Loretto, Nebraska

Loretto is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Boone County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the community had a population of 42.[1]

Loretto, Nebraska
Census-designated place
Loretto Location within the state of Nebraska
Coordinates: 41°45′52″N 98°4′49″W
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Boone
Area
• Total	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km^2)
• Land	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km^2)
Population  (2010)
• Total	42
• Density	150/sq mi (57.8/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
FIPS code	31-29155
GNIS feature ID	0830894

History

Loretto was originally called Loran, in honor of Loran Clark, a pioneer settler, but when it was discovered another town of that name already existed elsewhere in the state, it was renamed Loretto in order to avoid repetition.[2] The present name is after Loreto, in Italy.[3] A post office was established at Loretto in 1888, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1971.[4][5] A state bank named Loretto State Bank was established in 1909.[6] At its peak in the 1920s Loretto was also home to a cheese factory, several general stores, a butcher shop, and hotel.[7]

Geography

Loretto is located in north-central Boone County along Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Loup River. Nebraska Highway 14 passes through the CDP, leading southeast 7 miles (11 km) to Albion, the county seat, and north 6 miles (10 km) to Petersburg.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Loretto CDP has a total area of 0.27 square miles (0.7 km²), all land.

References

1. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Loretto CDP, Nebraska". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
2. Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 19. ISBN 0803250606.
3. 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. 95.
4. "Boone County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
5. "Town and Post Office History" (PDF). Boone County. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
6. The Bankers Encyclopedia. Bankers Encyclopedia Company. 1921. pp. 1337–.
7. Kay, John (June 1, 1988). Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report Boone County, Nebraska (PDF). Save America's Heritage. p. 12. Retrieved 4 July 2017.