Loup

 

Loup County was defined by the Nebraska Legislature on February 23, 1883. Originally there was a Loup County in Nebraska created March 6, 1855 and it included lands now in the present-day Platte and Colfax counties. The first permanent white settlement occurred in the present Loup County starting circa 1870.The Loup County seat, Taylor, won in a fierce battle with Kent, Almeria, and Clarke’s Point on May 3, 1883. Taylor won over Almeria by only two votes. The first county seat was temporarily situated at Kent. Taylor’s current population is about 280. County population is under 800: largest county census was in 1910 showing a count of 2188.Post offices in Loup County between 1870 and 1990 have included Taylor, Almeria, Ovitt, Moulton, Valleyview, Gracie, Harrop, Ferguson, Cooleyton, Butka, Calamus, Fox, Crane, Munson, Strohl, Nunda, Kent, and Prime. Almeria Post Office closed in 1984. Only Taylor Post Office is still operating. All of the others closed long before.

There are two major rivers running through Loup County; the North Loup and the Calamus. Creeks include the Sioux, Gracie, Dry, Spring, Bloody and Skull.

There are two major highways bisecting the county. U.S. Highway 183 runs north-south and Nebraska Highway 91 goes east-west.

Loup County has its share of attractions:

  • Valleyview Historical Marker at Valleyview State Recreational Area on the Calamus Lake about 16 miles northeast of Taylor. This sign commemorates the former Village of Valleyview and the site of the murder of Loup County Sherif George Brock in the line of duty on October 16, 1940.
  • The Pavillion Hotel in Taylor was named to the Historic Register of Places in December, 1989.
  • Sawyer Barn is a huge structure (80′ x 90′) and is still being used. This barn is located about 10 miles west of Almeria and is visible from Highway 91.
  • Loup County Pioneer Memorial Log Cabin and Library Museums are located along the city square in Taylor.
  • The Taylor Public Library, now housed in the former Congregational Church which was built circa 1894.
  • Taylor Dam on the North Loup River about 5 miles west of Taylor just off Highway 91.
  • Nebraska’s third largest lake, the Calamus Reservoir, is located about 15 miles north and east of Taylor from U.S. 183 (Other recreational areas in Loup County include Nunda Shoal, Valley View Flat, and Hannaman Bayou).
  • The Loup County Community Center (Satterfield Hall), built in 1988 entirely by donations.
  • Almeria Community Hall in Almeria which was completed in 1953.
  • Taylor Village Park on the square.
  • Taylor Tourist Park which features limited camping facilities at very reasonable rates.
  • Region 26 Telecommunications Center in Taylor which serves a 7 county area.
  • Three churches in Taylor (Calvary United Methodist, Taylor Assembly of God, Taylor Evangelical Free).
  • Loup County Public School. The high school building was completed in 1922, the grade school was built in 1981-82.
  • Marcia C. Smith Memorial Auditorium.

Important yearly events include the Loup County Fair held in Taylor in August, Taylor High School Rodeo in early June, Loup County High School alumni banquet in October and an occasional July 4th celebration in Taylor.

Cemeteries in Loup County include Taylor, Madison Square, Kent, Moulton, Almeria, Gracie and Long Valley. The first five are still in use. The latter two are cared for by the Loup County Historical Society. (Loup County Historical Society contact information can be found at the bottom of this page.)

Some interesting history: Amos Harris, reportedly Nebraska’s first black cowboy, and his wife Eliza ranged cattle in Loup County Territory in the North Loup Valley. “Doc” Middleton and “Kid” Wade, cattle and horse rustlers, were operational in Loup County’s earliest days. Loup County probably owns the record in Nebraska for having the most mils of railroad grade built within its confines but never had an inch of railroad track laid. The Loup County High School Wildcats football team won the Nebraska Class D-3 6-man State Football Championship in 1988 and won State runner-up in 1989.

Indian “skirmishes” in Loup County consisted of the Spring Creek Incident of 1870, the Battle of Sioux Creek in 1873 and the Battle of the Blowout in 1876 which was near the Loup-Garfield county line in northeast Loup County.

Interested in more Loup County history? Please contact:

Loup County Historical Society
PO Box 102
Taylor, NE 68879
Phone: (308) 942-3403

Loup County online http://www.co.loup.ne.us/