Culbertson in Hitchcock County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Culbertson

First Hitchcock County Seat

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2014

1. Culbertson Marker

Inscription. Culbertson was the county seat of Hitchcock for twenty years, and this marks the site of the first court house, used 1886-1893. Founded as a trading post in July 1873 by W.Z. Taylor, it became the county seat when Hitchcock County was organized August 30, 1873. The county was named for U.S. Senator P.W. Hitchcock, an the town was named for Alexander Cumbertson, noted fur trader of the Upper Missouri then living at Orleans.

The community consisted of Taylor’s store and J.E. Kleven’s blacksmith shop and post office until 1875, when thousands of Texas cattle were brought into the four southwest Nebraska counties. Culbertson was the the only town in the region, and the ranchers made it their headquarters, many serving as county officials.

During the years of the “open range,” the ranchers spent summers on the range, but moved to Culbertson in winter, taking advantage of the schools, and social life. The railroad arrived in 1881, and thousands of homesteaders flocked into the county displacing the ranchers. During this period Culbertson became a pioneer irrigation center. In 1893, the county seat was moved to Trenton, near the center of the county.

Erected by Hitchcock Historical Society & Nebraska State Historical Society. (Marker Number 95.)

Topics and series. This

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historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Nebraska State Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1873.

Location. 40° 13.988′ N, 100° 50.296′ W. Marker is in Culbertson, Nebraska, in Hitchcock County. It is on Taylor Avenue near Arizona Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 613 Taylor Avenue, Culbertson NE 69024, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska and in the Republican River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the prairies.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Massacre Canyon (approx. 6.8 miles away); Old Texas Ogallala Trail (approx. 11.1 miles away).

More about this marker. This marker is located in the Culbertson city park.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2014

2. Culbertson Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 642 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 4, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.