Although we’re definitely humble, there’s no doubt that Nebraskans also like to stand out. These Nebraska towns all have fun nicknames or mottos that set them apart from the rest or remind visitors of what’s most important there.
- Crofton - “The Best Little Town By A Dam Site”
By Ammodramus (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons This is my favorite, and it’s the one that sent me looking for other funny town mottos. The dam site is, of course, the nearby Gavins Point Dam.
- Gilead - “There’s a Balm In Gilead”
By Ammodramus (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons This refers to a beautiful African American spiritual song, which itself refers to a passage from the Old Testament about salvation.
- O’Neill - “Nebraska’s Irish Capital”
By Ammodramus (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The home of the world’s largest permanent shamrock - a giant street painting lovingly cared for by the city - is unsurprisingly the center of all things Irish in Nebraska.
- Greeley - “Population 466 Friendly People - And a Few Old Crabs”
By Ammodramus (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The number has changed over the years, but the ratio of crabs to people seems to have stayed the same. It’s always just a few.
- Harrison - “Nebraska’s Top Town”
By Ammodramus (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Clever, Harrison. The town is in the far northwestern tip of the state, making it at the very “top” when you’re looking at a map.
- Seward - “Nebraska’s 4th Of July City” or “America’s Fourth of July Small Town USA”
By Ammodramus (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons They aren’t just claiming this title randomly. The town was officially awarded the second title by Congress in 1979.
- North Platte - “Little Chicago”
By Smallbones (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons This one came as a surprise to me; I’d never heard North Platte referred to like this. The town was a particularly rowdy spot in the 1920s - so much so that it was likened to Chicago. Yikes!
- Wilber - “The Czech Capital of the USA”
By Ammodramus (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Wilber’s claim isn’t only for vanity’s sake; the town’s title was officially bestowed on it in 1987 by then-president Ronald Reagan. If you’ve ever spent any time in sweet little Wilber, you’ll understand why.
- Ansley - “Push, That’s Ansley”
By Ammodramus - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9863068 The cute little village now uses the motto “Some Bigger, None Better!" but the above was used in the town’s early days. It dates back to when Ansley was an important location along the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad.
- Curtis - “Nebraska’s Easter City”
By Ammodramus - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10481561 This southwestern Nebraska town puts on a big Easter pageant every year which has earned it this colorful title.
- Kimball - “The High Point of Nebraska”
By Ammodramus (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Because Kimball is the town with the highest elevation in the state, this is the actual, literal truth.
- Lincoln - “Hartford of the West”
See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons I couldn’t find much information on this one other than in its early days, Lincoln considered itself metropolitan enough to be compared to the fabulous Hartford, CT.
These are far from the only great town mottos in Nebraska – in fact, I came across tons in my research. Do you know we’ve got the Alfalfa Capital of the World (Cozad), the Kolach Capital of the World (Verdigre), the Honey Capital of the Nation (Randolph), and the Limestone Capital of the world (Weeping Water) all right here in Nebraska? What’s your favorite Nebraska town motto?
By Ammodramus (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
This is my favorite, and it’s the one that sent me looking for other funny town mottos. The dam site is, of course, the nearby Gavins Point Dam.
This refers to a beautiful African American spiritual song, which itself refers to a passage from the Old Testament about salvation.
The home of the world’s largest permanent shamrock - a giant street painting lovingly cared for by the city - is unsurprisingly the center of all things Irish in Nebraska.
The number has changed over the years, but the ratio of crabs to people seems to have stayed the same. It’s always just a few.
Clever, Harrison. The town is in the far northwestern tip of the state, making it at the very “top” when you’re looking at a map.
By Ammodramus (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
They aren’t just claiming this title randomly. The town was officially awarded the second title by Congress in 1979.
By Smallbones (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
This one came as a surprise to me; I’d never heard North Platte referred to like this. The town was a particularly rowdy spot in the 1920s - so much so that it was likened to Chicago. Yikes!
Wilber’s claim isn’t only for vanity’s sake; the town’s title was officially bestowed on it in 1987 by then-president Ronald Reagan. If you’ve ever spent any time in sweet little Wilber, you’ll understand why.
By Ammodramus - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9863068
The cute little village now uses the motto “Some Bigger, None Better!" but the above was used in the town’s early days. It dates back to when Ansley was an important location along the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad.
By Ammodramus - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10481561
This southwestern Nebraska town puts on a big Easter pageant every year which has earned it this colorful title.
Because Kimball is the town with the highest elevation in the state, this is the actual, literal truth.
See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
I couldn’t find much information on this one other than in its early days, Lincoln considered itself metropolitan enough to be compared to the fabulous Hartford, CT.
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