Weeping Water, Nebraska

Weeping Water, Nebraska
—  City  —
Location of Weeping Water, Nebraska
Coordinates: 40°52′4″N 96°8′21″W
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Cass
Area
• Total	0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
• Land	0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,099 ft (335 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	1,103
• Density	1,254.8/sq mi (484.5/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	68463
Area code(s)	402
FIPS code	31-52015
GNIS feature ID	0834529

Weeping Water is a city in Cass County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,103 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Weeping Water is located at 40°52′4″N 96°8′21″W (40.867854, -96.139205).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.

Weeping Water is best known for its limestone quarry. Every year, late in June, the town celebrates Limestone Day with a parade, fireworks and games.

The Indians named the stream running through Weeping Water NIGAHOE, meaning "water rustling", the sound of water running over the low falls. When the French came, they confused the NIGAHOE with another Indian word, NIGAHOAGE, meaning "water weeping" and gave the stream the French name L'EAU QUI PLEURE, meaning "water which weeps".

In the 1920s a poet composed "The Ballad of Weeping Water" giving a romantic flavor to the village's name. It tells of two tribes of Indians battling in the valley. A fight so bloody that braves from each side were slaughtered. The squaws and maidens of both tribes wept. For hours and hours they wept until their tears began to make trickling streams, which flowed into the valley where they formed a creek. The Indians named this creek “Weeping Water,” and it has been flowing ever since.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,003 people, 434 households, and 293 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,254.8 people per square mile (483.9/km²). There were 465 housing units at an average density of 529.0 per square mile (204.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.09% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 434 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,692, and the median income for a family was $51,250. Males had a median income of $37,656 versus $21,354 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,674. About 5.1% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.