About Alliance - Visit Alliance

Alliance was founded on March 28, 1888 and is located in Box Butte County in western Nebraska.

The name Box Butte was named for the unique box-shaped buttes that jut up from the surrounding sandhills in the northeast section of the county.

In 1886 when Box Butte County was organized from land formerly in Dawes County, there were only a few white settlers, all looking to the day when the steel rails would arrive in western Nebraska from Grand Island.

A post office called “Broncho Lake” at the Philip Grover home, northwest of where Alliance is today, was registered in 1886. In June 1887 a town was founded and given the name “Grand Lake.” Early in 1888 when the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad arrived, it was decided the town should consider a simple, one-word name. The railroad superintendent, G.W. Holdrege, suggested that “Alliance” embodied all these ideas and would place it alphabetically near the top of the list for Nebraska towns. The fact that an engineer, J.N. Paul, came from Alliance, Ohio, may also provide a link to its selection, as does the fact this was to be the junction point of two rail lines, also making the name an appropriate choice.

The new village was incorporated in the summer of 1888. Within eight weeks of the founding, 250 buildings were built, mostly of wood and tar paper, all of which was shipped in by rail. Although a town well was established very early, three fires swept through Alliance between August 1892 and July 1893, leaving a healthy respect for bricks and an improved waterworks. By August 1893 Alliance had established a water tower, a volunteer fire department, and a clay brick factory.

Four years from its founding, Alliance had a population of more than 1000 people and boasted a U.S. Land Office, and a division headquarters for the CB & Q Railroad. In 1899 it won the election contest with Hemingford for the county seat. By 1900 another 500 people had moved to this location. The population remained relatively steady until 1942, during World War II, when there was an influx of people connected with the Alliance Army Air Base. After the war the population fell to about 6,000, but peaked again in 1980 at 9,869 due to the activities of the Burlington Northern Railroad. The town has remained at about 9,000 population.

Although the railroad was its primary reason for existence, the importance of agriculture and ranching cannot be ignored. The Homestead Act of 1862 provided 160 acres of free land to homesteaders who could “prove up” their claim after five years. An additional 160 acres could be acquired as a “tree claim” as the Congress attempted to forest the Plains. In 1904 Moses P. Kinkaid of Nebraska sponsored a bill changing the number of acres in the semi-arid regions to 640 acres per homesteader. With that bill, farming came to western Nebraska. Popular crops included potatoes and wheat. Dairy farming in this area was very popular and the Alliance Creamery was established to process cream and butter.

Ranching was equally important to Alliance. The Nebraska Stock Growers Association, founded in Alliance in 1889, was to protect stockmen from illegal rustling. The Alliance Livestock Commission Company bought and sold market cattle locally until December 1976.

Alliance was the first town in Nebraska to adopt the city manager form of government. Initiating this innovative system in 1921, it is still in use today.

Downtown Alliance is an old town, where many beautiful brick buildings carry the names of past owners and early-1900 dates. Older homes with elegant designs, from Sweetwater to Cheyenne Avenues and 1st to 8th Streets, bespeak of gracious living and citizens with much community pride. Alliance has survived the drought and grasshoppers, business booms and busts, and many social changes. The town’s history is at times comical, joyous, and tragic. But throughout the years, the steadfast character of the true pioneer comes through. The stories of the strength, integrity, and love for Alliance carries on today.

Home of Carhenge, a replica of Stonehenge, just 3 miles north on Highway 87, made of cars with a car art reserve. Take a walk, stretch your legs, sign the autograph car and enjoy some great photo opportunities. The pride of Alliance is our fountain located in Central Park – the perfect place to enjoy the cooling mist from the fountain on a hot summer’s day, enjoy the walking trails, or to play in water, please go to Big Blue Bay, water slide included! Enjoy the history of the Sandhills at an experience similar to the Smithsonian at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center. The Center of the Arts lie in the Carnegie Arts Center, with new exhibits coming in and out, there is always something new. Dobby’s Frontier Town features buildings restored and displayed for an interesting, educational experience that immerses you in the old west. The Nebraska Veteran’s Cemetery at Alliance is a patriotic experience located by the former home of the Army 326th Glider Infantry, 507th Parachute Infantry, and 878th Airborne Engineers. Sallows Military Museum tells the story of Alliance’s proud military history, and houses a tank! Outdoor recreation abounds in this “Edge of the Sandhills” City.

We are located in Western Nebraska, just 3 hours south of the Black Hills of South Dakota and 4 hours north of Denver on Highway 385. So when charting your course- Visit Alliance!