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COUNTIES. 1855 1856 1860 1870 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880
Adams 19 2694 3093 3940 4203 5583 8162 10239
Antelope 1387 1289 1303 1036 1575 2178 3959
Boone 798 966 1099 1335 1503 2626 4177
Buffalo 114 193 2106 2861 4396 4055 4819 6882 7535
Burt 89 146 388 2847 3866 4041 4354 4614 4992 5165 6949
Butler 27 1290 4027 4440 4730 5223 6025 7310 9193
Cass 712 1251 3369 8151 10397 10452 10886 11222 11936 13435 16688
Cedar 246 1032 1817 *1979 2421 *2615 2400 2775 2898
Cheyenne 190 449 457 *476 1568 899 1218 1560
Clay 165 54 3622 4183 4787 5652 7012 9373 11299
Colfax 1424 3458 3651 4187 4583 5080 5690 6604
Cuming 8 67 2964 3644 6152 *6402 *6914 *7744 *9095 5577
Custer *344 371 696 2211
Chase Ý70
Dakota 86 646 819 2040 2759 2759 3006 3192 3107 3208 3216
Dawson 16 103 *800 1407 2133 *2304 *2581 *3871 2910
Dixon 247 1345 3842 2880 3263 3218 3412 4061 4117
Dodge 139 318 309 4212 6893 7534 8465 8799 9855 *11579 *11191
Douglas 1028 3165 4328 19982 22670 24698 *25722 *27780 *31113 *36557 37870
Dundy Ý37
Fillmore 238 4380 4731 5373 5655 6556 8760 10212
Franklin 26 1821 1807 1953 2184 2756 4137 5465
Frontier 128 139 243 184 313 626 934
Furnas 1242 1482 1550 1458 1810 2982 6?06
Gage 421 3459 5?90 5714 6021 6343 7486 9629 13170
Greeley 209 *227 194 *210 473 753 1460
Gosper *100 261 250 210 313 622 1674
Hall 116 1057 3842 4414 4615 *4984 5119 6375 8562
Hamilton 130 3116 3326 6253 *6753 5026 6178 8277
Harlan 1847 2027 2140 2757 2388 4193 6084
Hitchcock 95 90 97 *132 *264 1012
Howard 1339 1708 1680 *1814 2329 3246 4410
Holt *1300 *1300 1839 3231
Hayes *500 *500 *600 Ý119
Jefferson 122 2440 3375 3814 4075 4474 5016 6280 8123
Johnson 528 3429 4644 4862 4908 4817 5338 6302 7600
Kearney 474 58 327 560 803 *867 1517 2840 4075
Keith 95 124 108 *117 137 *274 191
Knox 154 261 1133 1524 1248 1191 1446 2088 3664
Lancaster 125 153 7074 14398 15224 15407 15462 15658 18675 28097
Lincoln 117 17 25555 2235 1327 1486 1658 2017 3679
Madison 1133 3355 3171 3215 *3505 3683 4280 5587
Merrick 109 557 3092 3101 3139 3292 3786 4625 5341
Nemaha 604 1281 3139 7593 8202 9131 8276 8673 9017 *10504 10458
Nuckolls 22 8 942 1104 1381 1608 2159 2964 4233
Nance 1000 1208
Otoe 1188 1862 4211 12345 12380 13270 11756 11826 12411 13863 15736
Pawnee 142 301 882 4171 5057 4831 4783 4949 5164 5899 6924
Phelps 101 *110 151 326 *365 1275 2447
Pierce 152 557 *606 *631 *681 565 684 1215
Platte 35 782 1899 3944 4378 4689 5196 6045 7587 9534
Polk 19 136 2764 3031 3556 3509 3931 5023 6855
Red Willow 545 594 663 485 537 963 3044
Richardson 299 532 2385 9780 *15000 *15000 11327 12233 12509 13433 15044
Saline 39 3106 7718 8163 9227 9479 10453 12417 14493
Sarpy 1201 2913 3164 3385 3735 3966 4196 4392 4239
Saunders 4547 8754 10382 10463 *11300 12514 13528 15827
Seward 2953 7429 6601 *6875 *7425 7991 *9389 11095
Sherman 460 496 491 *530 *594 1120 2061
Stanton 636 1135 1157 1223 1353 1410 1486 1813
Sioux *275 *550 Ý699
Thayer 1781 2139 2410 2769 3391 4535 6129
Valley *264 *287 563 *809 1073 1540 2334
Washington 207 751 1249 4452 5304 6114 6286 6789 7116 *8361 8650
Wayne 182 272 431 299 344 386 481 805
Webster 16 2250 2590 2960 3474 4341 5947 7107
Wheeler *350 *700 Ý644
York 604 4593 5266 5921 6219 7348 9172 11171
Unor. Ter'y 2371 *1660 1600 15000 *17625 3024
Totals 4494 10716 28841 122993 225257 246280 257747 271561 313748 386410 452542
* Estimated. Ý Unorganized Counties.
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The history of the development of Nebraska is one of great interest, especially so since it is an acknowledged fact that the almost unparalleled growth of substantial prosperity dates from a period much later than that of original settlement. The opening years of civilized life in the Territory were described by Gov. Izard with glowing words, but the thoughtful men who observed the reckless velocity with which prices advanced in those days, could but note with alarm the self-invited disaster which must in all cases--and surely did in this--follow the erection of fictitious in business circles. From an address delivered before the State Board of Agriculture, during the State Fair held at Lincoln, September 26, 1878, by ex-Senator A. S. Paddock, are quoted significant facts. The orator know whereof he spoke, having passed through the experiences incident to an era of unreasoning speculation in the Territory. He arrived just before the wave of desolation, which is known in history as "the panic of 1857," had reached Nebraska; and the description of the reception accorded the steamer from St. Louis, at Omaha, vividly recalls the condition of affairs in that aspiring "city" in 1858. The speaker said: "When I first arrived at Omaha, after nearly a week's journey by steamboat from St. Louis, the entire population of that little settlement, as was the custom in those early days, appeared to have swarmed out upon the river banks to give us greeting. The whole number then sojourning there could not have exceeded fifteen hundred at most. And, as I soon learned, not one in twenty of these had any visible means of support, any faith in the country, or any expectation whatever, other than to leave so soon as he could sell his lot in town, or his pre-emption claim in the country, which, quite likely, he had acquired, not by an investment of hard-earned money, but by certain circumlocutory process--the inventions of speculative genius. This description of Omaha life, then, will answer for that of the other towns of the then Territory--nearly all of which were confined to the banks of the Missouri, and no one of which was so large as Omaha. Outside the towns there was nothing--literally nothing--whatever to indicate that either of the factors, labor or capital, whose joint employment with land produces wealth, had begun anywhere to operate agriculturally upon the latter. Never on earth did nature present a fairer field for the use of man; never one more beautiful for his eye to survey, or his heart to admire and love. There were hills covered with richest verdure; valleys whose wealth of alluvium sought in vain to expend itself in vegetation so luxuriant, that rider and horse were lost to view beneath its green waves. There, far as the eye could reach, extended the broad, fertile prairie with its charming undulations, presenting a view for all the world like the ocean's surface when gently wooed by the soft south wind. Here and there, standing up against the horizon, could be seen the white cover of the 'prairie schooner,' typical in its appearance, its movement, its freightage of human life, of the ship in the offing, bearing to our shores from the Old World seekers after new homes and better fortunes. And yet the two factors, or either of them, came not; they rested supinely in town, refusing to accept the invitation thus extended by their rural ally. Why was this so? I will tell you. It was in obedience to a well-established rule of political economy; that the two factors first named, whether acting together or separately, according to the circumstances of the situation, seek these avocations or enterprises first which, with the smallest demand upon their capacity, promise the most speedy--the most liberal returns. So long as men could buy a lot or a pre-emption claim one day and sell it the next for 50 or 100 per cent profit, they would not cultivate farms." The first thought of a large majority of those who came to the Territory was not one looking to permanency of residence or ultimate prosperity within the limits of the new West it was the purpose of nearly all to find sudden wealth, that they might return to the East and spend the remainder of their lives. And under such a burdening weight began the existence of a region, in its social character and civilized progression, which has proved its powers to be greater than the accumulated force of adverse circumstances. As Senator Paddock remarked in the address already quoted from; "I declare that the panic of 1857 and 1858 was a veritable blessing in disguise to Nebraska. It marked the substantial close of the era of town lot and pre-emption claim speculation and the commencement of our agricultural era. The years 1858 and 1859 witnessed the first labor and travail of that fearful period of transition. It is true that in 1859 there was an attempt by a few enthusiasts to perpetrate a Territorial fair, but nothing was accomplished by it beyond a feeble advertisement of the utter poverty, insignificance and powerlessness of our agriculture at that time. It demonstrated the fact, that whatever efforts had theretofore been made on its behalf were sporadic, immethodical, exceptional, isolated. Not yet even, in 1860, was agriculture wholly disenthralled. Nevertheless, that was the true commencement of its real history in Nebraska." The brave effort alluded to as an attempt to "perpetrate a Territorial fair" was, in its results then apparent, worthy of little notice, save that it was the inception of a movement since grown to satisfactory proportions. But all great undertakings begin in modest ways, and to the instigators of that effort is due the credit of having founded the public interest in competitive displays. The history of the State Agricultural and Horticultural Societies are given elsewhere in this volume. Considering the improvement of its productive resources to be the only sure and stable source of growth, as logic and experience both teach, it is instructive to note the steps that have been taken along the great highway to wealth. In 1860, when the population of the Territory numbered 28,841, but 3,982 were engaged in agricultural pursuits, but it must be remembered, as Senator Paddock said, "that the speculators in pre-emption claims, some of whom yet remained, and generally lived in the towns, called themselves farmers, although their quarter-sections would show, at most, a cabin and a few acres of breaking, often only the cabin with no breaking, and oftener nothing at all. So that, undoubtedly, the actual number of regular proprietary and employed tillers of the soil was very much smaller than that set down by the census taker of 1860. It is probably safe to say that the area of regularly, honestly cultivated land did not exceed 50,000 acres in the whole Territory, while the product was too poor in quality to classify and too insignificant in amount to record. All I am able to state in relation to the churches is, that they were sixty in number, with fifty-seven clergymen; of the schools, that there were eighty-one teachers and 4,760 enrolled school children; of the banks, that there were twenty one persons engaged in that business, which was a probably reduction in number of 500 or more since 1858, when the panic set in, and before which every second man one met was a banker or a real estate agent. The census of 1860 tells us that there were in that year six men in the whole Territory in railroad employment, but none of the roads they represented were in Nebraska, nor within 150 miles of it." In 1870, the population had increased to 122,993, fully 23,118 of whom were engaged in tilling the soil. After the war ended and Indian disturbances upon the frontier ceased to alarm the public mind, thousands of men, unsettled in business by long years of patriotic duty in the South, were forced to seek new vocations. To such the fertile West, where free homes and healthful pursuits were offered as strong inducements, forsook the crowded East and joined the mighty caravan moving toward the setting sun. Placing the growth of population in tabular form, it is seen that Nebraska, in this twenty-seventh year of its nominal existence, and the fifteenth year of its life as a State, has become a power: |
In 1855, its population was | 4,494 |
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The ratio of increase with the States named, since 1860, is thus stated: |
Per Cent. | |
Nebraska | 1,340 |
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The ratio of increase of emigration since 1870 stands: |
Per Cent. | |
Nebraska | 310 |
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From less than 300 miles, in 1867, its railroad systems now extend more than 2,000 miles and afford the most convenient means of transportation and travel. Of the nearly 50,000,000 acres embraced in the State, not over 3,500,000 are cultivated in cereals, and the increase of these crops, as reported by the census for the last three decades may be seen in the following table: |
1860. | 1870. | Increase over | Crop. | |
preceding year. | ||||
Wheat | 147,867 | 2,125,086 | 1,469,865 | 13,847,007 |
Rye | 2,495 | 13,532 | 34,297 | 424,348 |
Oats | 74,502 | 1,477,562 | 250,457 | 6,555,875 |
Indian Corn | 1,482,080 | 4,736,710 | 1,630,660 | 65,450,135 |
Buckwheat | 12,224 | 3,471 | 1,666 | 17,562 |
Barley | 1,106 | 216,481 | 115,201 | 1,744,686 |
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The cattle and sheep interests of the State are increasing very rapidly. The following table is official, and shows the number of the live stock as enumerated by the census of 1870 and 1880: |
1870. | 1880. | |
Horses | 31,500 | 204,144 |
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But this advance in material sources of wealth is not alone confined to agriculture. While it may be true that manufacturing industries must overcome some natural disadvantages, through absence of cheap fuel, still there are demands which must be met, and certain lines can be pursued with profit. The transformation of crude products might here be effected satisfactorily, and this subject will eventually receive careful treatment at the hands of capitalists. The appended statement of the manufacturing enterprises in Omaha and Lincoln, with an aggregate population of less than 100,000, is no insignificant showing of the faith already established at those two centers of wealth: |
1880. | |||
Number of establishments | 107 | 670 | 1,377 |
Hands employed | 336 | 2,665 | 7,281 |
Capital invested | $266,575 00 | $2,169,963 00 | $4,348,780 00 |
Wages paid | 105,332 00 | 1,429,913 00 | 1,716,279 00 |
Materials | 237,215 00 | 2,902,074 00 | 11,300,587 00 |
Products | 607,328 00 | 5,738,512 00 | 16,670,090 00 |
Per capita product | 1,807 52 | 2,153 29 | 2,289 53 |
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None of the Western States or Territories have so rapidly or deservedly taken front rank in development, increase of population and wealth as Nebraska. Prof. D. C. Wilber, in an address delivered before the "Cambridge (N. Y.) Union," at Beatrice, Neb., in September, 1879, commented upon the marvel of Nebraska's growth. He said: "The general Western movement of population has been referred to a certain law of emigration that compels humanity along the same parallels. Whatever the cause, the fact must be admitted. In our country, the continuous flow of immigration is mainly within an area of 500 miles in width by 3,500 miles in length--from ocean to ocean along the 40th Parallel. This belt, sometimes called the 'Golden Belt' of our country, on account of grain culture, is more properly called the intelligence belt, because within its limits is found a large per cent of human progress. This favored region will be more accurately located by 200 miles south of the 40th Parallel to 300 miles north of it * * The center of population has marched steadily westward since 1790 at the rate of five miles per year, so that it will be found in the census of 1880 northwest of Cincinnati, on its way toward Nebraska. We should understand, therefore, that our western progress is in accordance with a law of humanity--a law controlling emigration, or the movements of men seeking homes or fortunes; in short, success; and if a law, it is Divine direction. Let no man boast of luck; or chance in the blessings he receives in the West, nor be discouraged at the adverse fates. The great movement of which he is a part has Providence for its mainspring. If the farm of Nebraska, from a population of 400,000 can raise without extra effort 100,000,000 bushels of products, what may we expect when our population has reached 3,000,000? Two terms of this ratio are actual facts, and the conclusion is inevitable. With an area of 47,000 square miles, New York State has a population of 3,000,000 outside of her great city. At least 17, 000 square miles of its area are occupied with mountains and wilderness, leaving only 80,000 square miles for use. Nebraska has an available acreage equal to twice that of New York, or to the combined arable area of both New York and Pennsylvania. The statement just made by Senator Paddock that 'Nebraska can take in the Empire State, and have room left for another of equal size,' is strictly true." In a recent work descriptive of the State and its resources, Prof. Wilber thus summarizes the progress during the past few years: "Nebraska, most central in the American Republic, has an area of 76,000 square miles, or 48,640,000 acres, of which 45,000,000 acres, according to recent surveys, are capable of farm cultivation. It has 20,000 more square miles than Iowa, 12,359 square miles more than all the New England States and only 4,000 square miles less than twice the size of Ohio. Its entire surface, soil and subsoil, is the loess formation--the richest in the world. Its population in 1855, was 4,500; in 1856, 10,716; in 1875, 246,280; in 1878, 386,000; in 1879, 420,000; in 1880, 452,542--a greater ratio of increase than any other State can exhibit. Nebraska has now nearly 7 inhabitants per square mile; Kansas has 11; it can support 75 per square mile, or 100, or 230, as well as Ohio, New York or Massachusetts. With 75, as in Ohio, its population will be over five and a half millions. Its ratio of increase of taxable property is as follows: In 1868, $32,632,500; in 1869, $42,123,595; in 1870, $53,709,828; in 1872, $69,873,818; in 1873, $78,239,692; in 1874, $80,754,044; in 1879, $75,359,798; in 1880, $90, 000,000. "The average valuation of lands in Illinois is $25 per acre; in Ohio, $30 per acre; in Nebraska, only $2, but by the law of increasing real estate values, the lands of Nebraska are certain to reach $20 per acre, or a total valuation of $1,000,000,000. Saline County, for instance, has increased from $487,845, in 1870, to $2,741,932, in 1880; or, from less than $1 to over $7 per acre. "Nebraska has 80,000 acres of cultivated timber, bearing of all varieties 38,000,000 trees; besides 1,273,000 apple trees, 1,250,000 peach trees, 36,000 pear trees, 145,000 plum trees, 217,000 cherry trees, 208,000 grape vines and 15,000 miles of hedge. "The fruitage of 1877 was: Apples, 90,570 bushels; peaches, 17,878 bushels; cherries, 681 bushels; grapes, 260,000 pounds; 50 per cent may be added for the present time. "The grain product of 1874 was 10,000, 000 bushels; in 1879, 100,000,000 bushels. The swine crop of 1878, 295,000 head; of 1879, 700,000; cattle, 260,000 and 200,000 sheep. "Prairie lands at $2, $3, $5, $7 and $10 per acre, according to locality, have an annual increase in value of from 15 to 20 per cent. Improved lands at $7, $9, $10, $12 and $15 per acre, are advancing from 20 to 25 per cent annually. Railroad lands, offered at low prices on long time, compel low average land sales. When these lands are disposed of there will be a general advance in values to the general level of real estate in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. "Nebraska contains 3,132 school districts with new schoolhouses and 175,000 pupils. It has 80,000 farmers, whose families and dependents exceed 575,000 persons. Its common school basis is 2,443,148 acres of land, held at $7 per acre, yielding as the years go on a fund of over $18,000,000. It has also a bountiful university endowment of 45,119 acres and 89,452 acres of Agricultural College lands. Over 22,000,000 acres of land are now subject to pre-emption, homesteads and timber claims within the limits of Nebraska. It has 1,200 miles of railway in actual operation, 420 miles being constructed and 350 miles quite certain to be built--in all 2,000 miles, in 1880--making an extra taxable basis of $15,000,000. The, business of Nebraska employs a capital of $20,000,000. "The average rainfall in Eastern Nebraska is 38 inches per year, in Middle Nebraska, 26 inches, and in Western Nebraska, 17 inches, with an average increase for year periods sufficient for all farm products after the ground is prepared. Roads are perfect throughout the year. Average winter, 17° F., average summer, 72° F. Climate of unequaled salubrity. Water pure and plenty. Timber enough for ordinary fuel in nearly all portions of the State--ratio of increase, to use, 4.1. It contains 10,000 beautiful valleys, with innumerable springs and clear water streams. It is indeed 'a land of brooks and water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of oil, olives and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness; thou shalt not lack anything in it.' "Nebraska leads all the States in every ratio of increase; in every comparative test of productive ability and in all inducements that determine the choice of people seeking new farms, new business and now homes in the new Empire of the Northwest." |
