About Our County

History

• Nearly a decade before Nebraska became a state, the federal government established a reservation for the Omaha Tribe in what is now Thurston County, along with portions of Dixon, Burt, and Cuming Counties.
• The northern half of the Omaha Reservation was later purchased by the federal government and designated as a reservation for the Winnebago Tribe, making Thurston County unique in its shared tribal history.
• The county’s boundaries were first established in 1855 by the Nebraska Territorial Legislature.
• For many years, the area was informally known as Blackbird County, named after the respected Omaha leader Chief Blackbird.
• In 1887, legislators attempted to officially name the county Blackbird, but Governor John Thayer vetoed the proposal.
• Two years later, in 1889, the Legislature formally established the county under its current boundaries and named it Thurston County, honoring U.S. Senator John M. Thurston of Nebraska.
• In 1884, federal officials opened part of the Omaha Reservation to white settlement.
• The county’s first village, Athens, was established in 1885. Shortly afterward, buildings from Athens were relocated about two miles northwest to form what is now Pender, the county seat.
• The arrival of railroads in the early 1900s spurred the growth of additional communities throughout the county.

Interesting Facts & Local Lore

• Chief Blackbird, for whom the county was nearly named, favored a campsite on a hill overlooking the Missouri River.
• According to Omaha tribal legend, when Chief Blackbird died, his followers seated him on his horse and buried him atop this hill, making the site one of the region’s most enduring historical legends.
• Emerson, located in the far northwest corner of Thurston County, is Nebraska’s only tri-county community.
• Portions of Emerson are platted in Thurston, Dixon, and Dakota Counties, making it geographically unique within the state.
• The exact point where all three counties meet is difficult to identify because it lies on Main Street, which also serves as a state highway, adding a practical challenge to finding the precise spot.