The total population of 1912 reported in the 1910 census has increased to 4,498 in 1920, more than doubling in the intervening decade. Approximately one-half of the population of the county is in the towns of Kimball, Dix, and Bushnell, and the major portion of the other half in the Lodgepole Creek valley and around the inland settlements of Crossbar, Beacon, Bethel and Leaf dale, and around the smaller centers of Smed, Oliver, Owasco and La-

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

cinto. The population 011 the upland plains is rather light in density.

The main line of the Union Pacific railroad west of Omaha passes through the central part of the county and gives the county benefit of transcontinental and main-line service from Omaha to Cheyenne, Salt Lake and the Pacific coast. This is the only railroad through the county, so that some sections of the county are so remote from railroad as to involve fifteen to twenty mile hauls of farm products to marketing points. The wagon roads are for the most part ordinary dirt roads, which are not permanently located or built, as yet. However, as there is not a heavy rainfall these roads are generally in fair condition throughout the year. The Lincoln Highway passes east and west through the Lodgepole Creek valley and is in good condition for both wagon and automobile traffic. The federal aid road north from Kimball to Harrisburg, Gering and Scottsbluff is generally in excellent condition.

First Settlement in the County

The first permanent settlements in Kimball county were made about 1868. This was about the time the Union Pacific railroad was extended through the county. But the very early history of Kimball county is most extensively covered in other parts of this work in the treatment given of the settlement of this western Nebraska "panhandle" section.