St. Libory Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Unincorporated community · Howard County · Population 241 (2020 census) · ZIP 68872 · Founded 1878

About St. Libory

St. Libory is an unincorporated community of 241 people (2020) in southeastern Howard County, at about 1,864 feet on US 281, about 11 miles south-southeast of St. Paul and 11 miles north of Grand Island; NE 58 begins here and runs west to Dannebrog. It has a post office (ZIP 68872), St. Libory Elementary School of Grand Island's Northwest Public Schools, a Catholic church and a convenience store, and is known for its melons and a fall pumpkin patch. St. Libory is on Central Time.

History

St. Libory grew up on the Union Pacific line north of Grand Island and was named for St. Libory, Illinois; its post office opened in 1878, and by 1890 it was a station on the UP branch with about 75 people. The old St. Libory school building now stands in the Howard County Historical Village in St. Paul. On May 17, 2026, an EF3 tornado touched down southwest of town and destroyed several homes in a rural development to the north; no one was killed.

Highways and trails through St. Libory

Route	One way	Other way
US 281Through the community	South to Grand Island and I-80	North to St. Paul
NE 58Begins here	West to Dannebrog and Boelus	Ends at US 281

Nearby towns

Dannebrog	about 10 mi west-northwest	NE 58
St. Paul	about 10 mi north-northwest	US 281
Grand Island	about 11 mi south	US 281
Palmer	about 11 mi north-northeast	County roads
Archer	about 13 mi east-northeast	County roads
Cairo	about 14 mi west-southwest	NE 58 and NE 11
Cushing	about 15 mi north	US 281
Central City	about 19 mi east	US 30

Things to see

St. Libory Catholic Church · the fall pumpkin patch and summer melon stands · St. Paul, about 11 miles north

Schools and health care

Schools: St. Libory Elementary School (Northwest Public Schools), 435 St. Paul Rd., (308) 687-6475: PK–8

Health care: Nearest hospitals in Grand Island, about 11 mi, and St. Paul

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.