Richland Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Richland Area Cameras

Village · Colfax County · Population 70 (2020 census) · ZIP 68601 · Founded 1870s · Peak population 174 (1930)

About Richland

Richland is a village of 70 on US 30 and the Union Pacific main line in southwestern Colfax County, about 8 miles west of Schuyler and 8 miles east of Columbus. It uses a Columbus mailing address (ZIP 68601).

History

The El Dorado post office served the Western Stage line along the Platte, and on February 14, 1879, it was renamed Richland, possibly for the rich soil. The Union Pacific called its station here Benton, and in 1882 Andreas wrote of "Benton, formerly called Richland." The town was laid out on 40 acres north of the tracks; Fitzpatrick says it was platted in 1884 as Spitley, a name that did not stick.

Andreas noted that about 1870 the place had looked as promising as Schuyler, but it stayed a small trading point. The population peaked at 174 in 1930.

Highways and trails through Richland

Route	One way	Other way
US 30Lincoln Highway, through the village	East to Schuyler (about 8 mi)	West to Columbus (about 8 mi)

Nearby towns

Columbus	about 8 mi west	US 30
Schuyler	about 8 mi east	US 30
David City	about 14 mi southeast	County roads and NE 15
Rogers	about 16 mi east	US 30

Health care

Nearest hospitals in Columbus (about 8 mi) and CHI Health Schuyler (about 8 mi)

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names (1925); NEGenWeb Colfax County; History Nebraska; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Lower Elkhorn NRD; CHI Health. Distances marked "about" are estimates.