Doniphan Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Hall County · Population 809 (2020 census) · ZIP 68832 · Founded 1879 · Peak population 829 (2010)

About Doniphan

Doniphan is a village of 809 people (2020) in southern Hall County, at 1,942 feet on US 281 about 10 miles south of Grand Island, laid out as the midway point to Hastings. All grades of Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools meet here. Mormon Island State Recreation Area is about 3 miles north, near I-80 Exit 312. Doniphan is on Central Time.

History

W. J. Burger settled here in 1864, and in the 1870s, while he was postmaster, the stop was called Orchard. Burger platted the town in 1879, after the St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad began running, and it was named for Col. John Doniphan of St. Joseph, Missouri, an attorney for the railroad. The Upson Brothers opened the first store in August 1879, Burger’s flour mill followed in 1881 and The Index began publishing that April. Doniphan incorporated on January 9, 1884. On November 26, 1887, burglars trying to blow the bank safe started a fire that burned much of one side of Main Street. The Trumbull schools joined Doniphan’s in 2000. The population peaked at 829 in 2010.

Highways and trails through Doniphan

Route	One way	Other way
US 281North–south past the village	North to I-80 Exit 312 and Grand Island	South to Hastings

Nearby towns

Alda	about 8 mi northwest	County roads
Trumbull	about 8 mi southeast	County roads
Grand Island	about 10 mi north	US 281
Phillips	about 12 mi northeast	County roads
Hastings	about 12 mi south	US 281
Prosser	about 12 mi west-southwest	County roads
Wood River	about 13 mi west-northwest	I-80
Juniata	about 15 mi south-southwest	County roads

Things to see

Mormon Island State Recreation Area: two lakes, swimming beaches and the Cedar and Cottonwood campgrounds · the Nine Bridges Bridge (National Register), on a private road over the Platte about 4 miles north · the Grand Island KOA

Schools and health care

Schools: Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools, 302 W. Plum St.: elementary (PreK–6), (402) 845-2730; secondary (7–12), (402) 845-6531; district (402) 845-2282

Health care: Hospitals: CHI Health St. Francis and Grand Island Regional Medical Center, Grand Island, about 10 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Buechler, Barr & Stough, History of Hall County (1920); History Nebraska and its markers; National Register; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Nebraska Game and Parks; Central Platte NRD; Crane Trust; City of Grand Island; City of Wood River; Tourism Grand Island visitor guides (2024, 2025); Central Nebraska Regional Airport; school districts. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.