CEDAR RAPIDS WEATHER

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Village · Boone County · Population 382 (2020 census) · ZIP 68627 · Founded 1884 · Peak population 766 (1920)

About Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids is a village of 382 people (2020) on the Cedar River in southwestern Boone County, at about 1,778 feet. NE 52 and NE 56 run together through the village; NE 56 continues east to NE 14 and St. Edward and west to US 281 near Greeley, and NE 52 runs south to Belgrade and Fullerton and north through Primrose. Cedar Rapids is the home of Riverside Public Schools, formed in 2014 from the Cedar Rapids and Spalding schools. The village has a library in the National Register city hall building, a full-size pool, ball fields and two campgrounds on the river. The nearest hospital is in Albion, about 12 miles northeast. Cedar Rapids is on Central Time.

History

Adam Smith platted the town, and the post office, first called Dayton, became Cedar Rapids on July 7, 1882, named for the rapids on the Cedar River. The village incorporated on April 19, 1884, with about 200 people, and the Union Pacific began running trains on its branch line through the village on November 28, 1884. Cedar Rapids reached 766 people in 1920. St. Anthony's Catholic Church and school and the city hall and library building are on the National Register. The rail line is now leased to the Nebraska Central and is out of service beyond Belgrade. The Cedar Rapids school joined Spalding's in Riverside Public Schools in 2014. Olympic discus thrower Carol Moseke and state legislator Kate Sullivan are from Cedar Rapids.

Highways and trails through Cedar Rapids

RouteOne wayOther way
NE 52 / NE 56Together through the villageNE 52 northwest to Primrose and NE 91; NE 56 west to US 281 near GreeleyNE 52 south to Belgrade and Fullerton; NE 56 east to NE 14 and St. Edward

Nearby towns

Primroseabout 6 mi northwestNE 52
Belgradeabout 8 mi southeastNE 52
Albionabout 12 mi northeastNE 56 and NE 14
Spaldingabout 14 mi northwestNE 52 and NE 91
St. Edwardabout 15 mi eastNE 56
Fullertonabout 16 mi southeastNE 52
Greeleyabout 20 mi westNE 56
Genoaabout 23 mi east-southeastNE 56 and NE 39

Things to see

Mel's Landing on the north edge of town along the Cedar River: camping, 10 electric RV hookups and a canoe landing · the East Campground near the Old Main Street bridge, $15 a night · the Cedar Rapids City Hall and Library, 423 W. Main St. (National Register), home of the public library · St. Anthony's Church and school, 514 W. Main St. (National Register) · the pool, ball diamond and dance pavilion in the village parks · catfishing on the Cedar River


Schools and health care

Schools: Riverside Public Schools, 408 W. Dayton St., (308) 358-0640: elementary (PK–5) and high school (9–12) in Cedar Rapids; the middle school is in Spalding

Health care: Nearest hospital: Boone County Health Center, 723 W Fairview St., Albion, about 12 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Boone County (history sketch, post office history, offices); Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); History Nebraska (markers); National Register listings and the St. Bonaventure Church Complex nomination (1982); Nebraska Game and Parks; Nebraska Department of Education and Department of Revenue; Village of Cedar Rapids; City of St. Edward; Boone County Health Center; Elgin Review; KOLN 10/11; VisitNebraska. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.

Cedar Rapids Businesses & Places

15 listings in Cedar Rapids.

Click a category to see the businesses.

Outdoors & Recreation (1)
Community & Faith (8)
Government & Resources (4)
Education (2)