Welcome to Fairbury Nebraska
James B. Mattingly, a frontiersman and freighter from Kentucky, first
settled in gage County, Nebraska, but with the coming of the settlers and the
prospects of a railroad being planned along the Little Blue River, he gave up
on freighting and built a small saw mill along the banks of the Little Blue to
take advantage of the town site opportunities. Woodford G. McDowell, a
capitalist from Fairbury, Illinois also foresaw the advantages of a railroad
coming through Nebraska and came to claim 160 acres. Each gave 80 acres of land
for a town site, the north and south streets from First to Eighth, and the east
and west streets from A to H streets. Right in the middle they left a block for
the Public Square, half on Mattingly's land and half on McDowell's. They close
McDowell's Illinois town of Fairbury for a name and thus was born the city of
Fairbury, Nebraska in the year 1869.
The Oregon Trail passed close by Fairbury, and in many places the ruts
left by the wagons of the "49'ers" can still be seen. Historic spots along the
trail include the Rock Creek Station, where Wild Bill Hickok killed McCanies
and the grave of George Winslow, marked with the original stone.
Where is Fairbury? Take a look at the map and you'll be able to
locate the community of 4,335.
What
does Fairbury look Like?"
Important Facts about the city
POPULATION: 1995 estimate = 4,335
ELEVATION: 1,318
feet above sea level
GOVERNMENT: Mayor and councilmen are elected on
a non partisan ballot. Fairbury is the county seat of Jefferson county.
UTILITIES: Fairbury maintains its own Electrical Department, deep well
water system and Sewage Treatment Plant. Peoples Natural Gas provides
distribution of natural gas.
COMMUNICATIONS: Bi-weekly newspaper
and radio station Hot Country 99.5 FM and KGMT 1310 am. Telephone service is
provided by Alltel.
AGRICULTURE: Fairbury is surrounded by a fine
farming country with wheat, corn, milo, oats and alfalfa the principal crops.
dairying and poultry raising are carried on extensively. Diversified farming,
stock raising and an abundance of well water pasture land provide an advantage
for stock and dairy production.
INDUSTRY AND TRADE: Industrial
growth mirrors the progress of Fairbury. A well planned industrial growth
program by the Fairbury Industrial Development Corporation has brought solid
industry into the community with added payrolls and productive labor. Endicott
clay products manufactures brick and tile and employs 175 people. Roodes
Packing, home of Memorial Stadium's Big Red Fairbury Brand Hot Dogs produces
dressed beef, sausage and smoked pork and employs 70 persons. Canning Trucking
a local trucking firm employs about 30 people. Fairbury Foods also employs
about 70 people. The retail area has a radius of about 50 miles.
TRANSPORTATION: Served by one major railroad, State Highways 8 and 15,
U.S. Highway 136, a municipal airport with paved runway and two truck
lines.
EDUCATION: Two grade schools, one K-4 and one 5-6, St.
Michael's School (Catholic grade school), one junior/senior high school.
MEDICAL FACILITIES: Jefferson Community Health Center is a 25-bed
Critical Access hospital which offers 24-hour emergency care, in addition to
acute hospital care. JCHC includes Gardenside long-term care, a 39-bed
long-term care unit, and the Bob and Wauneta Burkley Wellness Center, a
full-service community wellness center.
Also located in Fairbury is a
physician's clinic, The Fairbury Clinic P.C. with three physicians and three
physician's assistants.
Ambulance service is provided 24 hours by Jefferson
County Ambulance, District 33.
Heritage Care Center offers long-term care in
a private facility.
Mental Health Services are offered by Blue Valley Mental
Health Clinic and Behavioral medicine Clinic.
Fairbury offers three dental
clinics, two chiropractors, one optometrist, one massage therapist and three
veterinary clinics.
CHURCHES: 20, representing 18 denominations.
MUSEUM: Jefferson County Historical Museum.
RECREATION AND
AMUSEMENT: Fairbury Country Club, six lighted tennis courts, new Community
Building, swimming pool, five lighted ball parks, bowling alley, theater,
public library, fairgrounds, four public parks, including Crystal
Springs, with two fishing lakes, one boating lake, camping facilities and
Rock Creek
Station.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
April: Blue Valley Beef
Revue, Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Beef show and livestock judging.
July 4th: Avenue of Honor Flags at Courthouse; Annual Shriner's Flea
Market in the Fairbury City Park. Fireworks in the evening. Jefferson County
Fair, Jefferson County Fairgrounds run by the
Jefferson County Extension.
September:Germanfest Celebration
November: Frost Frolic Craft
Bazaar, Fairbury Junior-Senior High School.
December: Christmas Tour
of Homes.
MILITARY UNITS: National Guard and Army Reserve Units.
SENIOR CITIZENS: Parkview Manor contains 60 units. Fairbury Gardens
contains 30 units.
Special thanks to the Fairbury Chamber of Commerce for the Historical
Information.
Scott Stritzke