Madison County

Battle Creek

• Mayor - Matt Podany
• City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer – Michael Fleer
• City Officials –  Eric Kraft (Council President), Joe Barry, Barry Ponton, Judy Warneke

In July of 1859 following complaints of Pawnee attacks against settlers in the Elkhorn River Valley, a combined force of Nebraska Territorial Militia under the command of General John Milton Thayer and 2nd U.S. Army Dragoons under Lieutenant Beverly Holcombe Robertson prepared to attack a Pawnee village. Rather than fighting, the Pawnees surrendered before the attack could be launched, ending the Pawnee War of 1859. Although no battle occurred, the nearby stream, and later a community, was dubbed Battle Creek.

Artist, novelist and creator of the Kewpie Doll, Rose O’Neill, lived in Battle Creek as a young girl. O’Neill created the Kewpie Doll to illustrate the stories she was writing for the Ladies Home Journal. Today the porcelain dolls are hand made at H&H Ceramics in Battle Creek.

Battle Creek Mutual Insurance Company, Battle Creek Coop and Producers Hybrid Seeds are major employers. The local economy is a mix of agri-business, ag production and commuting to jobs in nearby Norfolk.

Pioneer spirit and pride are apparent in this growing thriving community. A new high school is the latest in a long line of community improvements. Battle Creek will win you over with its local charm, whether you are just passing through or taking time to check out the scenic Cowboy Trail.

Madison

• Mayor - Robert Nathan
• City Clerk – Gina Ainsworth
• City Officials -  Lyle Jurgens (President), Tim Reeves, Jeff Prather, Robert Jurgens
• City Offices Address - 211 S. Lincoln St, PO Box 527, Madison, NE 68748, (402) 454-3412

Drawn by a good mill site at the confluence of Taylor and Union Creeks, 1867 brought the first pioneers to what is now the town of Madison. These industrious pioneers and the coming of the railroad made Madison an early center for agriculture, commerce and the county seat of Madison County. Today, Madison is a growing community unlike many other rural Nebraska towns. With 2,367 residents and an ever-increasing quality of life, Madison is poised to continue to grow and offer small-town amenities to existing and prospective residents. Part of the reason Madison has been able to maintain a strong local job market is the inclusion of an internationally known Multinational Corporation, Tyson Fresh Meats. Tyson, the world’s largest supplier of beef and pork, has been a boon to industry in the area as it has created 1,200 local jobs. The Madison industrial sector includes an economic mix of agri-business, Ag production, and value-added processing.

The history of Madison is well documented at the Madison County Museum with exhibits of the 1880 firefighting pumper to the Orphan Train Children’s stories, early telephone systems to tributes to local military heroes. The scale model train exhibit is a visitor favorite. Periodically temporary displays and traveling Smithsonian exhibits are available at the museum. Also within the community are the historic Carnegie Library and St. Leonard’s Church, a member of the National Register of historic buildings. Every summer, the local Madison County Fair is recognized as one of the top in the U.S. as it includes celebrity entertainment, premier grand stand events, outstanding midway attractions and spirited livestock competition. The small town atmosphere and wide range of family friendly amenities from golf and swimming, playgrounds, soccer fields and a well-manicured park make Madison a place to call home.

Learn more about Madison, Nebraska by viewing the following websites:

• Madison, Nebraska

Newman Grove

• Mayor - Fawn Steiff
• City Clerk – Earl Zeller
• City Officials -  Byron Flood, Tom Bagley, Milan Sawyer, Marty London

Newman Grove, located in the Shell Creek Valley of southwest Madison County was named after Newman Warren, who had helped his father, Lewis, plant a grove of cottonwood trees on their homestead. Before the Warren’s and other early settlers, the area around the modern-day village was frequented by local tribes and was largely a treeless plain. After the boy’s death at age 21, Lewis was instrumental in naming the new post office, located near the grove, “Newman Grove.” As of today, some of the original Cottonwood trees still stand in the City Park. The mini-park near downtown includes a bandstand reminiscent of the early days and a mural depicting pioneer businesses.

Newman Grove may be small in population and rural in location, but it has a history rich in pioneering, Indian encounters and its inclusion on the Texas Cattle Trail. In 1886, the railroad chose to include Newman Grove, which resulted in property sales, city platting and incorporation on February 9, 1888. Newman Grove, like other rural communities, has weathered both boom times and hardships, but has remained steadfast in providing a high quality of life to residents. Even though today many local residents drive to jobs in neighboring communities, the local economy remains based on agriculture production and services. Newman Grove merchants offer a full range of products and services for every need. In 1975, Newman Grove was declared “Norwegian Capital of Nebraska” and celebrates the Norwegian Days festival in mid-August with ethnic foods and family entertainment. If you’re Norwegian (or just enjoy good family fun), the 721 residents of Newman Grove welcome you!

Learn more about Madison, Nebraska by viewing the following websites:

• Newman Grove, Nebraska

Norfolk

• Mayor - Sue Fuchtman
• City Clerk – Beth Deck
• City Officials -  Shane Weidner (City Administrator), Vicki Saunders, Dale Coy, Dave Fauss, Jim Lange, Jim Brenneman, Rob Merrill, Shane Clausen, Thad Murren

The agriculture, manufacturing, and services center of the Elkhorn River Valley, Norfolk is a progressive community of 24,210 (2010 Census) serving a market area of over 100,000. Norfolk is a vibrant and diverse community offering many cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities, yet still maintains a small town feel. A dozen Fortune 500 companies have found the well-educated productive workforce in the Norfolk area to be an important asset in today’s competitive world economy. Major employers are Nucor Steel, Affiliated Foods, Goodyear, Faith Regional Health Services, Wis-Pak of Norfolk, Tyco and Vulcraft.

Norfolk was founded in 1866, when 44 German families from Wisconsin were attracted to the rich land open for settlement. A water-powered gristmill gave the area an economic base that soon encouraged other merchant ventures. By 1881, citizens organized the village of Norfolk a compounding of the name of the nearby North Fork River. Legend has it that Post Office authorities assuming the name was misspelled changed it to Norfolk. To this day natives of the area have not given up the original name and still pronounce it “Norfork”.

Norfolk is the boyhood home of the famous late night entertainer Johnny Carson and Thurl Ravenscroft (the voice of Tony the Tiger). Memorabilia and memorable shows from Carson’s legendary television career are displayed at the Elkhorn Valley Museum and Research Center.

Recreational activities abound in and around Norfolk. Amenities include golf courses, the YMCA, city and county parks, swimming pools, campgrounds, horseshoes and sand volleyball courts. Norfolk is also the beginning of the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail from Norfolk to O’Neill, Nebraska. There is also great hunting around the area thanks to Wildlife Management Areas in the region and private hunting preserves. Some of the many annual events you can enjoy throughout the year are the Ethnic Festival, Big Bang Boom 4th of July, area county fairs and rodeos, LaVitsef Festival, Miss Nebraska USA and concerts and community theater productions.

Norfolk offers many education options, public and private (religious based) K-12 schools along with Northeast Community College.

Learn more about Norfolk, Nebraska by viewing the following websites:

• Norfolk, Nebraska
• Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce
• Visit Norfolk

Tilden

• Mayor - Steve Rutjens
• City Clerk – Patricia Borgelt
• City Officials – Jeremy Jensen, Jerry Johnson, T.J. Halsey, Allen Smidt, Duane Warneke, Ron Knight

In 1868, Crandell Hopkins was the first to claim land at this location. Within ten years nearly 200 settlers from the east as well as German and Swiss immigrants lived in the area. The settlement was still quite isolated until 1879 when the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad extended its line from Norfolk and Battle Creek. Seizing the economic opportunity, the community built a large depot for the railroad where Tilden is now located.

The local economy is a mix of ag production, construction and commuting to jobs in surrounding communities. The major employers are Rutjens Construction and the Tilden Community Hospital.

Tilden offers affordable housing, a good retail mix of products and services, good schools and a safe, small town lifestyle. Health care is provided by the Tilden Community Hospital, offering a variety of out patient services and in patient care. Recent community improvements include the renovation of our City Auditorium, a new Tilden Bank building and our new state of the art library, a generous gift from Raymond & Marjorie Whitwer. An assisted living facility is being planned & construction will begin later this summer.

National Baseball Hall of Fame player, Richie Ashburn, is a Tilden native and is remembered in the community with the Richie Ashburn Park and Memorial Field. 2004 was the kick off of the first annual Prairie Days Festival celebrating our pioneer past and our faith in the future. This year is your 7th year for the event. Saturday entertainment includes the “Confederate Railroad.” You can find no place better to live, work and relax than our town Tilden.

Learn more about Madison, Nebraska by viewing the following websites:

• Tilden, Nebraska