Brownson Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Brownson Area Cameras

Unincorporated community · Cheyenne County

About Brownson

Brownson is an unincorporated community in Cheyenne County, on US 30 and the Union Pacific about 8 miles west-northwest of Sidney and 11 miles east of Potter. I-80 exit 48 connects to US 30 here by the short Link 17C.

History

Brownson began as a Union Pacific flag station, named, according to an 1882 railroad guide, for a Union Pacific general freight agent. Its post office, spelled "Bronson," operated from 1887 to 1895; in 1890 Frederick Price was postmaster and E. V. S. Pomeroy kept the store. In 1942 the Army built the Sioux Ordnance Depot to the northwest, and the Sidney and Lowe Railroad, which ends at Brownson, served it until the depot closed in 1967. The Brownson Viaduct, which carried a spur over US 30 and the railroad, was on the National Register until it was demolished.

Highways and trails through Brownson

Route	One way	Other way
US 30The Lincoln Highway, beside the Union Pacific	East to Sidney	West to Point of Rocks and Potter
I-80Exit 48, by Link 17C	East to Sidney	West to Potter and Kimball

Nearby towns

Point of Rocks	about 7 mi west-northwest	US 30
Huntsman	about 8 mi east-northeast	County roads
Sidney	about 8 mi east-southeast	US 30 or I-80
Lorenzo	about 9 mi south	County roads
Potter	about 11 mi west-northwest	US 30 or I-80

Things to see

the Sioux Army Depot marker near Brownson · the 1942 Fire and Guard Headquarters of the depot (National Register), northwest of Sidney

Health care

Nearest hospital: Sidney Regional Medical Center, about 8 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; A. T. Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Grant L. Shumway, History of Western Nebraska and Its People (1921); Lilian L. Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names (1925); Nebraska State Gazetteer (1890); Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; NEGenWeb Cheyenne County; History Nebraska and its markers; National Register nominations; FortWiki; National Weather Service; Nebraska Department of Transportation; City of Sidney; Cheyenne County; Sidney Sun-Telegraph; KNEB; school, library and village sources; Visit Nebraska. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.