Nebraska

Thurston

6,773
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Thurston

Thurston, Nebraska, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 31. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 6,773.

Its recorded population peaked at 10,462 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 35 percent.

On the ground today, 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20206,773
20106,940
20007,171
19906,936
19807,186
19706,942
19607,237
19508,590
194010,243
193010,462
19209,589
19108,704
19006,517
18903,176
1880109
187031
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Thurston

National Register of Historic Places listings in Thurston, Nebraska.

Picotte, Dr. Susan, Memorial Hospital
Walthill
Blackbird Hill
Macy
Thurston County Courthouse
Pender
First Thurston County Courthouse
Pender
Picotte, Susan La Flesche, House
Walthill
Browse all Nebraskahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Thurston County, Nebraska

This page charts the census history of Thurston County, Nebraska. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Thurston

When does Thurston first appear in the US census?
Thurston, Nebraska first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 31.
What is the population of Thurston?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Thurston had a recorded population of 6,773.
When did Thurston's population peak?
Thurston's recorded population peaked at 10,462 in 1930.
How many historic places are in Thurston?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Thurston, Nebraska.
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