Atlanta, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Atlanta is a village in Phelps County
, Nebraska
, in the United States
. The population was 130 at the 2000 Census. During World War II
the town was neighbored by Camp Atlanta
, which housed more than 3,000 Nazi German
prisoners of war over three years. The camp was said to house more prisoners during the war than the town had in its entire existence.
In the first part of the 20th century Atlanta was home to several amenities for neighboring farmers. They included a grocery store, post office, cafe, and a tourist shop for drivers on U.S. Route 6
, as well as grain and corn elevators and two gas stations. Chataqua groups entertained at the town hall, with annual events such as the Atlanta Institute, which was an annual fair. There were also free outdoor "picture shows", and the Atlanta Industry Day Picnic. The Atlanta schoolhouse had eight grades. At the beginning of WWII, there was one street about two blocks long, with only a few business buildings drooping and dwindling along its edges.
, Camp Atlanta was established next to the town as an Allied
prisoner-of-war camp
for German P.O.W.s. The Atlanta area had been the final choice of the U.S. Army
to establish a $2 million P.O.W. camp after the outbreak of World War II. When construction began in September, 1943 people were told this would be a "Conchie Camp" for the conscientious objector
s from the United States. By November it became known by locals that Atlanta would be a prisoner-of-war camp expected to guard German prisoners. There were approximately 275 enlisted men and 60 officers.
Soldiers were hired out to local farms to help retrieve the increased crop production demanded by the war. More than 30 local farmers sought assistance, paying the government for work completed by the P.O.W.s. Soon after the first of the year in 1946, some soldiers returned to live in Atlanta, and at least two of the Germans applied for U.S. citizenship
and returned as well.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 130 people, 53 households, and 34 families residing in the village. The population density
was 563.4 people per square mile (218.2/km²). There were 56 housing units at an average density of 242.7 per square mile (94.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.46% White and 1.54% Native American.
There were 53 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples
living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,708, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $14,821 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,469. There were 12.1% of families and 9.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including 25.0% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Phelps County, Nebraska
-History:Phelps County was formed in 1873. It was named after William Phelps, an early settler in this area.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,747 people, 3,844 households, and 2,683 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile . There...
, Nebraska
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....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 130 at the 2000 Census. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the town was neighbored by Camp Atlanta
Camp Atlanta
Camp Atlanta was a World War II camp for German prisoners of war located next to Atlanta, Nebraska. Over three years, it housed nearly 3,000 prisoners...
, which housed more than 3,000 Nazi German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
prisoners of war over three years. The camp was said to house more prisoners during the war than the town had in its entire existence.
History
In the first part of the 20th century Atlanta was home to several amenities for neighboring farmers. They included a grocery store, post office, cafe, and a tourist shop for drivers on U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 in Nebraska
In the U.S. State of Nebraska, U.S. Highway 6 is a highway which goes from the Colorado border west of Imperial in the west to the Iowa border in the east at Omaha. Significant portions of the highway are concurrent with other highways, most significantly, U.S. Highway 34 between Culbertson and...
, as well as grain and corn elevators and two gas stations. Chataqua groups entertained at the town hall, with annual events such as the Atlanta Institute, which was an annual fair. There were also free outdoor "picture shows", and the Atlanta Industry Day Picnic. The Atlanta schoolhouse had eight grades. At the beginning of WWII, there was one street about two blocks long, with only a few business buildings drooping and dwindling along its edges.
Camp Atlanta
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Camp Atlanta was established next to the town as an Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
prisoner-of-war camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
for German P.O.W.s. The Atlanta area had been the final choice of the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
to establish a $2 million P.O.W. camp after the outbreak of World War II. When construction began in September, 1943 people were told this would be a "Conchie Camp" for the conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
s from the United States. By November it became known by locals that Atlanta would be a prisoner-of-war camp expected to guard German prisoners. There were approximately 275 enlisted men and 60 officers.
Soldiers were hired out to local farms to help retrieve the increased crop production demanded by the war. More than 30 local farmers sought assistance, paying the government for work completed by the P.O.W.s. Soon after the first of the year in 1946, some soldiers returned to live in Atlanta, and at least two of the Germans applied for U.S. citizenship
Citizenship in the United States
Citizenship in the United States is a status given to individuals that entails specific rights, duties, privileges, and benefits between the United States and the individual...
and returned as well.
Geography
Atlanta is located at 40°22′6"N 99°28′22"W (40.368265, -99.472741).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 130 people, 53 households, and 34 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 563.4 people per square mile (218.2/km²). There were 56 housing units at an average density of 242.7 per square mile (94.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.46% White and 1.54% Native American.
There were 53 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,708, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $14,821 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $14,469. There were 12.1% of families and 9.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including 25.0% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.