Enders Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Unincorporated community · Chase County · Population 37 (2020 census) · ZIP 69027 · Founded 1890

About Enders

Enders is an unincorporated community of 37 (a census-designated place) in southern Chase County, where NE 61 leaves US 6, about 7 miles southeast of Imperial (about 10 by highway). It sits just north of Enders Reservoir; the dam is about 2½ miles south-southeast of the village.

History

The Lincoln Land Company, the Burlington's town-site company, laid out Enders about 1890 and named it for Peter Enders, a local rancher. The post office opened in 1890 (a genealogical society list says an earlier office called Martin was renamed Enders that year), closed in 1893 and reopened in 1907 under George W. Brown, whose family kept it for three generations. The town later moved about 2 miles west to its present site; the deed for the new town site is dated 1908. The first church, Pioneer Church, is now the Church of the Brethren.

The Bureau of Reclamation built Enders Dam on Frenchman Creek in 1947–51 as part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. The earth dam is 134 feet high with a 2,603-foot crest, and the reservoir holds up to 34,500 acre-feet, with about 1,700 surface acres and 26 miles of shoreline. Irrigation releases stopped after 2002, and the lake level falls in dry years.

Highways and trails through Enders

Route	One way	Other way
US 6East–west through Enders	East to Wauneta (about 9 mi) and McCook	Northwest with NE 61 to Imperial
NE 61Leaves US 6 at Enders	South to Benkelman (about 28 mi)	Northwest with US 6 to Imperial

Nearby towns

Imperial	about 7 mi northwest	US 6 and NE 61
Wauneta	about 9 mi east-southeast	US 6
Champion	about 11 mi west	US 6 and S-15A
Palisade	about 24 mi east-southeast	US 6
Benkelman	about 28 mi south	NE 61

Things to see

Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area, with campgrounds at Area A, Area B and Center Dam/Hannibal Hollow (electric, basic and primitive sites, showers and a dump station), boat ramps at No Name Bay and Area A, a beach, shelters and a fish-cleaning station; a park entry permit is required, and about half the campsites can be reserved at OutdoorNebraska.gov · fishing for walleye, white bass, wipers, crappie, northern pike and catfish · the Enders Reservoir WMA, 4,359 acres, and the 2,146-acre Enders Wildlife Refuge on the west end, closed to visitors in fall and winter · Enders Lake Golf Course, 9 holes

Schools and health care

Schools: Nearest schools: Chase County Schools: Chase County Elementary (PK–4), Chase County Middle School (5–8) and Chase County High School (9–12), all at 520 E. 9th St., Imperial, (308) 882-4304, about 7 mi

Health care: Nearest hospital: Chase County Community Hospital, 600 W. 12th St., Imperial, (308) 882-7111, a 15-bed critical access hospital, about 7 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Lilian L. Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names (1925); Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society; Chase County historical society pages (rootsweb) and Chase County tourism history; Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; History Nebraska (Chase County records and historical markers); Douglas County Historical Society; National Register of Historic Places (Chase County Courthouse and Wauneta Roller Mills nominations); Bureau of Reclamation; Nebraska Game and Parks; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Nebraska Department of Revenue; Nebraska Association of County Officials; Flatwater Free Press (2025); Village of Wauneta and City of Imperial; school, hospital and library websites. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.