Wisner Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Wisner Area Cameras

US-275 near West Point

City · Cuming County · Population 1,239 (2020 census) · ZIP 68791 · Founded 1871 · Peak population 1,335 (1980)

About Wisner

Wisner is a city of 1,239 on US 275 beside the Elkhorn River in northwestern Cuming County, where NE 51 begins. It calls itself the "Livestock Center of Nebraska," with about 130,000 cattle on feed nearby. It has Wisner-Pilger schools, the Franciscan Healthcare Wisner Clinic, the Wisner Public Library, the Wisner Heritage Museum and River Park, with camping, a rodeo arena and an Elkhorn River boat ramp.

History

Settlers arrived along the Elkhorn from 1865, and the area was set off as Elmont precinct in 1870. Stockholders of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley railroad platted the town in 1871 as the line arrived, and 63 lots were auctioned on July 26, 1871. It was named for Samuel P. Wisner, a railroad official, and stayed the end of the line until the tracks reached Norfolk in 1879. Wisner incorporated on May 14, 1873, and became a city of the second class in 1909.

Waterworks were approved in 1887, and Wisner had one of the first rural telephone lines in Nebraska in 1893. The Land of Nod amusement park operated from 1917 to 1940. The Elkhorn flooded the town in 1966, 1994 and 2010. Rail service ended in 1982 and the tracks came out in 1985. The population peaked at 1,335 in 1980. Frank Merriam, later governor of California, was once superintendent of Wisner's schools, and Medal of Honor Marine Dale M. Hansen and actress Virginia Huston were from Wisner.

Highways and trails through Wisner

Route	One way	Other way
US 275Avenue E, through town	Northwest to Pilger (about 8 mi) and Norfolk (about 30 mi)	Southeast to Beemer (about 7 mi) and West Point (about 16 mi)
NE 51Begins at US 275 northwest of town	East past NE 9 to Bancroft (about 20 mi) and Decatur	Begins at US 275

Nearby towns

Beemer	about 7 mi southeast	US 275
Pilger	about 8 mi northwest	US 275
Aloys	about 13 mi south	6th Road and NE 32
West Point	about 16 mi southeast	US 275
Bancroft	about 20 mi east	NE 51
Wayne	about 22 mi north	US 275 and NE 15

Things to see

Wisner Heritage Museum, 920 Avenue E, on US 275 (open by arrangement) · River Park on the Elkhorn: campground, rodeo and tractor-pull arenas and the boat ramp · Central Park, 1001 Avenue D, with a splash pad and a trail to River Park · Dinklage Park pool

Schools and health care

Schools: Wisner-Pilger Public Schools, 801 18th St.: elementary (pre-K–6) and high school (7–12)

Health care: Franciscan Healthcare Wisner Clinic, 2100 21st Circle; nearest hospitals Franciscan Healthcare, West Point (about 16 mi), and Faith Regional, Norfolk (about 30 mi)

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); NEGenWeb Cuming County; History Nebraska; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Department of Transportation route mileposts. Distances marked "about" are estimates.