Tamora, Nebraska

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Tamora
Census-designated place
Metal and concrete grain bins and elevators; cornfield in foreground
View of Tamora from the northeast
Tamora is located in Nebraska
Tamora
Tamora
Location within Nebraska
Coordinates: 40°53′38″N 97°13′30″W / 40.89389°N 97.22500°W / 40.89389; -97.22500Coordinates: 40°53′38″N 97°13′30″W / 40.89389°N 97.22500°W / 40.89389; -97.22500[1]
CountryUnited States
StateNebraska
CountySeward
First settled1879
Elevation
[1]
1,555 ft (474 m)
Population
 (1990)[2]
 • Total51
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
68434
Area code(s)402

Tamora (/təˈmɔːrə/ tə-MOR-ə) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Seward County, in the southeastern part of the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. The town presently consists of a large grain elevator complex and a small residential district, with a population of about 70.

History[]

In 1877, the Burlington Railroad extended its tracks westward from Seward, Nebraska. In 1879, four men each donated 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land for a townsite, in order to persuade the railroad to build a siding and station there.[3] A dispute arose over the name of the new town, since each of the four wanted it to bear his name. The name eventually chosen was a frontier pronunciation of "tomorrow", apparently because the selection of the name had to be deferred until later.[4]

Within three years of the town's founding, three grain elevators had been constructed.[3] In 1884, the population was estimated at 53; the town was incorporated in 1888.[5] Eventually, Tamora's commercial district consisted of over thirty businesses, including two banks and the Tamora Times newspaper.[3]

In 1892, an abortive attempt was made to bring the Seward County seat to Tamora. A group of local promoters purchased a quarter-block and began construction of a building that they hoped would become the courthouse. However, support for the idea failed to materialize, and the building project was abandoned. A few years later, an attempt was made to build an opera house on the unfinished foundation. This, too, failed; and the basement was eventually filled in.[5]

By 1920, Tamora had a population of over 200.[5] However, it lacked a fire department. Many of its commercial buildings were destroyed by fire and not replaced.[3] The population steadily declined, to a low of 50 in 1980.[6] The post office was closed in 1970.[7]

Even as the retail sector and the population declined, the grain storage and loading facilities were expanded. In 1962, the local farmers' cooperative built a concrete grain elevator; in 1964, they replaced a feed mill that had burned down. In 1978, they built one of the largest grain elevators in Nebraska.[5]

Disharmony on the village board led to a number of recall attempts and, eventually, a petition to unincorporate the town, which was rejected by the voters in a 1990 election.[5] Feuding on the board continued; and in 1997, Tamora's electors voted 30-6 in favor of unincorporation.[8]

In 1990, the last decennial census before its unincorporation, the population of Tamora was reported as 51.[2] In 2007, the population was estimated at 70.[3]

Geography[]

Tamora lies 6 miles (10 km) west of the county seat of Seward,[5] about halfway between Seward and Utica. It is located approximately one-half mile (0.8 km) south of U.S. Route 34,[9] on the BNSF Railway.[5]

Economy[]

Tamora has no commercial district. Its principal business is the grain elevator operated by United Farmers Cooperative. The elevator has unit train capability.[5] It has a capacity of 2,318,000 US bushels (81,700 m3), and its siding has space for 110 railroad cars.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report. Geographic Names Information System. 1979-03-09. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  2. ^ a b "Population of Nebraska incorporated places: Nebraska--1990 and 2000". Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e Seward County, Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey.[usurped!] Nebraska State Historical Society.[usurped!] August 2007. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  4. ^ Fitzpatrick, Lilian Linder (1925). "Nebraska Place-Names". University of Nebraska Department of English. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Ihde-Gray, Vickey. Tamora—Seward County. Nebraska... Our Towns Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  6. ^ "Population of Nebraska incorporated places, 1930 to 1980". Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  7. ^ "Place names for Seward County Nebraska". Seward County Nebraska. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  8. ^ Bauer, Scott. "Nebraska's Voters Often Reckless With Recalls". Los Angeles Times. 1999-10-17. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  9. ^ Nebraska Atlas & Gazetteer. Freeport, Maine: Delorme. 1st edition, 1996. p. 65.
  10. ^ "United Farmers Cooperative—Tamora, Nebraska". BNSF Grain Elevator Directory. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
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