Arthur, Nebraska

History

Arthur was founded in 1914 as the planned seat of the newly formed Arthur County. The town took its name from Arthur County, which was named for President Chester A. Arthur. Arthur was incorporated as a village in 1944.

Historic sites

Two sites in Arthur are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Pilgrim Holiness Church was built in 1928 out of straw bales, in response to the region's dearth of trees or construction sod. The First Arthur County Courthouse and Jail complex was built in 1914-15; the courthouse is billed as the smallest ever built in the United States. Both sites are now maintained by the Arthur County Historical Society.

Geography

Arthur is located at 41°34′20″N 101°41′27″W (41.572244, -101.690738), in the Nebraska Sandhills.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.31 square miles (0.80 km²), all of it land.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Arthur has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 117 people, 61 households, and 35 families residing in the village. The population density was 377.4 inhabitants per square mile (145.7/km²). There were 82 housing units at an average density of 264.5 per square mile (102.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.1% White and 0.9% Asian.

There were 61 households of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.6% were non-families. 42.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 23% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.60.

The median age in the village was 52.5 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 13.7% were from 25 to 44; 34.2% were from 45 to 64; and 28.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 51.3% male and 48.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 145 people, 62 households, and 43 families residing in the village. The population density was 460.5 people per square mile (180.6/km²). There were 88 housing units at an average density of 279.5 per square mile (109.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.93% White, 0.69% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.69% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.

There were 62 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the village, the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $24,821, and the median income for a family was $31,458. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,196. There were 13.7% of families and 18.4% of the population living below the poverty line, including 20.8% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Transportation

The Arthur Municipal Airport is located about one mile (about a kilometer and a half) southwest of Arthur's central business district. The runways are unpaved. The airport handles about 25 operations per year.