Kearney, NE
with others
One of the most notable facts about Kearney is its location precisely halfway between the east and west coasts of the United States — 1,173 miles from both Boston and San Francisco. It's not surprising that it eventually became a junction point for Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific and the Burlington Northern railroads.
According to a history of the city, the word "Kearney" comes from Fort Kearny, named after Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny, who joined the Army during the War of 1812 and died in 1848. One possible reason why there is an extra "e" in the name of the town is simple spelling error made by the post office. By the time it was discovered, no correction was made and the town was incorporated as "Kearney" with the extra "e" in 1873.
Earlier, in 1848, Fort Kearny was established and offered protection to scores of pioneers traveling west on the Oregon Trail.
For Union Pacific construction crews in 1866, Kearney represented a milestone for the first section of road from Omaha. The original Union Pacific station was located at Buda, east of present day Kearney. With the railroad coming through, settlement began a few years later in 1871 when the Rev. and Mrs. Collins entered a homestead claim. They lived in a dwelling called "the Junction House," which contained the first post office. The area began to grow quickly thereafter, and by 1873, the year it was incorporated, Kearney had 245 residents and more than 20 buildings.