Brule Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

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Village · Keith County · Population 331 (2020 census) · ZIP 69127 · Founded 1886

About Brule

Brule is a village of 331 (2020) in western Keith County, on US 30 (the Lincoln Highway) and the Union Pacific north of the South Platte, about 9 miles west-southwest of Ogallala. I-80 exit 117 is about a mile south by Link 51A, and roads north of town lead to the south shore of Lake McConaughy.

History

Oregon and California Trail emigrants forded the South Platte near here at the Lower California Crossing and climbed California Hill, west of town. G. P. Beauvais opened a trading post nearby in 1849, and Diamond Springs was an Overland stage and Pony Express station from 1859. Brule was a Union Pacific siding and flag stop before retired Army Maj. Isaac Barton and his wife, Elizabeth, bought a quarter section from the railroad in January 1886; F. C. Flickinger platted the town that February, and Jacob E. Griffin became postmaster on August 27, 1886. The name honors the Brulé (Sicangu) Lakota, who camped here.

A bridge over the South Platte was begun in 1887 and a one-room school opened in 1888. The Union Pacific built a depot in 1907, the Congregational church was dedicated in 1908 on land the Bartons had set aside, and a grain elevator, a bank and a hotel followed about 1909. In 1928 Elizabeth Barton deeded the land for Barton Park. Brule's school joined Big Springs' in 1995 as South Platte Public Schools.

Highways and trails through Brule

Route	One way	Other way
US 30The Lincoln Highway, through the village	East to Ogallala (about 9 mi)	West to Big Springs (about 10 mi)
I-80Exit 117, about 1 mi south by Link 51A	East to Ogallala	West to Big Springs and the I-76 junction toward Denver

Nearby towns

Ogallala	about 9 mi east-northeast	US 30
Big Springs	about 10 mi west-southwest	US 30
Lemoyne	about 13 mi north-northeast	County roads and NE 61
Roscoe	about 16 mi east	US 30
Keystone	about 18 mi east-northeast	US 30 and county roads

Things to see

California Hill, on US 30 about 4–4½ mi west, where wagon ruts climb 240 feet in a mile and a half (National Register; marker and trail) · the Diamond Springs Stage Station Site, about 1 mi west of exit 117 (National Register; markers) · Barton Park · Brule Day, the first Saturday in August (August 1 in 2026), and the spring and fall gun shows · on the south shore of Lake McConaughy, Van's Lakeview Fishing Camp, Bayside Golf Club (18 holes) and Eagle Canyon Hideaway · Riverside Campground, 1000 S. State St.

Schools and health care

Schools: Brule is in South Platte Public Schools; its school (PK–12) is in Big Springs, 610 Plum St., (308) 889-3622

Health care: Nearest hospital: Ogallala Community Hospital (Banner Health), 2601 N. Spruce St., Ogallala, (308) 284-4011, an 18-bed critical access hospital, about 9 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Lilian L. Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names (1925); Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Nebraska State Gazetteer (1890–91); Keith County and City of Ogallala history pages; NEGenWeb Keith County (Keystone history); Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; History Nebraska and its markers; National Register nominations (Keystone Community Church, Brandhoefer Mansion, California Hill, Roscoe State Aid Bridge and others); Robert H. Mahnken, "Ogallala—Nebraska's Cowboy Capital" (Nebraska History, 1947); Andy Adams, The Log of a Cowboy (1903); Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District; Nebraska Game and Parks; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Nebraska DHHS rosters; 2026 Keith County travel guide; news reports (KOLN, KSNB). Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.