10 Slow-Paced Small Towns in Nebraska Where Life Is Still Simple
Nebraska is positively packed with small towns, and if you’ve ever lived in one of them you’ll understand their charm. Life moves a little slower in those small towns than it does in the cities. Everyone knows everyone’s name, and no one is too busy to stop and have a little chat. (Check out more small towns that we think are completely charming right here.)
Unlike a lot of other small Nebraska towns, Arapahoe has a thriving business district including a grocery store, a pharmacy, and a hardware store among others. The sense of community is strong here, and citizens really pull together to help one another out.
Bassett is all about keeping their small-town feel while offering plenty to both residents and visitors. Every October, downtown Bassett becomes Rocktober Fest headquarters. This fall event celebrates the harvest and lets the community come together to have a great time.
Broken Bow is the largest town on this list, but that doesn't make it any less of a charming small town. It's a convenient hop off of the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, and it offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation. Be sure to visit the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byways Interpretive Center while you're here.
This sweet little Hall County village takes the Egyptian theme and runs with it. Not only do they have this big camel and pyramid; they also have several street names of Egyptian origin. Town-wide events like rummage sales and the annual CornStalk Festival keep the community close.
Chappell is a quiet little Panhandle town where folks still have a "formal" cowboy hat in the closet. You'd be hard pressed to find a group of more caring, community-minded people. Events like movies in the park let everyone socialize and keep up on community news.
Crawford definitely doesn't get the attention it deserves. As a destination, it's packed with fascinating historical spots. As a place to live, it's small enough to be close-knit but big enough that you don't have to travel to other towns for amenities like grocery stores and entertainment.
With a land area of just .68 miles Hemingford is a tiny spot on the map. But what they lack in physical size they make up for in friendliness and character. The village goes all-out for the patriotic holidays, creating an impressive Avenue of the Flags with 208 American flags. Christmas is even more impressive, however, with a seasonal outdoor diorama stretching more than the length of 2.5 football fields.
The little agricultural town of Newman Grove is just about as sweet a small town as you could hope to find. The residents are welcoming and dedicated to fostering a strong sense of community. Many of the residents can trace their family trees back to the town's foundation in the 1870s - a testament to how comfortable and homey Newman Grove is.
In Paxton, you'll find adults walking around and children riding their bikes through town, and all of them will be happy to stop for a little chat. During the summer, you'll find most of the town at the baseball field, watching the kids play.
Verdigre is an all-around great place to live, but it's especially ideal if you're a pastry lover: it's called "the kolach capital of the world." Whether or not that title is accurate, they do have a spectacular annual Kolach Days festival that's chock full of fun activities. The year-round sense of community spirit can be felt all through the town.
Every small town in Nebraska is great in its own way. Between this list and our previous list, did we mention your favorite?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
