Nebraska Highway 61
Encyclopedia
Nebraska Highway 61 is a highway in western Nebraska
. It is a north–south highway with a length of 234.82 miles (377.9 km). The southern terminus of Nebraska Highway 61 is at the Kansas
border south of Benkelman
, where the highway continues south as K-161. The northern terminus is at the South Dakota
border north of Merriman
, where the highway continues north as South Dakota Highway 73
.
. At Imperial, Highway 61 turns north and continues north until an intersection with Nebraska Highway 23
, where Highway 61 and Highway 23 turn west to go to Grant
. At Grant, Highway 23 goes north and continues north until Interstate 80
at Ogallala
. At I-80, an overlap with U.S. Highway 26 begins and they go north across the South Platte River
and intersect U.S. Highway 30.
Nebraska Highway 61, U.S. 26 and U.S. 30 then go west out of Ogallala, then Highway 61 and U.S. 26 turn north. Three miles later, U.S. 26 goes west while Highway 61 goes east. Highway 61 then turns north to cross the North Platte River
via Kingsley Dam
at the eastern end of Lake McConaughy
. It then intersects Nebraska Highway 92
and the two highways overlap as they enter the Sand Hills
until Arthur
. After Arthur, Highway 61 goes north until Nebraska Highway 2
. They overlap going west into Hyannis
, then Highway 61 continues north until Merriman
. At Merriman, Highway 61 intersects U.S. Highway 20 and overlap in town. Highway 61 continues north from Merriman past the Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
and ends at the South Dakota border.
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. It is a north–south highway with a length of 234.82 miles (377.9 km). The southern terminus of Nebraska Highway 61 is at the Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
border south of Benkelman
Benkelman, Nebraska
Benkelman, a city, is the county seat of Dundy County , Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,006 at the 2000 census. As of the 2010 census it has a population of 839-Geography:Benkelman is located at ....
, where the highway continues south as K-161. The northern terminus is at the South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
border north of Merriman
Merriman, Nebraska
Merriman is a village in Cherry County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 118 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Merriman is located at ....
, where the highway continues north as South Dakota Highway 73
South Dakota Highway 73
South Dakota Highway 73 is a state route that runs across western South Dakota. It begins at the Nebraska border north of Merriman, Nebraska, as a continuation of Nebraska Highway 61. It runs to the North Dakota border, where it continues as North Dakota Highway 49...
.
Route description
Nebraska Highway 61 begins at the Kansas border south of Benkelman. It goes north through farmland for one mile (1.6 km), then intersects U.S. Highway 34, with which it overlaps through Benkelman. It goes north from Benkelman to Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area, where it intersects U.S. Highway 6. They overlap north, then west into ImperialImperial, Nebraska
Imperial is a city in Chase County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,982 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chase County.-History:...
. At Imperial, Highway 61 turns north and continues north until an intersection with Nebraska Highway 23
Nebraska Highway 23
Nebraska Highway 23 is a highway in southwestern Nebraska. Its western terminus is on the Colorado border at Venango, where the highway continues west as Colorado State Highway 23. Its eastern terminus is at Holdrege at an intersection with U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 34.-Route...
, where Highway 61 and Highway 23 turn west to go to Grant
Grant, Nebraska
Grant is a city in, and county seat of, Perkins County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,225 at the 2000 census-Geography:Grant is located at ....
. At Grant, Highway 23 goes north and continues north until Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in Nebraska
In the U.S. state of Nebraska, Interstate 80 runs west from Omaha to the Wyoming state border, ultimately terminating in San Francisco, California. When it completed construction of the stretch of Interstate 80 spanning the state on October 19, 1974, Nebraska was the first state in the nation to...
at Ogallala
Ogallala, Nebraska
Ogallala is a city in Keith County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,737 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Keith County. In the days of the Nebraska Territory, the city was a stop on the Pony Express and later along the transcontinental railroad...
. At I-80, an overlap with U.S. Highway 26 begins and they go north across the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
and intersect U.S. Highway 30.
Nebraska Highway 61, U.S. 26 and U.S. 30 then go west out of Ogallala, then Highway 61 and U.S. 26 turn north. Three miles later, U.S. 26 goes west while Highway 61 goes east. Highway 61 then turns north to cross the North Platte River
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long counting its many curves, It travels about distance. Its course lies in the U.S...
via Kingsley Dam
Kingsley Dam
Kingsley Dam is located on the east side of Lake McConaughy in central Keith County, Nebraska, and is the second largest hydraulic fill dam in the world. It was built as part of the New Deal project. The dam is tall, long, and 1,100 wide at its base. On the east side of the dam is Lake Ogallala...
at the eastern end of Lake McConaughy
Lake McConaughy
Lake McConaughy is a reservoir on the North Platte River. It is located north of Ogallala, Nebraska, United States, near U.S. Highway 26 and Nebraska Highway 61. The reservoir was named for Charles W. McConaughy, a grain merchant and mayor of Holdrege, Nebraska, one of the leading promoters of...
. It then intersects Nebraska Highway 92
Nebraska Highway 92
Nebraska Highway 92 is a highway in Nebraska. Its western terminus is at the Wyoming border west of Lyman, Nebraska and its eastern terminus is in Omaha at the Missouri River, where it enters Iowa. Nebraska Highway 92 is part of a continuous 4-state "Highway 92" which begins in Torrington,...
and the two highways overlap as they enter the Sand Hills
Sand Hills (Nebraska)
The Sand Hills, often written Sandhills, is a region of mixed-grass prairie on grass-stabilized sand dunes in north-central Nebraska, covering just over one quarter of the state...
until Arthur
Arthur, Nebraska
Arthur is a village in Arthur County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 117 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Arthur County.-Geography:Arthur is located at ....
. After Arthur, Highway 61 goes north until Nebraska Highway 2
Nebraska Highway 2
Nebraska Highway 2 is a highway in Nebraska. It is a discontinuous highway with 2 segments. The western segment begins at the South Dakota border northwest of Crawford and ends southeast of Grand Island at an intersection with Interstate 80. The eastern segment begins in Lincoln and ends at the...
. They overlap going west into Hyannis
Hyannis, Nebraska
Hyannis is a village in Grant County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 287 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Grant County.-Geography:Hyannis is located at ....
, then Highway 61 continues north until Merriman
Merriman, Nebraska
Merriman is a village in Cherry County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 118 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Merriman is located at ....
. At Merriman, Highway 61 intersects U.S. Highway 20 and overlap in town. Highway 61 continues north from Merriman past the Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
Bowring Ranch State Historical Park is a state park of Nebraska, USA, interpreting the ranching heritage of the Sand Hills region and the lives of former owners Arthur and Eva Bowring . The park is located north of Merriman in Cherry County, near the South Dakota border.The ranch was originally...
and ends at the South Dakota border.
Major intersections
| County | Location | Mile | Junction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundy Dundy County, Nebraska -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,292 people, 961 households, and 637 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,196 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile... |
Benkelman Benkelman, Nebraska Benkelman, a city, is the county seat of Dundy County , Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,006 at the 2000 census. As of the 2010 census it has a population of 839-Geography:Benkelman is located at .... |
0.00 | Kansas border, southern terminus | |
| 1.32 | South end of US 34 overlap | |||
| 4.33 | North end of US 34 overlap | |||
| Chase Chase County, Nebraska -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,068 people, 1,662 households, and 1,163 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,927 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile... |
Enders Enders, Nebraska Enders is an unincorporated community in Chase County, Nebraska, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 6 and Nebraska Highway 61 southeast of the city of Imperial, the county seat of Chase County. Its elevation is 3,150 feet . Although Enders is unincorporated, it has a post office, with... |
30.35 | South end of US 6 overlap | |
| Imperial Imperial, Nebraska Imperial is a city in Chase County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,982 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chase County.-History:... |
39.93 | North end of US 6 overlap | ||
| Perkins Perkins County, Nebraska -History:Perkins County was formed in 1887. It was named after Charles E. Perkins, the president of a railroad.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,200 people, 1,275 households, and 893 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There... |
Grant Grant, Nebraska Grant is a city in, and county seat of, Perkins County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,225 at the 2000 census-Geography:Grant is located at .... |
63.81 | South end of NE 23 overlap | |
| 66.90 | North end of NE 23 overlap | |||
| Keith Keith County, Nebraska -History:Keith County was formed in 1873. It was named after Morrill C. Keith, the grandfather of Governor Keith Neville.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 8,875 people, 3,707 households, and 2,535 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile... |
Ogallala Ogallala, Nebraska Ogallala is a city in Keith County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,737 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Keith County. In the days of the Nebraska Territory, the city was a stop on the Pony Express and later along the transcontinental railroad... |
86.13 | South end of US 26 overlap, I-80 exit 126 | |
| 86.91 | South end of US 30 overlap | |||
| 88.90 | North end of US 30 overlap | |||
| 92.02 | North end of US 26 overlap | |||
| Lemoyne Lemoyne, Nebraska Lemoyne is an unincorporated community in northern Keith County, Nebraska, United States. It lies along Nebraska Highway 92 on the northern shore of Lake C.W. McConaughy, north of the city of Ogallala, the county seat of Keith County. Its elevation is 3,333 feet . Although Lemoyne is... |
103.24 | South end of NE 92 overlap | ||
| Arthur Arthur County, Nebraska -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 444 people, 185 households, and 138 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.618 people per square mile . There were 273 housing units at an average density of 0.380 per square mile... |
Arthur Arthur, Nebraska Arthur is a village in Arthur County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 117 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Arthur County.-Geography:Arthur is located at .... |
128.69 | North end of NE 92 overlap | |
| Grant Grant County, Nebraska -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 747 people, 292 households, and 226 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.95 people per square mile . There were 449 housing units at an average density of 0.57 per square mile . The racial makeup of the county was... |
Hyannis Hyannis, Nebraska Hyannis is a village in Grant County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 287 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Grant County.-Geography:Hyannis is located at .... |
160.59 | South end of NE 2 overlap | |
| 162.30 | North end of NE 2 overlap | |||
| Cherry Cherry County, Nebraska Cherry County is unusual in being split between two time zones, Mountain Time and Central Time. The lines between the two runs roughly north to south along the eastern third of the county. Cherry County is also the location of the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, the Fort Niobrara National... |
Merriman Merriman, Nebraska Merriman is a village in Cherry County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 118 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Merriman is located at .... |
229.26 | South end of US 20 overlap | |
| 229.29 | North end of US 20 overlap | |||
| 234.82 | South Dakota border, northern terminus |