Ellsworth, Nebraska

Ellsworth is an unincorporated community in Sheridan County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the community had a population of 32.[3] Ellsworth was established in the late nineteenth century as a company town for the Spade Ranch and a shipping point for cattle on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. It was likely named after Ellsworth, Minnesota.[4] Although unincorporated Ellsworth has one business, Morgan's Store and post office with the ZIP code of 69340.

Ellsworth, Nebraska
Unincorporated community
Morgan's Store and Post Office on Ellsworth's Main Street (ca. 2010)
Motto(s):  Home of the Old Spade Ranch
Ellsworth, Nebraska Location within the state of Nebraska
Coordinates: 42°3′34.0″N 102°16′49.2″W
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Sheridan
Area
• Total	35.6 sq mi (92.3 km^2)
• Land	35.6 sq mi (92.3 km^2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km^2)
Elevation	3,865 ft (581 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	32
• Density	9.2/sq mi (3.5/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (MST)
Area code(s)	308
FIPS code	31-15185[1]
GNIS feature ID	0837985[2]

History

In 1888 the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad chose the site as a location for a depot and water stop on their newly built line. Cattleman Bartlett Richards began assembling the expansive Spade Ranch in the same year, making Ellsworth a company town for the ranch. In 1898, the two-story Spade Ranch Store was built; it supplied freight wagons going north to the Spade Ranch Headquarters. At about the same time, a hotel was built across the street from the store, and a windmill placed in the middle of town. Bartlett Richards had a brick summer home with a courtyard built north of the store location in 1904. The Ellsworth School House, built in 1932, served Ellsworth until 2007.

The Old Spade Ranch Store is the only business currently operating in the village.

Geography

Ellsworth is located at 42°3′37″N 102°16′50″W (42.060322, -102.280606).

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 32 people, 11 households, and 9 families residing in the community. There are 14 housing units. The racial makeup of the village was 96.87% White, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.38% of the population.

• 
  Ellsworth (ca. 1905)
• 
  Spade Ranch Store (ca. 1900)
• 
  Spade Ranch Store (ca. 1900)

See also

• Spade Ranch

Notable person

• LeRoy J. Louden, Nebraska legislator

References

1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. All Census Bureau information is for Census Blocks 4607, 4625 and 4626, Block Group 4, Census Tract 9517 in Sheridan County, as Ellsworth is not a census-designated place.
4. Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 133. ISBN 0-8032-5060-6. A 1925 edition is available for download at University of Nebraska—Lincoln Digital Commons.