Love My Community: Beaver Crossing
When early pioneers crossed the central Great Plains in the late summer heat, the view from their wagons was flatlands, great swaths of dry prairie grass, bland colors and monotonous landscapes. For days on end, it rarely changed. Imagine, then, how their eyes drank in the many shades of green as they came upon the rich, fertile oasis of what is now the town of Beaver Crossing.
As they stopped to soak in cool shade under tall trees, they knew they’d found it: the good life they had longed for.
Large shade trees, like those early settlers enjoyed while passing through, are a hallmark of the Beaver Crossing landscape.
Thousands of acres surrounded them, blessed with flowing artesian springs from a vast underground source. Settlers looking for agricultural land reaped success. Over time, business would boom as well, thanks to the springs.
But by the 1920s, it became clear that the water was far from bottomless, leading to the end of the boom and great struggles for the town and its people. Other troubles followed, but the town would survive, a testament to the strong spirit of the original settlers and the people who call it home today.
The Quintessential Small Town
The Beaver Crossing of today, just 30 miles east of Lincoln, retains its early character. Walking along the streets, you notice everyday life, from people shopping at the hardware store to ladies getting pampered at the local salon. Neighbors chat with each other from yard to yard, their beautiful Victorian homes in the background. Add in local baseball and other sports venues, a picturesque park and campgrounds, churches, a post office and a volunteer fire department, and you may wonder if you’ve landed in a Norman Rockwell painting.
This is the kind of place that’s perfect for raising a family and loving your neighbors, exactly what people here have been doing for many generations.
A Pioneering Past
The Beaver Crossing area became a common stop for drivers on the Pony Express and pioneers traveling along the Oregon, California and Overland Trails.
Like many rural U.S. towns, Beaver Crossing has thrived through determination, not just neighborly deeds. Its spirit, rooted before it was a town, contributed to America’s westward expansion.
In its early days, it was a crossing point for the Oregon, California, and Overland Trails at Beaver Creek. Pioneer families and Pony Express riders passing between 1862 and 1871 likely stopped there to service animals, repair wagons, gather supplies, and send letters. If trips were difficult, they could find refuge in the local saloon.
Rumor had it that the new railroad would reach the area quickly, so a town plat was drawn up in 1875. Though the trains didn’t arrive for another 13 years, the area continued to grow. The flowing artesian wells that sprang up all over town meant both farming and business flourished. Two canneries, a bustling flour mill, and small businesses ensured locals and those passing through had their needs met.
The Boom Times
By 1888, over 200 people lived in this frontier town, which reached a population of 1,000 by 1910, the highest ever. The town built a lake and amphitheater, and annual summer picnics became a tradition. By 1925, up to 3,000 visitors attended summer weekends from Seward County.
The 1930s brought major change. Overuse and Dust Bowl droughts dried artesian springs, impacting farms and industry. Canneries closed as gardens dried, and population declined as farm families struggled without water. Despite this, the determination of the original settlers kept Beaver Crossing alive.
Today: A Friendly Way of Life
Carrying the Next Generation Forward
Image: Titus Petersen running with the American flag during Relay for America. Photo credit: Mike Wainwright Photography
The determination to succeed shows up in the younger generation too. This summer, incoming EMF High School junior Titus Petersen traveled to Belleville, Kansas, to take part in Relay for America, a 3,000-mile relay that carries the American flag coast to coast to honor veterans and bring people together.
Titus set out to run two segments and ended up running a full marathon, nearly 30 miles, after the runners around him encouraged him to keep going. He ran in memory of his grandfather, Glen, who served in the National Guard, saying, “Before I started my run, I knew in my heart that I was running for my grandpa. I loved having the opportunity to run for our country and help unite America.”
It’s the kind of spirit that Nebraska has been built on since its earliest days, and we’re proud to see it carried forward by the next generation.
Farmers & Merchants Bank in Beaver Crossing
The banking history in Beaver Crossing has changed along with the town itself. The original State Bank was incorporated in 1887. After changing hands a number of times, it became Farmers & Merchants Bank in 1989.
Today, we take great pride in being a small-town bank with big-bank features for farmers and small businesses in Beaver Crossing. The people who work at the bank are neighbors and friends of customers, each team member bringing a bit of the history and spirit of the community with them to their jobs.