Edison Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Edison Area Cameras

Village · Furnas County · Population 111 (2020 census) · ZIP 68936 · Founded 1880 · Peak population 334 (1910)

About Edison

Edison is a village of 111 in the Republican valley in Furnas County, between Arapahoe and Oxford. US 136 begins at US 6/34 just north of town, turns east in Edison and runs to Oxford; Edison is also the western end of the Heritage Highway.

History

The Edison post office opened on February 27, 1880, as the Burlington's valley line was built through, and it was named for Edward "Eddie" Rohr, son of early storekeeper Robert H. Rohr, not for Thomas Edison. By 1890 the village had about 125 people, a flour mill and drug, hardware and general stores. Edison incorporated as a village in 1907 and reached its largest population, 334, in 1910. In 1940 it had a high school, the Edison Echo, a farmers' co-op elevator and a silica plant.

In 1896 District 102 built a schoolhouse 14 by 16 feet about 3 miles southeast of town, called the smallest in Nebraska; classes ended in 1935, and the building was moved to Main Street. The 1935 flood filled the streets, and a high-water marker placed in 1936 stands in a small park where US 136 turns.

Highways and trails through Edison

Route	One way	Other way
US 136Begins at US 6/34 just north of town and turns east in Edison	East and southeast to Oxford (about 8 mi) and Harlan County	West end at US 6/34

Nearby towns

Arapahoe	about 7 mi west-northwest	US 136 and US 6/34
Oxford	about 8 mi east-southeast	US 136
Beaver City	about 10 mi south-southwest	County roads
Holbrook	about 12 mi west	US 6/34
Hendley	about 14 mi southwest	County roads and NE 89
Stamford	about 14 mi southeast	US 136 and NE 46

Things to see

The Smallest Schoolhouse on Main Street (District 102, 1896) · the 1935 flood high-water marker in the small park where US 136 turns · Edison Christian Church · Edison Cemetery, about a mile northwest · the Oxford WMA, about 3½ mi east-southeast

Schools and health care

Schools: Most of Edison is in Southern Valley Schools (district 33-0540): Southern Valley Elementary (PK–6) and Southern Valley Junior/Senior High (7–12), on a rural campus on NE 89 between Beaver City and Stamford (Oxford mailing address), (308) 868-2222; part of the village is in Arapahoe Public Schools

Health care: No clinic in Edison; nearest: Arapahoe Medical Clinic (Tri Valley), 305 Nebraska Ave., Arapahoe, (308) 962-8495, about 7 mi; hospital: Tri Valley Health System (Cambridge Memorial Hospital), 1305 US 6 & 34, Cambridge, (308) 697-3329, about 20 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Nebraska State Gazetteer (1890); Who's Who in Nebraska, Furnas County (1940); Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names (1925); Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society and NEGenWeb Furnas County; Furnas County website and 2025 Comprehensive Plan; History Nebraska and its historical markers; National Register of Historic Places; Nebraska Game and Parks; U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Nebraska Department of Revenue; Nebraska Library Commission; school, hospital and city websites. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.