Ayr Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Ayr Area Cameras

Village · Adams County · Population 83 (2020 census) · ZIP 68925 · Founded 1878 · Peak population 177 (1930)

About Ayr

Ayr is a village of 83 people (2020) in southern Adams County, at 1,831 feet where US 281 and NE 74 meet and run together briefly, about 11 miles south-southwest of Hastings. Crystal Lake, a small lake and campground on the Little Blue River, is about a mile and a quarter north. Students attend Adams Central schools. Ayr is on Central Time.

History

The South Platte Town Site Company laid out Ayr in September 1878 on the Burlington’s new line south from Hastings, on land given by four area landowners, and the first house went up that October. Andreas wrote that the town was named for Dr. Ayr of Iowa, a director of the railroad. The post office, moved from Gilson two miles north, opened in 1879, the Ayr Times began in 1882, and the village was incorporated in 1883. Ayr peaked at 177 people in 1930. Its elementary school closed in 2012.

Highways and trails through Ayr

Route	One way	Other way
US 281Through the village	North to Hastings	South to Blue Hill and Red Cloud
NE 74Runs with US 281 at Ayr	East toward Fairfield	West to Roseland and Holstein

Nearby towns

Roseland	about 7 mi west-northwest	NE 74
Blue Hill	about 7 mi south	US 281
Glenvil	about 11 mi east-northeast	NE 74
Juniata	about 11 mi north-northwest	US 281 and US 6/34
Holstein	about 11 mi west	NE 74
Hastings	about 11 mi north-northeast	US 281
Bladen	about 11 mi southwest	County roads
Fairfield	about 18 mi east	NE 74

Things to see

Crystal Lake Recreation Area, about 1¼ miles north

Schools and health care

Schools: Adams Central Public Schools, west of Hastings, (402) 463-3285

Health care: Nearest hospital: Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, about 11 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Adams County (adamscountyne.gov); City of Hastings; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Past and Present of Adams County (1916); NEGenWeb Adams County; History Nebraska (Naval Ammunition Depot, Kool-Aid, Crystal Lake markers); National Park Service; National Register; Amtrak; Nebraska Game and Parks; Hastings Visitors Guide (CVB); Nebraska 211; KSNB; KRVN; SchoolDigger. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.