Wausa, Nebraska - History

History

In 1882 Theodore T. Thorson was the first resident. He named it Thorson, Nebraska. He was also the first postmaster. He was returning from a five month travel over the west coast, Montana and Wyoming, in search of a good location for stock raising.

Mr. Thorson returned to Minnesota and in the following spring married and returned to Nebraska with his bride. He leased 200 acres (0.81 km2) land built a sod house and started a sheep ranch consisting of 115 sheep. Families immigrating from Sweden began coming and Thorson was appointed land agent. At this time Creighton, Nebraska had the nearest railroad station. A pony express was started by a man with the name Campbell. He made three trips a week between Creighton. The post office was also Thorson’s home.

By 1885 12 new families had moved into the settlement and it was decided that they would change the name to “Vasa” in honor of the Swedish king Gustaf Vasa. The railroad came through Vasa on November, 27 1890. At this time the name was changed to Wausa, a combination of the kings name and the letters U.S.A. In the fall of 1891 a community water well was put down. It was 33 ft (10 m) deep and cost $40. In 1903 the first water system was installed. A complete sewer system was built in 1916. The Waste Water Treatment Facility was built in 1985.

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