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Wahoo, Nebraska

Coordinates: 41°13′N 96°37′W / 41.217°N 96.617°W / 41.217; -96.617
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Wahoo, Nebraska
Memorial to World War II submarine USS Wahoo on front lawn of Saunders County Courthouse in Wahoo
Memorial to World War II submarine USS Wahoo on front lawn of Saunders County Courthouse in Wahoo
Motto: 
"Welcome You"
Location of Wahoo, Nebraska
Location of Wahoo, Nebraska
Coordinates: 41°13′N 96°37′W / 41.217°N 96.617°W / 41.217; -96.617
CountryUnited States
StateNebraska
CountySaunders
Area
 • Total2.92 sq mi (7.56 km2)
 • Land2.92 sq mi (7.56 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,211 ft (369 m)
Population
 • Total4,508
 • Estimate 
(2018)[3]
4,514
 • Density1,531.69/sq mi (591.43/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
68066
Area code402
FIPS code31-50965
GNIS feature ID0834421 [4]
Websitewahoo.ne.us

Wahoo (/ˈwɑːˌhu/;[5] from Dakota wǧhu;[6] "arrow wood") is a city and county seat of Saunders County, Nebraska, United States.[7] The population was 4,508 at the 2010 census.

History

Wahoo was founded in 1870. The town's name comes from the eastern wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus), a shrub found on the banks of Wahoo Creek.[8][9] The town was originally built up chiefly by predominantly Czech, German, and Scandinavian settlers.[10]

Geography

Wahoo is located at 41°13′N 96°37′W / 41.217°N 96.617°W / 41.217; -96.617 (41.21, -96.62).[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.65 square miles (6.86 km2), all land.[12]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18801,064
18902,00688.5%
19002,1004.7%
19102,1683.2%
19202,3387.8%
19302,68915.0%
19402,648−1.5%
19503,12818.1%
19603,61015.4%
19703,8356.2%
19803,555−7.3%
19903,6813.5%
20003,9427.1%
20104,50814.4%
2018 (est.)4,514[3]0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
2012 Estimate[14]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 4,508 people, 1,801 households, and 1,131 families living in the city. The population density was 1,701.1 inhabitants per square mile (656.8/km2). There were 1,962 housing units at an average density of 740.4 per square mile (285.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.5% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5%.[2]

Of the 1,801 households 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.2% were non-families. 33.3% of households were one person and 16.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.08.

The median age was 38.7 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 3,942 people, 1,583 households, and 992 families living in the city. The population density was 1,841.1 people per square mile (711.2/km²). There were 1,669 housing units at an average density of 779.5 per square mile (301.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.40% White, 0.15% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.

There were 1,583 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.2% of households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 3.08.

The population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median household income was $35,104, and the median family income was $46,094. Males had a median income of $31,729 versus $22,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,765. About 7.5% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

Cultural references

Beginning in February 1996, the city was denoted the location of the "home office" that produces the top-10 list for David Letterman's Late Show program, having relocated from Grand Rapids, Michigan. The town had lobbied Letterman for the status for months. It had the Nebraska legislature proclaim him an admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska, as well as inundate Letterman with letters, postcards, and bribes of flowers, clothing, animals, alcoholic beverages, shredded money, and free checkups at the Wahoo Medical Center. When Letterman jokingly said he wanted more, Wahoo sent him a '76 Ford Pinto with a sofa attached to the hood, a wall clock made of cow droppings, and two of the town's teenagers, brothers Jeff and Josh Price. This brought some degree of fame and tourism to the town. The nightly recap of the show on the CBS web site is titled The Wahoo Gazette.

Education

Wahoo Public Schools operates the area public schools.

Wahoo Public High School has the distinction of having of the third-longest boys' high school basketball winning streak—114 straight games—from 1987–88 through the 1991–92 seasons, winning four state championships.[citation needed]

Wahoo was also the home of the now defunct John F. Kennedy College.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "2017 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jan 12, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  3. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ Rick Aschmann (2 May 2018). "North American English Dialects, Based on Pronunciation Patterns". Aschmann.net. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  6. ^ Bright, William (2004). Native American Placenames of the United States. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 541.
  7. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Department of English. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  9. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 135.
  10. ^ "History". City of Wahoo, Nebraska. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  12. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  13. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  14. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Archived from the original on November 20, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  15. ^ "Governor Dave Heineman". Archived from the original on 2008-10-05.
  16. ^ Hulls, Tessa (2017-08-21). "Fannie Quigley, the Alaska Gold Rush's All-in-One Miner, Hunter, Brewer, and Cook". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  17. ^ Wilson, Earl (Nov 27, 1969). "Small Towns Have Produced Many Big Stars". The Milwaukee Sentinel. pp. A33. Retrieved 22 May 2015.