus;3
|Feb avg record low F = 0
|Mar avg record low F = 9
|Apr avg record low F = 21
|May avg record low F = 32
|Jun avg record low F = 46
|Jul avg record low F = 54
|Aug avg record low F = 52
|Sep avg record low F = 36
|Oct avg record low F = 21
|Nov avg record low F = 8
|Dec avg record low F = &minus;1
|year avg record low F = &minus;8
|Jan record low F = −30
|Feb record low F = −26
|Mar record low F = −20
|Apr record low F = 0
|May record low F = 14
|Jun record low F = 34
|Jul record low F = 43
|Aug record low F = 39
|Sep record low F = 22
|Oct record low F = −1
|Nov record low F = −14
|Dec record low F = −27
|year record low F = -30
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.42
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.70
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.20
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.36
|May precipitation inch = 3.01
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.36
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.33
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.39
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.68
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.66
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.90
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.71
|year precipitation inch = 22.72
|Jan snow inch = 4.7
|Feb snow inch = 7.7
|Mar snow inch = 4.2
|Apr snow inch = 3.1
|May snow inch = 0.1
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 1.0
|Nov snow inch = 3.3
|Dec snow inch = 5.8
|year snow inch = 29.9
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 2.6
|Feb precipitation days = 3.6
|Mar precipitation days = 5.1
|Apr precipitation days = 7.0
|May precipitation days = 9.4
|Jun precipitation days = 8.1
|Jul precipitation days = 8.7
|Aug precipitation days = 7.2
|Sep precipitation days = 5.0
|Oct precipitation days = 4.9
|Nov precipitation days = 3.7
|Dec precipitation days = 3.3
|year precipitation days = 68.6
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.1
|Feb snow days = 2.8
|Mar snow days = 1.9
|Apr snow days = 1.0
|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 = 1.4
|Dec snow days = 2.2
|year snow days = 12.0
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name="NCDC txt KMCK">
{{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=USC00255310&format=pdf
| title = Station: Mc Cook, NE
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = January 15, 2022}}</ref><ref name="NOWData NWS Goodland, KS (GLD) - MCKthr">
{{cite web 
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=gld
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| accessdate = January 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}

==Culture==
The [[Harvey P. Sutton House]] at 602 Norris Avenue was designed by influential architect [[Frank Lloyd Wright]] in 1905–1907 and built 1907–1908.  The classic [[Prairie School|Prairie-style]] house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places; it is the only Wright house known to have been built in Nebraska.<ref>Murphy, D. (1978).  {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110610021315/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/nebraska/redwillow/RW05-001_HPSutton_House.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form: H. P. Sutton Residence.]}}  {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19990129073714/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/index.htm Nebraska State Historical Society.]}}  Retrieved September 16, 2010.</ref>  The house is used as a private residence, and is not open to the public.<ref>[http://aboutmccook.com/activities/landmrk.htm "Landmarks & Museums".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040205121807/http://www.aboutmccook.com/activities/landmrk.htm |date=2004-02-05 }}  [http://aboutmccook.com/Default.htm McCook Chamber of Commerce.] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20061207162307/http%3A//www.aboutmccook.com/Default.htm |date=2006-12-07 }}  Retrieved September 16, 2010.</ref>

[[McCook Army Airfield]], active from 1943 through 1945, was located nine miles northwest of McCook.

McCook hosted a professional baseball team, the McCook Braves, who played in the [[Nebraska State League]] from 1956 to 1959. In their final season in 1959, the club featured future [[Baseball Hall of Famer]] [[Phil Niekro]] and won the NSL championship; both the Braves and the league folded at season's end. Another pitcher on the team, [[Pat Jordan (author)|Pat Jordan]], later became a writer for the [[Sporting News]], and wrote an autobiography dealing with his career with the Braves, ''A False Spring''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=1b6ca4f6|title=1959 McCook Braves|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

McCook is home to the first two-year junior college in Nebraska. McCook Junior College was founded in September 1926 on the second floor of the YMCA building on Main Street.  The name was eventually changed to McCook Community College and was governed over the Mid-Plains Area.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Aten|first1=Kenneth|last2=Hasemeyer|first2=William|last3=Garey|first3=Jerda Thompson|last4=Koch|first4=Ivan|title=History of Mid-Plains Community College Volume 1|date=2008|publisher=The Old 101 Press|location=North Platte, NE|isbn=978-0976367666}}</ref>

The McCook Economic Development Corporation works “To facilitate the formation, retention, attraction, and expansion of businesses in McCook and the surrounding area.”<ref>{{Cite web |title=McCook Economic Development Corporation – Independent • Authentic • Visionary |url=https://mccookne.org/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>

McCook restaurant, [[Sehnert's Bakery & Bieroc Cafe]], is a James Beard America’s Classic Award Winner.  They are the only restaurant to win this award in the whole state of Nebraska.

==Events==
Heritage Days is an annual event held the last full weekend in September. This event has been happening since 1971. It is the town’s largest celebration. This event includes the Heritage Day Parade, a road race, entertainment from the high schoolers, and vendors on the street.<ref name="Events">{{Cite web |title=Events |url=https://www.mccookchamber.org/events/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=McCook Chamber of Commerce |language=en-US}}</ref>

Red Willow County Fair is a five day fair held in July. This is the fair for the whole county. It includes games, rides, concerts, tractor rides, a [[rodeo]], and food from local families and businesses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Willow County Fair - McCook NE |url=https://www.redwillowcountyfair.com/ |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=rwcfair |language=en}}</ref>

Crazy Days is an annual weekend event to celebrate the local businesses. It includes crazy days sales in the stores, costume contests, and a car show. On the Friday night of this weekend, the people of this small town bring out their old and fancy cars and cruise up and down the main street in town, West B St. and Norris Ave.<ref name="Events"/>

McCook hosts the Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival each summer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.buffalocommons.org/ |access-date=August 1, 2015 |work=buffalocommons.org}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
McCook is home to Heritage Hills Golf Course.  The 18-hole par-72 championship golf course was designed by Bradford Benz, ASGCA, and Richard M. Phelps, ASGCA, and opened in 1981.  The links style course plays over 7,100 yards from the back tees.  Heritage Hills was included in Golf Digest's Best 75 Golf Course's in 1984 and Golf Digest's Top 100 Toughest Public Course's in 1986.  Heritage Hills underwent a major renovation for upgrades and modernization in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=Discoe |first=Connie Jo |url=https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1904302.html |title=Major renovation -- Heritage Hills to offer new challenges |work=[[McCook Daily Gazette]] |date=2012-10-16 |access-date=2019-04-07 }}</ref>

==Government==
McCook has a council-manager style government.  Five council members are elected at large; the five elect one of their number as mayor, and a second as vice president.  As of 2015, council members are Mayor Mike Gonzales, Vice-President Janet Hepp, Jerry Calvin, Bruce McDowell, and Gene Weedin.<ref>[http://www.cityofmccook.com/index.aspx?nid=77 "City Council".]  [http://www.cityofmccook.com/ City of McCook, Nebraska.]  Retrieved February 25, 2015.</ref>

The city government operates through eight departments and offices: Administration, Building and Zoning, Fire, Library, Police, Public Works, Senior Center, and Utilities.<ref>[http://www.cityofmccook.com/index.aspx?NID=8 "Departments".]  [http://www.cityofmccook.com/ City of McCook, Nebraska.]  Retrieved February 25, 2015.</ref>  Advisory boards and commissions, both those required by law and those created for specific purposes, are appointed by the council; as of 2015, there were fourteen such boards and commissions.<ref>[http://www.cityofmccook.com/index.aspx?nid=79 "Advisory Boards & Commissions".]  [http://www.cityofmccook.com/ City of McCook, Nebraska.]  Retrieved February 25, 2015.</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:George Norris House from SE 2.JPG|thumb|alt=Two-story half-timbered house; statue of Norris seated on park bench in front|The [[George W. Norris House|George Norris House]] in McCook is listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].]]

===Highway===
McCook sits on 3 important [[United States Numbered Highway System|US Highway routes]]. The north-south road is [[U.S. Route 83]] which travels north 14.5 miles from the [[Kansas]] border to [[South Dakota]] via [[North Platte]] (where it meets [[Interstate 80]] and [[Valentine, Nebraska|Valentine]]. US6 and US34 are cosigned through McCook travelling east-west. [[U.S. Route 34]] serves as a connection to [[Colorado]] and [[Denver]] to the West and is a key in state link to [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]] via a number of other mid-sized Nebraska cities such as [[Holdrege, Nebraska|Holdrege]], [[Hastings, Nebraska|Hastings]], [[Grand Island, Nebraska|Grand Island]], and [[Seward, Nebraska|Seward]]. [[U.S. Route 6]] traveling west splits from US34 15 miles out of town and heads Northwest to Colorado. Traveling east it splits from US34 at Hastings and is an alternate route for I-80 to Omaha and Lincoln.

===Rail===
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service through McCook, operating its [[California Zephyr]] daily in both directions between [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]] and [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]] ([[Oakland]]), California, with stops in Omaha, Lincoln, and Hastings. The service stops at [[McCook station]].

===Air===
Commuter airline [[Denver Air Connection]] is currently serving the [[McCook Regional Airport]] with daily nonstop round trip commercial flights to [[Denver International Airport|Denver, Colorado]].
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/2936309.html | title=New airline service for McCook starts in June | date=25 February 2022 }}</ref>

==Media==
{{main|Media in McCook, Nebraska}}

===Newspapers===
The ''[[McCook Daily Gazette]]'' is the city's newspaper, published five days a week.<ref>{{cite web | title = Contact Us | publisher = [[McCook Daily Gazette]] | url = http://www.mccookgazette.com/contactus/ | accessdate = 2014-07-27}}</ref>  In 1929, the newspaper became one of the first in the world to be delivered regularly by air: for several months its airplane, named the Newsboy, flew a daily route, dropping bundles of newspapers to carriers in outlying towns.

===Radio===
{|class="wikitable"
!align="center" colspan="7"|'''[[AM radio]] stations'''
|-
!Frequency!!Call sign!!Name!!Format!!Owner!!Target city/[[media market|market]]!![[City of license]]
|-
|1300 AM||[[KBRL]]||The Big Talker||[[News/Talk]]||Armada Media||McCook||McCook
|-
|1360 AM||[[KNGN]]||||Christian||Kansas Nebraska Good News Broadcasting||McCook||McCook
|-
|}

{|class="wikitable"
!align="center" colspan="7"|'''[[FM radio]] stations'''
|-
!Frequency!!Call sign!!Name!!Format!!Owner!!Target city/[[media market|market]]!![[City of license]]
|-
|93.9 FM||[[KSWN-FM]]||The Zone||[[Contemporary Hits]]||Legacy Communications||McCook||McCook
|-
|95.3 FM||[[K237DV|KGCR]]||||Christian||The Praise Network, Inc||McCook||McCook|-
|-
|96.1 FM||[[KICX-FM]]||||[[Hot AC]]||Armada Media||McCook||McCook
|-
|102.1 FM||[[KZMC]]||True Country 102.1||[[Classic Country]]||Legacy Communications||McCook||McCook
|-
|101.1 FM||[[KFNF]]||Today's Best Country||Country||Armada Media||McCook||Oberlin
|-
|103.9||[[KQHK]]||The Hawk||[[Classic rock|Classic Rock]]||Armada Media||McCook||McCook
|-
|105.3 FM||[[KIOD]]||Coyote 105||Country||Legacy Communication||McCook||McCook
|-
|}

==Notable people==
Three governors of Nebraska made their homes in McCook: [[Ralph G. Brooks]], [[Frank B. Morrison|Frank Morrison]], and [[Ben Nelson]], who represented Nebraska in the U.S. Senate for two terms, from 2000 to 2012. [[Frank B. Morrison Jr.]], Montana Supreme Court justice and son of Frank Morrison, was born in McCook.

Former professional [[American football|football]] player [[Jeff Kinney (American football)|Jeff Kinney]] is a 1968 graduate of McCook High School.

TV evangelist [[Bob Larson]] was raised in McCook.

[[John R. McCarl]], the first [[Comptroller General of the United States]], was raised in McCook. He is also buried there.<ref>"John R. McCarl Dies of Heart Attack at 60." ''Washington Post''. August 3, 1940; Hein, Linda. "Norris, McCarl Considered for Presidency in '36 Election." ''McCook Gazette.'' January 11, 2002.</ref>

[[George W. Norris]], who held seats in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]] from 1903 to 1943, was a resident of McCook.  Norris was the driving force behind the conversion of Nebraska's legislature to a [[unicameral]] system; in the Senate, he was a leading figure behind the creation of the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]].  His house in McCook is operated as a museum by the Nebraska State Historical Society, and is listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].  Originally named Main, the principal north–south thoroughfare through central McCook was renamed Norris Avenue in his honor.

==Tornado History==
On May 17, 2019, a large [[EF2 tornado]] tore through parts of McCook, Nebraska. It had destroyed a farmhouse, tearing off the roof and completely demolishing the garage. The storm formed around 4:30&nbsp;p.m. Central Time and quickly developed into a large, [[wedge tornado]]. The tornado boasted 0 fatalities and 0 injuries/severe injuries. The storm is also called the Perry EF2, originally forming in Perry, Nebraska.

==See also==
{{portal|Nebraska}}
* [[List of municipalities in Nebraska]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Red Willow County, Nebraska]]

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

==External links==
{{commons category|McCook, Nebraska}}
{{Wikivoyage}} 
* [http://www.cityofmccook.com City of McCook]
* [http://www.visitmccook.com Visit McCook, Tourist Site]
* [http://www.mccookgazette.com McCook Daily Gazette, Newspaper]

{{Red Willow County, Nebraska}}
{{Nebraska county seats}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mccook, Nebraska}}
[[Category:Cities in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Cities in Red Willow County, Nebraska]]
[[Category:County seats in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1882]]
[[Category:1882 establishments in Nebraska]]