Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2022: 10.8%
(10.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 20.0% for Black residents, 50.0% for two or more races residents)
According to our research of Nebraska and other state lists, there was 1 registered sex offender living in Spencer, Nebraska as of April 25, 2024. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Spencer is 486 to 1. The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is lower than the state average.
Recent articles from our blog. Our writers, many of them Ph.D. graduates or candidates, create easy-to-read articles on a wide variety of topics.
Latest news from Spencer, NE collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations
Ancestries: German (42.5%), English (11.9%), Irish (11.2%), Czech (6.2%), Swedish (5.6%), Polish (3.1%).
Current Local Time: CST time zone
Incorporated in 1891
Elevation: 1685 feet
Land area: 0.52 square miles.
Population density: 741 people per square mile (low).
3 residents are foreign born
This village:
0.9%
Nebraska:
7.5%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2022: $1,758 (1.5%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2022: $1,135 (1.2%)
Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Sioux Falls, SD (109.3 miles , pop. 123,975).
Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Lincoln, NE (176.9 miles , pop. 225,581).
Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Chicago, IL (567.4 miles , pop. 2,896,016).
Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (6.7%)
Agricultural workers, including supervisors (6.7%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6.2%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (5.4%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (5.0%)
Farmers and farm managers (5.0%)
Cooks and food preparation workers (4.6%)
Agricultural workers, including supervisors (13.4%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (12.6%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (10.9%)
Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (10.1%)
Farmers and farm managers (8.4%)
Top executives (3.4%)
Religious workers (3.4%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (9.9%)
Cooks and food preparation workers (9.1%)
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (6.6%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (6.6%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (5.8%)
Health technologists and technicians (4.1%)
Cashiers (4.1%)
Average climate in Spencer, Nebraska
Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations
Tornado activity:
Spencer-area historical tornado activity is slightly below Nebraska state average. It is 22% greater than the overall U.S. average.
On 5/29/1962, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 8.8 miles away from the Spencer village center .
On 5/21/1962, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 1.1 miles away from the village center causedbetween $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Spencer-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Nebraska state average. It is 262% greater than the overall U.S. average.
On 8/18/1959 at 06:37:13, a magnitude 7.7 (7.7 UK, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 608.4 miles away from Spencer center, causing $26,000,000 total damage On 11/3/2002 at 20:41:56, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 12.4 miles away from the city center On 3/4/1983 at 06:32:18, a magnitude 4.6 (4.4 MB, 4.6 LG, 4.4 ML) earthquake occurred 99.2 miles away from Spencer center On 10/18/1984 at 15:30:23, a magnitude 5.5 (5.4 MB, 5.1 MS, 5.5 ML, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 350.9 miles away from the city center On 10/25/1990 at 06:25:25, a magnitude 3.9 (3.6 MB, 3.9 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 64.6 miles away from Spencer center On 7/9/1975 at 14:54:15, a magnitude 4.6 (4.6 MB) earthquake occurred 233.9 miles away from the city center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS)
Natural disasters:
The number of natural disasters in Boyd County (16) is near the US average (15). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 9 Emergencies Declared: 3
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 10, Storms: 6, Winter Storms: 4, Tornadoes: 3, Winds: 3, Drought: 1, Hurricane: 1, Snowstorm: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Hospitals and medical centers near Spencer:
BUTTE HEALTHCARE CENTER, INC. (Nursing Home, about 8 miles away; BUTTE, NE)
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Spencer:
Northeast Community College (about 88 miles; Norfolk, NE; Full-time enrollment: 3,334)
University of South Dakota (about 91 miles; Vermillion, SD; FT enrollment: 7,328)
Wayne State College (about 97 miles; Wayne, NE; FT enrollment: 3,121)
Southeast Technical Institute (about 109 miles; Sioux Falls, SD; FT enrollment: 2,386)
Western Iowa Tech Community College (about 123 miles; Sioux City, IA; FT enrollment: 3,544)
Central Community College (about 139 miles; Grand Island, NE; FT enrollment: 4,159)
South Dakota State University (about 139 miles; Brookings, SD; FT enrollment: 10,392)
Public high school in Spencer:
WEST BOYD HIGH SCHOOL (Location: 106 E GREIG ST, Grades: 9-12)
Public elementary/middle school in Spencer:
WEST BOYD MIDDLE SCHOOL (Location: 106 E GREIG ST, Grades: 5-8)
Library in Spencer:
SPENCER TOWNSHIP LIBRARY (Operating income: $8,239; Location: 110 WEST MAIN STREET; 8,978 books; 55 audio materials; 32 video materials; 27 state licensed databases; 20 print serial subscriptions; 2 electronic serial subscriptions)
Notable locations in Spencer: Farmers Union Cooperative Company Elevator (A), Spencer Park - Fairgrounds Campground (B), Spencer Volunteer Fire Department (C), Spencer Police Department (D), Spencer Township Library (E), Spencer Volunteer Rescue Unit (F). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Spencer include: Wesleyan Church (A), Saint Marys Catholic Church (B), Immanuel Lutheran Church (C), Our Saviours Lutheran Church (D), United Methodist Church (E). Display/hide their locations on the map
Birthplace of: Scott Connot - 2005 NFL player (Kansas City Chiefs, born: Jun 24, 1981), Bernie Scherer - Football player.
Boyd County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential
Drinking water stations with addresses in Spencer and their reported violations in the past:
SPENCER, VILLAGE OF (Population served: 530, Purch groundwater):
Past health violations:
MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In DEC-2013, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (DEC-23-2013), St Violation/Reminder Notice (DEC-23-2013), St Public Notif received (FEB-04-2014)
MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In FEB-2011, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-17-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (FEB-17-2011), St Public Notif received (MAY-07-2012)
MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In DEC-2010, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (DEC-20-2010), St Public Notif requested (DEC-20-2010)
MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In NOV-2010, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif received (FEB-04-2010), St Public Notif requested (NOV-19-2010), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-19-2010), St Public Notif received (DEC-22-2010)
MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In JAN-2010, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JAN-15-2010), St Violation/Reminder Notice (JAN-15-2010), St Public Notif received (FEB-09-2010)
MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In AUG-2008, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (AUG-21-2008), St Violation/Reminder Notice (AUG-21-2008), St AO (w/o penalty) issued (AUG-28-2008), St Public Notif received (OCT-10-2008), St Compliance achieved (MAR-31-2009)
3 other older health violations
Past monitoring violations:
One routine major monitoring violation
BOYD CO RWD 2 (Population served: 450, Groundwater):
Past health violations:
MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In OCT-2013, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (OCT-29-2013), St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-29-2013), St Public Notif received (NOV-25-2013)
MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In JAN-2010, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-01-2010), St Violation/Reminder Notice (FEB-01-2010), St Public Notif received (MAR-03-2010)
MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In OCT-2007, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (OCT-26-2007), St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-26-2007), St Public Notif received (NOV-20-2007)
Average household size:
This village:
2.1 people
Nebraska:
2.5 people
Percentage of family households:
This village:
57.9%
Whole state:
64.8%
Percentage of households with unmarried partners:
This village:
3.2%
Whole state:
6.0%
No gay or lesbian households reported
Banks with branches in Spencer (2011 data):
Spencer State Bank: at 101 N Thayer St, branch established on 1922/12/10. Info updated 2006/11/03: Bank assets: $16.9 mil, Deposits: $14.8 mil, local headquarters, positive income, Agricultural Specialization, 1 total offices
Butte State Bank: 425 Hillcrest Boulevard Branch at 425 Hillcrest Boulevard, branch established on 2006/02/27. Info updated 2006/11/03: Bank assets: $44.7 mil, Deposits: $39.1 mil, headquarters in Butte, NE, positive income, Agricultural Specialization, 2 total offices, Holding Company: Butte State Company
Religion statistics for Spencer, NE (based on Boyd County data)
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
735
10
Catholic
543
1
Mainline Protestant
426
6
None
395
-
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 3
Here:
14.22 / 10,000 pop.
Nebraska:
2.60 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 2
Here:
9.48 / 10,000 pop.
Nebraska:
4.83 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 3
Boyd County:
14.22 / 10,000 pop.
Nebraska:
7.76 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
This county:
9.5%
State:
7.9%
Adult obesity rate:
Boyd County:
28.2%
Nebraska:
28.0%
Local government employment and payroll (March 2022)
NE-SPENCER, 48952 900th Road (Lat: 42.872667 Lon: -98.711944), Type: Gtower, Structure height: 100.5 m, Overall height: 106.6 m, Call Sign: WQLX824, Assigned Frequencies: 11345.0 MHz, 11385.0 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 6063.80 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, 11265.0 MHz, 5974.85 MHz, 6123.10 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, 11265.0 MHz... (+54 more), Grant Date: 05/07/2019, Expiration Date: 06/02/2029, Certifier: Francis J Dirico, Registrant: Ne Colorado Cellular, Inc., 1224 West Platte Avenue, Fort Morgan, CO 80701, Phone: (970) 542-3667, Fax: (970) 867-3589, Email:
Spencer, Lat: 42.872667 Lon: -98.711944, Type: Gtower, Structure height: 100.5 m, Overall height: 106.6 m, Call Sign: WQUP435, Assigned Frequencies: 3650.00 MHz, Grant Date: 09/03/2014, Expiration Date: 09/03/2024, Cancellation Date: 01/03/2023, Certifier: Thomas W Burnett, Registrant: Ne Colorado Cellular, Inc., 1224 West Platte Avenue, Fort Morgan, CO 80701, Phone: (970) 542-3667, Fax: (970) 867-3589, Email:
Spencer, Lat: 42.872667 Lon: -98.711944, Type: Gtower, Structure height: 100.5 m, Overall height: 106.6 m, Call Sign: WQUP435, Assigned Frequencies: 3650.00 MHz, Grant Date: 09/03/2014, Expiration Date: 09/03/2024, Cancellation Date: 01/03/2023, Certifier: Thomas W Burnett, Registrant: Ne Colorado Cellular, Inc., 1224 West Platte Avenue, Fort Morgan, CO 80701, Phone: (970) 542-3667, Fax: (970) 867-3589, Email:
Spencer, Lat: 42.872667 Lon: -98.711944, Type: Gtower, Structure height: 100.5 m, Overall height: 106.6 m, Call Sign: WQUP435, Assigned Frequencies: 3650.00 MHz, Grant Date: 09/03/2014, Expiration Date: 09/03/2024, Cancellation Date: 01/03/2023, Certifier: Thomas W Burnett, Registrant: Ne Colorado Cellular, Inc., 1224 West Platte Avenue, Fort Morgan, CO 80701, Phone: (970) 542-3667, Fax: (970) 867-3589, Email:
FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses:
4
Call Sign: WB0NFI, Licensee ID: L00951628, Grant Date: 09/22/2014, Expiration Date: 12/14/2024, Certifier: Hal L Weakly, Registrant: Hal L Weakly, 404 W Main St, Spencer, NE 68777
Call Sign: KC0HMN, Licensee ID: L00220793, Grant Date: 01/08/2020, Expiration Date: 03/22/2030, Cancellation Date: 10/12/2020, Certifier: Jason E Goesch, Registrant: Jason E Goesch, 49174 905th Road, Spencer, NE 68777
Call Sign: KE0SVL, Licensee ID: L02209386, Grant Date: 08/27/2018, Expiration Date: 08/27/2028, Cancellation Date: 07/25/2020, Certifier: Trevor P Goesch, Registrant: Trevor P Goesch, 49174 905th Rd, Spencer, NE 68777
Call Sign: N0TO, Previous Call Sign: KE0SVL, Licensee ID: L02209386, Grant Date: 07/25/2020, Expiration Date: 07/25/2030, Certifier: Trevor P Goesch, Registrant: Trevor P Goesch, 49174 905th Rd, Spencer, NE 68777
FAA Registered Aircraft:
4
Aircraft: PIPER PA-32RT-300 (Category: Land, Seats: 7, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 100AE, N100AE, N-100AE, Serial Number: 32R-7985058, Year manufactured: 1978, Airworthiness Date: 12/22/1978, Certificate Issue Date: 07/28/2014 Registrant (Individual): Sheldon C Otto, 89194 Oak Rd, Spencer, NE 68777
Aircraft: PIPER PA-18-135 (Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 97 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES (140 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 2487A, N2487A, N-2487A, Serial Number: 18-1956, Year manufactured: 1952, Airworthiness Date: 09/23/1955, Certificate Issue Date: 12/04/2017 Registrant (Co-Owned): Gary D Hoffman, 90089 Prairie Rd, Spencer, NE 68777, Other Owners: Michael G Hoffman
Aircraft: PIPER PA-32-300 (Category: Land, Seats: 6, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 126 mph), Engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER (310 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 8927N, N8927N, N-8927N, Serial Number: 32-40724, Year manufactured: 1969, Airworthiness Date: 06/03/1969, Certificate Issue Date: 03/18/1991 Registrant (Co-Owned): Gary D Hoffman, 90089 Prairie Rd, Spencer, NE 68777, Other Owners: Karen K Hoffman
Aircraft: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5A (Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 105 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 HP) (Reciprocating) N-Number: 9658U, N9658U, N-9658U, Serial Number: AA5A-0024, Year manufactured: 1975, Airworthiness Date: 09/27/1975, Certificate Issue Date: 07/29/2020 Registrant (Corporation): Angel Energy Services Inc, 89483 Us Highway 281, Spencer, NE 68777
Most common first names in Spencer, NE among deceased individuals
Name
Count
Lived (average)
John
14
77.6 years
Mary
14
85.8 years
William
12
76.5 years
Frank
11
80.2 years
Edward
8
84.1 years
Robert
8
70.4 years
Anna
7
84.9 years
Louis
6
79.4 years
Albert
6
82.5 years
Charles
6
82.3 years
Most common last names in Spencer, NE among deceased individuals
(46.7%)
(53.3%)
Recent articles from our blog. Our writers, many of them Ph.D. graduates or candidates, create easy-to-read articles on a wide variety of topics.
(109.3 miles 
