Imperial, Nebraska
Imperial is a city of 2,210 people in Chase County, Nebraska, founded in 1885.
Why visit Imperial
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 3 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Imperial Theatre, Balcony House, Chase County Courthouse and Schroeder Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 91°F; January lows average 12°F, and about 26 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Imperial
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Imperial
Imperial is a city in Chase County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2020 census, Imperial had a population of 2,068. It is the county seat of Chase County.
From the Wikipedia article Imperial, Nebraska (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks2
Balcony House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic building in Imperial, Nebraska
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Chase County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Courthouse in Nebraska, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Restaurants and cafes3
History
The original town of Imperial was built on land homesteaded by Thomas Mercier and M. J. Goodrich. These men gave a town lot to anyone who would put up a building and help to start the town. Mercier was the first postmaster and took office on December 14, 1885.
The railroad right of way was graded to Imperial in 1888. The railroad reached Imperial on August 15, 1892. It was built by a division of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. This line left the main line near Culbertson and terminated in Imperial.
When the grade was completed, the Lincoln Land Company gave lots to all those who would move their buildings to the "Railroad Addition". Nearly all of the buildings were moved south to the future railroad line and the present location of the business district of the town was established.
Imperial's first courthouse was built in 1889 on the land where the present courthouse stands.
From the History section of Imperial, Nebraska on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship9
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare1
Map of Imperial
32 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 12°F | 0.4 in | 4.0 in |
| Feb | 45°F | 14°F | 0.6 in | 4.8 in |
| Mar | 56°F | 23°F | 1.1 in | 5.1 in |
| Apr | 64°F | 31°F | 2.0 in | 2.7 in |
| May | 73°F | 44°F | 3.2 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 55°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 91°F | 60°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 58°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 48°F | 1.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 33°F | 1.6 in | 2.3 in |
| Nov | 54°F | 22°F | 0.5 in | 3.7 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 14°F | 0.4 in | 3.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Imperial Hcn (1 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
Chase County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-08-12: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2010-07-15: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2009-07-31: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2008-06-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Imperial Municipal Airport (IML) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Wauneta 16 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
- Grant 23 mi north, about 37 min by car
- Palisade 30 mi east, about 48 min by car
- Benkelman 33 mi south, about 53 min by car
- Stratton 33 mi southeast, about 53 min by car
- Holyoke 35 mi west, about 56 min by car
- Wray 43 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Ogallala 43 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Julesburg 46 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- St. Francis 52 mi south, about 1 h 30 min 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
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- 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
- Imperial, Nebraska Broadway 3, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Balcony House (Imperial, Nebraska) from S 2, Ammodramus, Public domain
- Chase County, Nebraska courthouse from E 2, Ammodramus, CC0
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