Central City, Nebraska
Central City is a city of 3,061 people in Merrick County, Nebraska, founded in 1866.
Why visit Central City
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 1 place to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Widman Cinema, State Theatre, Heber Hord House and Lone Tree Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 14°F, and about 29 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Central City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Central City
Central City is a city in and the county seat of Merrick County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Grand Island metropolitan area. The population was 3,039 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Central City, Nebraska (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks10
State Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places
Movie theater and former theater in Central City, Nebraska, United States
706 C Avenue, Central City
Heber Hord House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Two-story frame house in Central City, Nebraska
Merrick County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
County courthouse in Nebraska, United States of America
Riverside Park Dance Pavilion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Dance hall in Merrick County, Nebraska
Wright Morris Boyhood House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic house in Nebraska, United States
Patterson Law Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes1
Churches and places of worship11
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare1
Map of Central City
32 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 14°F | 0.8 in | 6.2 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 17°F | 0.8 in | 7.1 in |
| Mar | 52°F | 27°F | 1.5 in | 4.7 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 37°F | 2.8 in | 1.7 in |
| May | 72°F | 49°F | 4.7 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 59°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 53°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 65°F | 40°F | 2.3 in | 1.2 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 26°F | 1.3 in | 2.3 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 17°F | 1.0 in | 5.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Central City (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Merrick County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-03-21: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2018-06-29: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds (Snowstorm)
- 2010-02-25: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm (Severe Storm)
- 2008-06-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Central Nebraska Regional Airport (GRI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.
- Clarks 11 mi northeast, about 18 min by car
- Polk 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
- Palmer 15 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
- Aurora 17 mi south, about 28 min by car
- Fullerton 17 mi north, about 28 min by car
- Hampton 17 mi south, about 27 min by car
- Grand Island 23 mi southwest, about 37 min by car
- Columbus 40 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- Albion 40 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Hastings 41 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Central City, Nebraska G St from B Ave, Unknown author, Public domain
- Old Auto Dealership building, Central City, NE-01, Myotus, CC0
- Old Auto Dealership building, Central City, NE-02, Myotus, CC0
- Businesses-Central City, NE, Myotus, CC0
- Old City Hall, Central City, NE, Myotus, CC0
- Mormon Trail Marker in Central City, NE, I am One of Many, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Central City, Nebraska State Theater from E 1, Ammodramus, CC0
- Heber Hord House 1, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Wright Morris house from SE 2, Unknown author, Public domain
- Riverside Park Dance Pavilion from SW 2, Unknown author, Public domain
- Merrick County Courthouse 5, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Patterson Law Office 3, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Hotel, Columbus, NE, Myotus, CC0
- Post Office, Columbus, NE, Myotus, CC0
- World War I Wall, Heartland Veterans Memorial, RuralResurrection, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cold War Wall, Heartland Veterans Memorial, RuralResurrection, CC BY-SA 4.0
- World War II Wall, Heartland Veterans Memorial, RuralResurrection, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Vietnam War Wall at Heartland Veterans Memorial, RuralResurrection, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ISS060-E-55378 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Lone tree Nebraska State Historical Marker-12-26-12, I am One of Many, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nebraska Christian Highschool 12-26-2012, I am One of Many, CC BY-SA 3.0
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