Bee Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Seward County · Population 171 (2020 census) · ZIP 68314 · Founded 1887 · Peak population 228 (1920)

About Bee

Bee, the “Honey of a Town,” is a village of 171 people (2020) in northern Seward County, at 1,562 feet; State Spur 80B runs 2 miles east to it from NE 15, and Seward is about 7 miles south-southwest. Its landmark is the twelve-sided States Ballroom, built by the WPA in 1938–40 and on the National Register, where the Bee Volunteer Fire Department holds its Barn Dance, a tradition of more than 90 years. Bee is on Central Time.

History

The Pioneer Townsite Company platted Bee in the spring of 1887 on the Chicago & North Western (Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley) line; the first mail train arrived on September 20, 1887, and Minnie Dunigan was the first postmistress. The name comes from the village’s location in B Township. Bee incorporated on January 20, 1902. The States Ballroom was designed and built by Bee’s Vladimir Sobotka, opened with a grand dance in May 1939, was dedicated in 1940 and was listed on the National Register in 1981. The population peaked at 228 in 1920.

Highways and trails through Bee

Route	One way	Other way
Spur 80BRuns east from NE 15 on Rock Creek Road	West to NE 15	East end at Bee

Nearby towns

Dwight	about 6 mi north-northeast	County roads
Garland	about 6 mi southeast	County roads
Staplehurst	about 6 mi west-southwest	NE 15
Seward	about 7 mi south-southwest	NE 15
Ulysses	about 9 mi west-northwest	County roads
Tamora	about 12 mi southwest	County roads
David City	about 18 mi north-northwest	NE 15

Things to see

the States Ballroom (National Register) · the Bee Barn Dance, Saturday, December 5, 2026 · Flatland Market and Bar · St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church

Events in Bee

Bee Barn Dance
The Bee Volunteer Fire Department’s annual polka Barn Dance at the States Ballroom.

Know of another event here? Tell us about it.

Health care

Hospital: Memorial Health Care Systems, Seward, about 7 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Cox, History of Seward County (1905); Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names (1925); Nebraska State Gazetteer (1890); History Nebraska markers; National Register; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Nebraska Game and Parks; NOAA; Seward County; City of Seward; City of Milford; Village of Staplehurst; Village of Bee; Cultivate Seward County; Southeast Community College; Concordia University. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.