Broken Bow was platted in 1882. Its name, likely suggested by a settler who found a broken bow in a field at the site of a former Indian camping ground, was submitted by homesteader Wilson Hewitt to the U.S. Post Office Department. The railroad was built through Broken Bow in 1884, and the town was incorporated as a village that same year. Broken Bow was incorporated as a city of the second class in 1888.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land. The geographic center of Nebraska lies approximately 10 miles northwest of Broken Bow.
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,559 people, 1,575 households, and 909 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 1,730 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White, 0.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population. There were 1,575 households of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couplesliving together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age in the city was 41.9 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,491 people, 1,509 households, and 917 families living in the city. The population density was 2,148.8 people per square mile. There were 1,721 housing units at an average density of 1,059.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 98.22% White, 0.17% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population. There were 1,509 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88. In the city, the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males. As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $29,355, and the median income for a family was $37,750. Males had a median income of $26,552 versus $20,132 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,571. About 9.6% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Nebraska's largest cattle feedlot, the Adams Land and Cattle south lot, with a capacity of 85,000 head, is located 2 miles south of Broken Bow. In the past, some locals have feared the potential of environmental damage from the feedlot, but the state's environmental agency has found the company in compliance with state standards. A family owned feed store, Evans Feed, opened in 1927. The town also has a grocery and a nursing home.
