Near Heminford in Box Butte County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Box Butte Country

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 5, 2015

1. Box Butte Country Marker

Inscription. A flat-topped hill to the southeast was named Box Butte by early cowboys and travelers. This area is part of the Box Butte Tableland, semi-arid short grass country that stretches far to the west.

Box Butte has given its name to the creek that flows near its base, a village, and the county where it is located. It served as a landmark for miners and freighters to the Black Hills during the gold rush of the 1870's. Box Butte City was founded east of here in the mid-1880's. A cluster of sod and frame buildings housed a post office, grocery and drug store, land locator's office, livery barn, hotel, restaurant, two blacksmith shops, and a cream station. A small sod church was built west of the village. The town died when the post office was discontinued in 1910 and only the pioneer graves remain.

Box Butte County was created in 1886 from lands in Dawes County. Heavy advertising campaigns by the railroads spurred its early growth. The Kinkaid Act of 1904 increased the size of homesteads from 160 to 640 acres and aided in the economic recovery of the county following the depression and drought of the 1890's. The landmark remains as a rugged memorial to those hardy pioneers who settled "Box Butte Country."

Erected by Box Butte County Historical Society and Nebraska State Historical Society.

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(Marker Number 146.)

Topics and series. This 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 year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 42° 19.62′ N, 102° 52.092′ W. Marker is near Heminford, Nebraska, in Box Butte County. Marker is at the intersection of State Highway 87 and Dodge Road (State Highway 7E), on the right when traveling north on State Highway 87. Located at a dirt pullout near Rooster Junction. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hemingford NE 69348, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 5, 2015

2. Box Butte Country Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 723 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.