Surrounding Areas

Not just Minden. There are some other pretty great places around here, too.

​Kearney is a friendly, progressive, clean, and welcoming city! Located in the heart of the beautiful state of Nebraska—1733 miles from both the east and west coasts— Kearney is accessible from anywhere. The University of Nebraska at Kearney offers a diverse culture not often found in smaller, rural communities. There are many fine parks, restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment venues in Kearney including the Merryman Performing Arts Center, the World Theatre, and the Kearney High School Concert Hall and Theater to name a few. The Museum of Nebraska Art is also found in Kearney. With a plethora of friendly people and a whole host of unique things to do for fun, you’ll quickly be able to see why Kearney is one of the most visited cities in Nebraska!

Hastings, Nebraska is a rural community rooted in hometown values and civic pride that maintains the quality of life, through special places, cultural offerings, and a stable economy. Hastings has a population of 24,907, is centrally located, easily accessible, and recognized for its sprawling parks, cultural activities, historic architecture, and first-class education, medical and sporting facilities.

It’s in Hastings that you’ll find Hastings College, one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges; the Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History and Theatre — showing films daily on a screen that’s five stories tall and 70 feet wide; a 5-acre water park; a bustling downtown district and much more. 

Hastings welcomes birders from around the world who wish to take in the spectacular annual migration of cranes and waterfowl as they stopover along the Platte River and in the Rainwater Basin each March, is home of the Nebraska Amateur Softball Association’s Smith Softball Complex and the site of a premier 2.1-mile road racing course called Motorsport Park Hastings.

Hastings was born in 1872 when the St. Joseph and Denver City Railroads crossed near the small homestead of determined English settler Walter Micklen.  Historical markers for both the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express can be found nearby. Hastings is recognized as the “Official Birthplace of Kool-Aid,” as it was invented here in 1927 by Edwin Perkins. 

Grand Island is Nebraska’s largest city outside of the Omaha & Lincoln Metropolitan area; it’s the third largest retail trade center in Nebraska. Local government is handled by the Mayor, City Council, and County Board of Supervisors. Grand Island is a three-time All-American City (1955, 1967 & 1981), and was named Outstanding Nebraska Community in 1997. World Trade Magazine has ranked Grand Island 9th in the Top 10 List of Smaller Communities with an excellent quality of life.

The city is served by 19 public and 7 private schools. Post-secondary educational institutions include Central Community College, College Park – (Doane & Bellevue Adult Education Facility), and the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center. 56 churches are in and around Grand Island.

If you were looking for someplace that embodied the kind of values America was built on – hard work, education, common sense, care for others – you wouldn’t have to look further than Holdrege, Nebraska.

Located near the geographic midpoint of the country, Holdrege is one of those towns where all the downtown intersections are paved in brick. The churches near downtown – and there are many – are venerable and substantial, with traditional steeples and stained glass windows, many referencing having been founded in the 1880s or 90s. The trees are old and big – ash and maple and oak and elm – and the houses have spacious, well-kept lawns and generous, shady porches.

A community of about 5,600, Holdrege is the county seat of Phelps County and thus houses the County Courthouse in addition to a beautiful 1930s Post Office and City building as well as a whole collection of downtown commercial buildings with arched windows on the second story and fancy brickwork crenellations.

We are home to two significant manufacturers — BD, an international manufacturer, and marketer of medical equipment and supplies (in Holdrege, the primary product is diabetic syringes); and Allmand Brothers, a worldwide exporter of construction equipment, including the company’s signature light stands. We also have a significant economic impact from healthcare, agriculture, and related industries, professional services, and retail.

The City provides all basic amenities, including police and fire protection, utilities, parks, and recreation, streets and roads, and works with other entities to provide excellent schools, healthcare facilities, the library, a performing arts center, and other services.

Axtell

Axtell has shown great signs of progress in the last few years. In the center of Axtell, you will find the newly remodeled Axtell Community School. You will also find a newly remodeled Community Hall and on the south end of the main street, you will see the new grocery store. Axtell also has new areas of housing development for the growing community. The industrial tract is on the west side of town and includes the local Thunderhead Brewery.

The school and churches are hubs of the community, which still have the small-town, Midwestern lifestyle desired by many. Basic economic activities in Axtell include farming and farm-related occupations. In addition to the local businesses, Axtell is known for Mosaic – Bethphage Village of Axtell, which began providing services for the developmentally disabled in 1913.

Axtell is governed by a village board consisting of five members. The Village Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 am until 11 am and 1 pm until 3 pm and can be reached at (308) 743-2437.

Heartwell

Heartwell is conveniently located between Minden and Hastings on Hwy 6 & 34. With a newly-built Community Center, your group or family reunion would have a wonderful facility for gathering.

For more information on Heartwell, contact the Village office:
205 Main St.
Heartwell, NE 68945
(308) 563-2204

Norman

With a population of only 48, Norman doesn’t have much to offer in the way of services. But that doesn’t mean you won’t get a warm welcome when you get to town! If you’re looking to get out of the hustle and bustle of the big city, this is the place for you: quiet.

With a population of approximately 350 people, Wilcox is the very definition of a peaceful small town. And yet, there are still some great things to do!

Wilcox has a Fall Festival every year on the third Saturday of September.  Several activities take place throughout that day, such as hobby and craft booths, an antique car display, a parade, games, and a Firemen’s BBQ in the evening. Every October, Wilcox has the Pheasant Country Music Show which has featured several different country music acts over the years. This event is sponsored by the Wilcox Community Improvement Association. The community also hosts an Annual Easter Egg Hunt, and Independence Day celebrations.

For more information on happenings in the town of Wilcox, contact the Village Clerk:

107 W. Sapp St.
Wilcox, NE 68982
(308) 478-5510

PO Box 375
325 N Colorado Ave
Minden, NE 68959

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