Bertrand Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Phelps County · Population 709 (2020 census) · ZIP 68927 · Founded 1885 · Peak population 786 (2000)

About Bertrand

Bertrand is a village of 709 people (2020) in western Phelps County, on NE 23 at 2,520 feet, about 15 miles west-northwest of Holdrege and 7 miles west-northwest of Loomis. It has Bertrand Public Schools, a Lexington Regional Health Center clinic, the nine-hole Hi-Line Golf Course, a swimming pool and a park with a rodeo arena. The Plum Creek Massacre site and cemetery are about 10 miles north. Bertrand is on Central Time.

History

An earlier post office here was called Whitewater. The Burlington built through in 1884, and the Lincoln Land Company, the railroad’s town-site company, laid out Bertrand in July 1885; the post office took the new name on June 10, 1885, and the village was incorporated that year. The name honors a railroad and Lincoln Land Company official, reportedly A. B. Minor, for whom Minor Avenue is named. Most early settlers were Swedish and German. Bertrand Days, with the Bertrand Fair & Rodeo, is held each June; the 76th rodeo was in 2026. Labor editor Ben H. Williams and volleyball pioneer Karen Dahlgren Schonewise are from Bertrand.

Highways and trails through Bertrand

Route	One way	Other way
NE 23Through the village	East to Loomis and Holdrege	West to Smithfield and Elwood

Nearby towns

Smithfield	about 7 mi west-northwest	NE 23
Loomis	about 7 mi east-southeast	NE 23
Elwood	about 13 mi west-northwest	NE 23
Atlanta	about 14 mi southeast	NE 23 and US 6/34
Holdrege	about 15 mi east-southeast	NE 23
Overton	about 16 mi north-northeast	County roads
Lexington	about 18 mi north-northwest	County roads and US 283
Elm Creek	about 19 mi northeast	County roads
Funk	about 21 mi east-southeast	NE 23 and US 6/34

Things to see

the Plum Creek Massacre site and cemetery, 9 miles north and 1 mile east · the nine-hole Hi-Line Golf Course · High Basin WMA, 3 miles north and 1 mile west · Bertrand Days each June

Events in Bertrand

Bertrand Days
Bertrand's summer celebration with the Bertrand Fair & Rodeo, held the last weekend of June.

Know of another event here? Tell us about it.

Schools and health care

Schools: Bertrand Public Schools, 503 School St., (308) 472-3427: Bertrand Elementary School (PK–6) and Bertrand High School (7–12)

Health care: Lexington Regional Health Center – Bertrand clinic, 402 Minor Ave., (308) 472-1472; nearest hospital: Phelps Memorial Health Center, Holdrege, about 15 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Phelps County (phelpscounty.ne.gov); City of Holdrege; History Nebraska markers (Phelps County, Camp Atlanta, Funk, Holdrege silt loam); HMdb; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); NEGenWeb Phelps County (post offices); National Register (NPGallery); Nebraska Game and Parks; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Rainwater Basin Joint Venture; KRVN; Central Nebraska Today; Federal Judicial Center; SchoolDigger. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.