General Info
First settled in 1871, Hastings was platted in 1872 by Simon Dow and a post office was established with Samuel Alexander serving as the area’s first postmaster. The community was named in honor of railroad engineer Thomas Hastings as transportation allowed for dramatic growth. In 1874 the community was incorporated and housed general stores, specialty shops and three hotels. By 1878 its population had reached 3,000 and the county seat for Adams County was relocated to Hastings from Juniata. A fire in 1879 destroyed the business district, but residents were quick to rebuild. As industry continued to diversify with transportation improvements, businesses included brickyards, breweries, factories and many residents farmed the fertile soil. By 1911 Hastings was known as Nebraska’s cigar-making capital and had produced the most bricks in the state. Edwin E. Perkins invented Kool-Aid in 1927, awarding Hastings with national acclaim. The construction of the Naval Ammunition Depot during World War II allowed for growth and its population nearly doubled within a year. Hasting’s central location has made the community “the Queen City of the Plains” and remains a community rich in culture and recreation. Today Hastings is home to approximately 25,370 residents.
