Sidney was the first settlement in the High Plains region of western Nebraska and has been an economic trend setter and a crossroads for regional travelers throughout its 128 year history. The remarkable diversity of its economic strength over those 13 decades stresses the community's quality of life image as a good place to live and do business.
Sidney was laid out as a town by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1867 to provide accommodation and sanctuary for railroad construction workers. The town's name recognized Sidney Dillon, then president of the Union Pacific. The need for protection of the railroad construction crews from sporadic Indian attacks led to the establishment of a military post called Fort Sidney in 1869. A school district was formed in 1871 and Sidney became an incorporated village with a mayor and town council in 1885.
Other significant highlights in the history of Sidney follow:
In 1873 the community welcomed its first newspaper - The Sidney Telegraph. Considered to be one of the oldest newspapers in Nebraska and the oldest in western Nebraska, the daily newspaper is still published in Sidney, three times a week.
In 1876 gold was discovered in the Black Hills and because of its strategic location on the Union pacific, Sidney became the transportation center for freighters who hauled supplies from the railroad to the frantic gold field site. This led to the establishment of the Sidney-Deadwood Trail. Daily stage runs and constant freight schedules were maintained between Sidney and Deadwood, South Dakota. The trail still remains marked as a historical heritage of special significance.
From 1869 to 1894, Sidney served as the site for the Fort Sidney Military Post, playing a vital role in the early development of the community. The Post Commander's Home has been restored to its original state and the Officer's Quarters has been converted into a museum to commemorate this period of history in Sidney.
Settlement of the region by farmers and ranchers changed the character of the community as a trade center and transportation hub. The Homestead Act helped break up many large land holdings, attracting more settlers and stabilizing the population base.
In the early days when national highways were first being charted to augment the frontier trails and the railroad right-of-ways, Sidney was in a comfortable position. Eventual development of U.S. 30, which runs from coast to coast and U.S. 385 from Canada to Mexico both cross at Sidney. The development of Interstate 80 in the 1970's also came through the city limits and runs from San Francisco to New York.
In the early 1900's speculators and other entrepreneurs recognized the potential of the area as a budding grain production empire. They flocked into Sidney from eastern Nebraska and neighboring states, bringing prospective purchasers of farm land to pioneer the land-use revolution, leading to dryland and production practices, accompanied by livestock production. Today, Cheyenne County is Nebraska's largest wheat producing county.
World War II began and within months Sidney was selected as the site for a massive Army installation (Sioux Ordinance Depot) which brought hundreds of construction and operative persons into the community, creating once again an exiting "boom town" atmosphere. Established in 1942 and abandoned in 1967, Sioux Army Depot gave Sidney its second identity as a military post, again coincidentally, lasting 25 years, the same as Fort Sidney.
Oil and natural gas discovery near Sidney in 1949 provided an economic cushion for the imminent loss of the Army Depot payroll. The discovery 10 miles northeast of Sidney launched the development of the Denver-Julesburg Basin as a major reservoir of oil and natural gas reserves. Exploration and production continues today with virtually all of the acreage in the southern Panhandle region under mineral lease for existing and future production. Sidney is home to the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission headquarters, the only state headquarters located outside of the capitol city of Lincoln. Cheyenne County is the second all-time leading oil producer and top producer all-time of natural gas in Nebraska.
In the early 1970's Sidney and Cheyenne County inaugurated an aggressive push for new payrolls through economic and industrial promotion. Financed originally by private interests, this program is now supported by a half cent sales tax adopted by the voters in 1988 for community and economic development purposes. Cheyenne County also utilizes funds through its community betterment fund for the professional staffing of the Sidney/Cheyenne County Economic Development Office. The Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce, with over 230 business members, is staffed by a full-time executive and assistant.
Today Sidney is the center of a vigorous and healthy business and agriculture community.
In the period of time from 1991 through 1995, Sidney enjoyed 47 consecutive months of retail sales growth, with taxable sales soaring from $40 million annually to $80 million annually and many payrolls expanding in the community.
This was the period of time when much of the Interstate development took place with 13 new businesses created at exit-59 and traffic flow figures showing approximately 3 million vehicles stopping at the intersection annually.
This was also a period of time when a new water well field development, flood plain reduction project, new landfill, new ballfield complex, a new indoor community center a downtown improvement project, five industrial expansions, seven new housing subdivisions, a new downtown community college campus and several additional new businesses were established.
On the agriculture scene, mechanization and diversification contributes to the efficiency so urgent to the demands of the farm-ranch philosophy as Sidney continues its role within the breadbasket of America. The emphasis on Sidney today is progress based on careful planning, state of the art management and inspired production by a solid work ethic with a productive and skilled labor force.
Sidney's industries have placed the community on the worldwide map with Cabela's world wide mail order sporting goods operating its world headquarters, distribution center and world class retail store out of Sidney and shipping its products to over 90 countries worldwide. This national prominence is also shared by Sidney industries such as Egging Company, a subcontractor to Caterpillar; Prestolite and its specialty is high tech wire products; Cultor's hops production for the beer industry; Safe-Play Tuf-Wear's world renown boxing and sporting equipment; Master Trading Convert-a-Ball hitch and its ball hitch systems; Glover Group's rail car repair facilities; Wheel-Star Corp., wheel manufacturing; U.S. Aprons textile products, Dinklage Feed Yards cattle feeding operations and Sidney Warehousing and Industrial Sites, warehousing operations.
In its brief 128 year history, Sidney has met the challenges of change and remains vibrant, energetic and attractive. It is a community inviting inspection by business and industry. A century of exciting history has past. Sidney is prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow. It's no wonder Sidney was named the " 1994 and 1995 Nebraska Community of the Year," by the Nebraska Community Improvement Program council.