Sterling, Nebraska

{{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Sterling, Nebraska |settlement_type = Village |nickname = |motto = "Small Town...Big Heart"<ref name="Sterling Nebraska">{{cite web|url= http://www.ci.sterling.ne.us/|title= Sterling Nebraska|publisher= Sterling Nebraska |accessdate= October 19, 2012}}</ref>

|image_skyline = Sterling, Nebraska Broadway from Main N side 1.JPG |image_caption = Downtown Sterling: Broadway |image_flag = |image_seal =

|image_map = Johnson_County_Nebraska_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Sterling_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location of Sterling, Nebraska

|unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 18, 2022}}</ref> |area_total_km2 = 1.05 |area_land_km2 = 1.05 |area_water_km2 = 0.00 |area_total_sq_mi = 0.41 |area_land_sq_mi = 0.41 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.00

|population_as_of = 2020 |population_est = 486 |pop_est_as_of = 2021 |population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref> |population_total = 482 |population_density_km2 = auto  |timezone = Central (CST) |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 1201 |coordinates = {{coord|40|27|40|N|96|22|39|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 68443 |area_code = 402 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 31-47150<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2399896<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2399896}}</ref> |website = [http://www.ci.sterling.ne.us/ http://www.ci.sterling.ne.us/] |footnotes = |pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> }}

'''Sterling''' is a village in Johnson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 482 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>

==History== Sterling was platted in 1870 when the Atchison and Nebraska Railroad was extended to that point.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/johnson/sterling/ | title=Sterling, Hall County | publisher=University of Nebraska | work=Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies | accessdate=August 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=InM_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA121 | title=History of Hamilton and Clay Counties, Nebraska, Volume 1 | publisher=S.J. Clarke Publishing Company | author=Burr, George L. | year=1921 | pages=121}}</ref> The village was named after Sterling, Illinois.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=27589|title=Profile for Sterling, Nebraska, NE|publisher= ePodunk|accessdate= October 19, 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of {{convert|0.41|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1900= 782 |1910= 714 |1920= 804 |1930= 702 |1940= 640 |1950= 547 |1960= 471 |1970= 476 |1980= 526 |1990= 451 |2000= 507 |2010= 476 |2020= 480 |estyear=2021 |estimate=486 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> {{increase}} |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref> }}

===2010 census=== As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 24, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 476 people, 206 households, and 126 families residing in the village. The population density was {{convert|1161.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 229 housing units at an average density of {{convert|558.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 99.8% White and 0.2% from other races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 206 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age in the village was 40.8 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

===2000 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 507 people, 223 households, and 134 families residing in the village. The population density was {{convert|1,253.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 234 housing units at an average density of {{convert|578.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 98.62% White, 0.39% Native American, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 223 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the village was $30,313, and the median income for a family was $43,036. Males had a median income of $28,839 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,302. About 4.5% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 19.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==

===Annual cultural events=== The Johnson County Fair is an annual event held each year in August. The event includes parades, carnival rides, livestock shows and exhibits, arts and crafts, and a softball tournament.<ref name="Sterling Nebraska"/>

The Antique Tractor & Machinery Show is an annual event held each year in August and is sponsored by the Deer Creek Sodbusters, a club dedicated to the preservation of America's agricultural heritage. The event began in 1983 as a plowing bee, and is now an antique show with family entertainment.<ref name="Sterling Nebraska"/> The event received national recognition in 1999 when it was officially designed a "Local Legacy" by the U.S. Library of Congress.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/NE/200003268.html|title= Deer Creek Sodbusters Antique Machinery Show|publisher= The Library of Congress |accessdate= October 19, 2012}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation== The Wirth Brothers Lake is a twenty-seven acre lake located nine miles from Sterling. The area offers tent camping, fishing, and an archery range.<ref name="Sterling Nebraska"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://nrdrec.org/area.php?image=wirth_brothers|title= Wirth Brothers Lake |publisher= Nebraska’s NRDs |accessdate= October 19, 2012}}</ref>

==Notable persons== *Hal Borland, author and editor. *Gail Kopplin, member of the Nebraska Legislature.

==Education== Sterling is part of the Sterling Public Schools district. The district has an elementary school, middle school and high school. Students attend Sterling High School.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sterlingjets.org/|title= Sterling Public Schools|publisher= Sterling Public Schools|accessdate= October 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/nebraska/sterling/sterling-high-school/|title=Sterling Public Schools |publisher= education.com |accessdate= October 19, 2012}}</ref>thumb|Sign featuring team state championships won by the Sterling High School Jets in Sterling, Nebraska.

==References== <references />

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.ci.sterling.ne.us/index.htm Sterling, Nebraska homepage] * [http://www.sterlingjets.org/ Sterling Public Schools] * [http://www.city-data.com/city/Sterling-Nebraska.html City-Data.com] * [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=27589 ePodunk: profile for Sterling, Nebraska]

Category:Villages in Johnson County, Nebraska Category:Villages in Nebraska