Waverly History

Waverly, Nebraska is located in northeastern Lancaster County and lies in the south valley of Salt Creek, with Camp Creek to the east and Stevens Creek to the west. The area was surveyed and a plat for the town was filed October 8, 1870. Waverly was granted incorporation as a village on June 23, 1885, and the first mayor was elected. It is said the town is named after Sir Walter Scott’s novel “Waverley”, although it is spelled differently. Characters from the book were used for street names and still are today as new residential development occurs.

The town began as a result of the coming of the Burlington Railroad. The rail bed was graded in 1869 and the tracks were laid westward to Stevens Creek in 1870, then connected to Lincoln the following year. A depot was built in 1871, becoming the social center of the community. The rail-line is still heavily used and dozens of trains pass through Waverly every day. The original depot building has been relocated to the Camp Creek Threshers property, about three miles east of Waverly. This is also the home to the Waverly Jail building and an abundance of other Waverly memorabilia. Camp Creek Threshers hosts an annual threshing event which highlights agricultural equipment from the early years. People come from all over the United States to see the farming practices of yesterday.

Education has always been a priority to Waverly citizens. The first school was built in 1871 and in 1887 a two-story frame schoolhouse was added. District 145 was created in 1918 through consolidation of schools in the area, the most recent additions were Eagle, Alvo and Walton in 1966. There have been expansions to existing buildings and new middle school and high school buildings over the years. Currently, District 145 has an enrollment of more than 1,920 students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Quality education is a key factor in the decision families make when locating in Waverly.

During the 1960’s and 1970’s the residential population increased dramatically from 500-plus to over 1,000. Home building flourished. Business and industry were on the rise. Waverly was growing exponentially; and continues to do so today. More than 4,100 people call Waverly “home”. It is small-town living with the advantages of being a suburb of Lincoln, the State Capital. The annual 4th of July celebration is a highlight of the community. A street dance on the 3rd and a parade and fireworks on the 4th draws many visitors to come celebrate the Nation’s independence. There are reunions, fundraisers and neighborhood block parties; the community is exploding with spirit! Stop by, have a meal, fill your car with gas and check out the community.

Waverly…A Great Place to Grow!