Elba Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Howard County · Population 192 (2020 census) · ZIP 68835 · Founded 1882 · Peak population 302 (1910)

About Elba

Elba is a village of 192 people (2020) in the North Loup valley of northwestern Howard County, at about 1,864 feet. NE 11 runs past the village and meets NE 92 just to the south; NE 11 continues northwest along the North Loup toward Scotia, North Loup and Ord and south to Dannebrog. St. Paul is about 8 miles southeast. Elba has its own school district, Elba Public Schools, and churches. Elba is on Central Time.

History

Elba was platted in 1882 when the Union Pacific built its Grand Island–Ord branch through, and incorporated in 1886; its name is said to come from a bend in the river, or a curve in the railroad, shaped like an elbow. By 1890 it shipped hundreds of carloads of grain and livestock a year and had a butter and cheese factory, a bank, a hotel and a Polish Catholic church. The village reached 302 people in 1910. Grover Cleveland "Pete" Alexander, the Hall of Fame pitcher who won 373 games, was born at Elba on February 26, 1887, the son of a farmer, and went on to school in St. Paul.

Highways and trails through Elba

Route	One way	Other way
NE 11Past the village	Northwest along the North Loup to Scotia and Ord	South to NE 92 and Dannebrog
NE 92Just south of the village	West to Loup City	East to St. Paul

Nearby towns

Farwell	about 6 mi south-southwest	NE 92
Cotesfield	about 6 mi northwest	NE 11
St. Paul	about 8 mi southeast	NE 92
Cushing	about 10 mi east	County roads
Dannebrog	about 12 mi south	NE 11
Ashton	about 12 mi west-southwest	NE 92
Wolbach	about 12 mi northeast	County roads
Scotia	about 14 mi north-northwest	NE 11
North Loup	about 18 mi northwest	NE 11
Loup City	about 21 mi west	NE 92

Things to see

Marsh Wren WMA, about 2.5 miles east and 1 mile south, with North Loup River access · the Dannevirke Danish Lutheran Church and Community Hall (National Register), about 8 miles away · the Grover Cleveland Alexander sites in St. Paul

Schools and health care

Schools: Elba Public Schools, 711 Caroline St., (308) 863-2228: Elba Elementary (PK–6) and Elba Secondary (7–12)

Health care: Nearest: Howard County Medical Center, 1113 Sherman St., St. Paul, about 8 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); 1890–91 Nebraska State Gazetteer; Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names (1925); Howard County (history, offices); History Nebraska (markers); National Register listings; NEGenWeb and the UNL Czech Heritage Project; Nebraska Game and Parks; SABR; U.S. Air Force biographies; KOLN 10/11; KSNB; Central Nebraska Today; VisitNebraska; Nebraska Passport. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.