Humphrey Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

City · Platte County · Population 857 (2020 census) · ZIP 68642 · Founded 1880 · Peak population 869 (1900)

About Humphrey

Humphrey is a city of 857 people (2020) in northern Platte County, at 1,670 feet just west of US 81; a short spur runs into town, and NE 91 crosses US 81 northeast of the city. Columbus is about 19 miles south-southeast and Norfolk about 24 miles north. Humphrey has Humphrey Public Schools, Archangels Catholic High School and St. Francis School, the Humphrey Public Library, Columbus Community Hospital’s Humphrey Medical Clinic, and an aquatic center that opened in 2024. Humphrey is on Central Time.

History

Humphrey was platted in 1880 when the Omaha, Niobrara & Black Hills Railroad was extended here, and it was named for Humphrey, New York, the first postmaster’s old hometown. The population reached 869 in 1900 and has stayed between about 740 and 870 since. In 2024 St. Francis High School and Holy Family High School in Lindsay closed their upper grades and merged into Archangels Catholic High School on the St. Francis campus. Musician Max Carl of Grand Funk Railroad and .38 Special grew up in Humphrey.

Highways and trails through Humphrey

Route	One way	Other way
US 81Just east of the city, with a spur into town	North to Madison and Norfolk	South to Platte Center and Columbus
NE 91Crosses US 81 northeast of the city	East to Creston and Leigh	West to Cornlea and Lindsay

Nearby towns

Cornlea	about 4 mi west	NE 91
Tarnov	about 5 mi south	US 81
Creston	about 6 mi east-northeast	NE 91
Madison	about 10 mi north	US 81
Platte Center	about 10 mi south	US 81
Lindsay	about 11 mi west	NE 91
Newman Grove	about 16 mi west-northwest	NE 91 and NE 45
Columbus	about 19 mi south-southeast	US 81

Things to see

Humphrey City Hall, 407 S. 4th St., on the National Register (1996) · the Humphrey Aquatic Center (2024), with zero-depth entry, a water playground and a slide · Steepleview Golf Course, 9 holes (1992), with an indoor simulator · Heritage Park, with picnic areas and campsites, and Veterans Park · St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 203 S. 5th St. · Humphrey Days in mid-June and the Highway 91 Expo each November

Schools and health care

Schools: Humphrey Public Schools; Archangels Catholic High School and St. Francis School, 300 S. 7th St., (402) 923-0818

Health care: Humphrey Medical Clinic (Columbus Community Hospital), 303 Main St., (402) 923-0412; Hospital: Columbus Community Hospital, 4600 38th St., Columbus, about 19 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Phillips, Past and Present of Platte County (1915); Curry, History of Platte County; Platte County (plattecounty.ne.gov); National Register; History Nebraska; Loup Power District; Nebraska Game and Parks; Columbus Community Hospital; Platte County Visitors Bureau; Norfolk Daily News; Columbus Telegram. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.