Ashton Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Ashton Area Cameras

Village · Sherman County · Population 198 (2020 census) · ZIP 68817 · Founded 1887 · Peak population 488 (1940)

About Ashton

Ashton is a village of 198 people (2020) on Oak Creek in eastern Sherman County, at about 2,038 feet, about 9 miles east-southeast of Loup City and 9 miles west of Farwell in Howard County. Ashton has the Polish Heritage Center and Museum, St. Francis Catholic Church, a bank, a grain elevator and a village office. Ashton is on Central Time.

History

The Burlington completed its Arcadia branch to Ashton in November 1887, and the town dates from then; settler John P. Taylor named it for his old home, Ashton, Illinois, and the village incorporated in 1889. The Polish Roman Catholic Union of America sponsored colonies that grew into Ashton, Farwell, Paplin, Loup City and Elba, and in 1890 the settlers here were mainly Polish immigrants. Ashton shipped 300,000 bushels of corn and 70 carloads of livestock that year. The village reached 488 people in 1940. Sherman County still has one of the highest shares of Polish Americans in the country.

Highways and trails through Ashton

Route	One way	Other way
NE 92Past the village	West to Loup City	East to Farwell and St. Paul

Nearby towns

Farwell	about 9 mi east-southeast	NE 92
Rockville	about 9 mi south-southwest	County roads
Loup City	about 9 mi west-northwest	NE 92
Elba	about 12 mi east-northeast	NE 92 and NE 11
Boelus	about 13 mi south-southeast	County roads and NE 58
Dannebrog	about 16 mi southeast	NE 58
Ravenna	about 16 mi south-southwest	NE 58 and NE 68
St. Paul	about 18 mi east	NE 92
Hazard	about 18 mi southwest	County roads and NE 10

Things to see

the Polish Heritage Center and Museum, 120 Howells Ave.: settlers’ photographs, Polish costumes and band instruments, genealogy records and a gift shop; Sundays 1–4 p.m. · St. Francis Catholic Church, 220 W. Carleton St., a mission of St. Josaphat in Loup City · Loup City, about 9 miles west-northwest

Schools and health care

Schools: No school in the village; nearby districts include Loup City Public Schools, (308) 745-0120

Health care: Nearest clinic: VCHS Medical Clinic – Loup City, 130 N. 6th St., (308) 745-0324, about 9 mi; hospitals in St. Paul and Ord

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Nebraska Who's Who (1940) county history; 1890–91 Nebraska State Gazetteer; NEGenWeb Sherman County (place names, after Fitzpatrick and Perkey); Sherman County and City of Loup City; History Nebraska (markers); National Register listings; U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; Nebraska Game and Parks; NEBRASKAland; Valley County Health System; SchoolDigger; Nebraska Secretary of State; KOLN 10/11; Fox Nebraska; Rural Radio Network. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.