North Platte, County seat in Lincoln County, Nebraska
North Platte sits where two branches of a river meet and join into a single waterway, in the wide prairie landscape of western Nebraska. Interstate 80 runs through town, linking it to the rest of the Midwest road network.
Union Pacific Railroad chose this spot in 1866 as the western endpoint of its rail line, laying the groundwork for later development. During World War II, the town became a major stop for troop trains traveling across the country.
The town takes its name from the river formed when two branches meet, flowing eastward across the Great Plains. Local rodeo traditions appear during summer events, when cowboys and riders fill the streets.
You can reach town by air through a regional airport or by highway from east and west directions. The Bailey Yard rail facility can be observed from several viewpoints around town.
A train station in the center served as a canteen during the war, where volunteers fed millions of passing soldiers. Today a museum recalls that time and the hospitality of local residents.
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