About Holdrege, Nebraska
If you were looking for someplace that embodied the kind of values America was built on – hard work, education, common sense, care for others – you wouldn’t have to look farther than Holdrege, Nebraska.
Located near the geographic midpoint of the country, Holdrege is one of those towns where all the downtown intersections are paved in brick. The churches near downtown – and there are many – are venerable and substantial, with traditional steeples and stained glass windows, many referencing having been founded in the 1880s or 90s. The trees are old and big – ash and maple and oak and elm – and the houses have spacious, well-kept lawns and generous, shady porches.
A community of about 5,600, Holdrege is the county seat of Phelps County and thus houses the County Courthouse in addition to a beautiful 1930s Post Office and City building as well as a whole collection of downtown commercial buildings with arched windows on the second story and fancy brickwork crenellations.
We are home to two significant manufacturers — BD, an international manufacturer and marketer of medical equipment and supplies (in Holdrege, the primary product is diabetic syringes); and Allmand Brothers, a worldwide exporter or construction equipment, including the company’s signature lightstands. We also have significant economic impact from healthcare, agriculture and related industries, professional services and retail.
The City provides all basic amenities, including police and fire protection, utilities, parks and recreation, streets and roads, and works with other entities to provide excellent schools, healthcare facilities, the library, performing arts center and other services.
History of Holdrege
Holdrege was settled primarily by immigrants from Sweden in the 1880s and was named after George W. Holdrege, general manager of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad Company. He constructed most of the line’s mileage in Nebraska, including a section through this small settlement in Phelps County. On December 10, 1883, the first train arrived in Holdrege, a little pioneer town inhabited by 200 people.
In 1884, a campaign was started to move the county seat from Phelps Center to Holdrege, and an election was scheduled for October. By that time, the town had acquired a block of ground on which to erect a courthouse. With calm assurance of victory at the polls, Holdrege laid the cornerstone of the building intended to be the Phelps County Courthouse. At the special election, Holdrege received a majority of the votes but the legality of the election was questioned. So citizens of Holdrege went to Phelps Center, picked up the official records and books and hid them for two months pending the arrival of new county officials who would take over on January 1, 1885. Holdrege succeeded in becoming the county seat and the courthouse was completed.
Holdrege was incorporated on February 14, 1884 and quickly became the metropolis of the county, being well located with good roads from all directions. The early history of the town was one of ups and downs—good crops one year then drought and no crops at all for several years. In 1910, C. W. McConaughy, a Holdrege grain dealer, began crusading for use of the Platte River to supplement subsoil moisture for farmlands in the area. His dream became reality when Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District began its power production and irrigation operations and water flowed into Phelps County for irrigation in 1941.
A large increase in the population of Holdrege in the immediate post-war years was due mostly to irrigation. With irrigation came both stable and increased crop production, which brought a pipeline company, grain elevators, and agriculture-related businesses to town. The city was declared a first-class city on May 4, 1967.
Holdrege Facts and Stats
Everything you want to know about Holdrege is right here, including our location (25 miles from the east-west midpoint of the U.S.), our population (49.2% male, 50.8% female), and the average monthly rental of a three-bedroom house ($900). Businesses and individuals seeking to relocate can also learn about the tax structure, utilities, transportation, labor, health services and education system as well as commercial services, major employers, industrial buildings and building sites, and more.
Included below are links to census and demographic data for Holdrege and Phelps County.