Beatrice

Homestead National Monument of America

Beatrice, city, seat of Gage county, in the Big Blue River valley, southeastern Nebraska, U.S., located about 40 miles (65 km) south of Lincoln and 20 miles (32 km) north of the Kansas state line. Oto Indians were early inhabitants. Established in 1857, it was named for the daughter of one of its founders, Judge J.F. Kinney. Beatrice is the seat of a Martin Luther Home and the Beatrice State Developmental Center, both serving the developmentally disabled. A few miles to the west of the city is Homestead National Monument of America, the site of the Daniel Freeman farm, long considered the first claim entered under the Homestead Act of 1862. The city is a regional retail centre, and its economy depends on agriculture (sorghum, soybeans, dairy products, and hogs) and manufacturing (including store fixtures, concrete, lawn mowers, tools, automotive parts, and industrial packaging). Hunting of deer, quail, and pheasants is popular in the area. The Gage County Museum preserves local history, and Rockford Lake State Recreation Area is nearby. Inc. 1873. Pop. (2000) 12,496; (2010) 12,459.