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Blog 3: Commonwealth in Custer County, Nebraska

Education- There are six public school districts in Custer County. Five of those districts have one Kindergarten- 12th-grade building. The sixth district has different buildings for elementary, middle and high school. There is also a satellite campus in the county from the regional community college.

Health- The county has two hospitals, one in Broken Bow and one in Callaway. Callaway District Hospital is a critical access hospital with a clinic in Callaway and one in Arnold, patients sometimes travel 1+ hours to be seen. The Jennie Melham Medical Center in Broken Bow is also a critical access hospital that also has a large patient reach.

Leisure & Recreation- Broken Bow has many things to offer for entertainment. There is a three screen movie theatre, a brewery, and several restaurants. In the smaller communities, people live on the dirt roads and corn fields.

Spirituality- There are 20+ churches throughout the county. Practices range from Latter-Day Saints to Catholic.

History- There are two community museums along with a countywide museum. These museums have historical items and information that help represent the growth of the area.

Sense of Place- Custer County has a strong sense of place. As a county, we love the place we live and have a lot of pride for our county. The square in Broken Bow, the school in Merna, the rodeo grounds in Callaway; each of these has a special meaning to the people of the county.

Town Square Broken Bow

Arts & Culture- Art can be uncommon in rural areas, but Custer County has many local artists. There is everything from photography to music; leatherworking to woodworking.

Water Cycle- The water in all of Custer County comes from the Ogallala Aquifer. That water is used for hygiene, drinking, and irrigation.

Wildlife & the Natural World- Custer County has a wildlife similar to the rest of the state. There are mule and whitetail deer, snakes, coyotes, and many other animals. This year, Nebraska has had an irregular amount of precipitation that has resulted in flooding.

Soil & Mineral Cycle- The soil in the area is similar to that of most of the state. It’s a fragile, sandy rangelend and sand dunes stabilized by grass made of sand, silt, and loam.

Foodshed- The county is made up of mainly farmers and ranchers. Corn, soybeans, wheat, and beef are all produced directly in the area.

Broken Bow Wind Farm 1

Renewable Energy- Renewable energy is becoming more and more common around the world. As this is happening, Custer County jumped at the new opportunities. There are two public wind turbine farms, with a third on the way, and several private solar farms.