Platte Center Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Platte Center Area Cameras

Village · Platte County · Population 333 (2020 census) · ZIP 68653 · Founded 1880 · Peak population 525 (1930)

About Platte Center

Platte Center is a village of 333 people (2020) near the middle of Platte County, at 1,536 feet, about 10 miles northwest of Columbus; a short spur leads east to US 81. Platte Center Elementary (preschool to grade 6) is part of Lakeview Community Schools. The nearest clinics are in Columbus and Humphrey. Platte Center is on Central Time.

History

A post office opened here on December 8, 1879, and on January 22, 1880, the Omaha, Niobrara & Black Hills Railroad laid out the town, named for its place near the center of the county. Sources give its incorporation as 1880 or 1885. The population peaked at 525 in 1930. Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther was born here on March 3, 1899; he was Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1953 to 1956, then president of the American Red Cross, and a noted contract bridge authority.

Highways and trails through Platte Center

Route	One way	Other way
US 81About a mile east by spur	North to Tarnov and Humphrey	South to Columbus

Nearby towns

Oconee	about 5 mi south-southwest	County roads
Tarnov	about 5 mi north	US 81
Lakeview	about 6 mi east-southeast	County roads
Monroe	about 7 mi southwest	County roads
Columbus	about 10 mi southeast	US 81
Duncan	about 10 mi south	County roads
Humphrey	about 10 mi north	US 81
Creston	about 13 mi north-northeast	County roads

Things to see

the History Nebraska marker for Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther at the City Auditorium, 315 4th St. · St. Joseph Catholic Church, 155 A St. · the Fourth of July celebration, several days long: frog jumps and turtle races, a cookout, mud volleyball, a 5K, the parade (the 54th in 2026), the Fire Department’s demolition derby (the 51st in 2026) and a firefighters’ water fight

Schools and health care

Schools: Platte Center Elementary, 155 Platte St. (Lakeview Community Schools, PreK–6)

Health care: Hospital: Columbus Community Hospital, 4600 38th St., Columbus, about 10 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.