Exira

History

The oldest town in Audubon County, Exira was founded in 1857. The town was named for Exira Eckman, daughter of Judge John Eckman from Ohio, who agreed to purchase a lot of property in the town if the town was named for his daughter. The main industries in and around Exira are agriculture and agribusiness. Exira has a school, completed in 1959. There are four churches in the town. On July 2, 1958, Exira was ravaged by the flooding of the East Nishnabotna River. Nineteen persons in the area lost their lives, 75 homes were destroyed and almost 20 businesses in the western part of Exira were damaged. Exira is well known for its Fourth of July celebrations, which have been celebrated since 1861. The morning parade and the evening fireworks draw thousands of visitors to the town. Other attractions in the area include the Plow in the Oak Park, south of Exira on Highway 71, and Littlefield Recreation Area, southeast of Exira, which features a lake, prairie restoration area and a live bison pair.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Audubon Middle-High School
  High · Audubon · 296 students · 12.3:1 ratio
• Audubon Elementary School
  Elementary · Audubon · 251 students · 13.2:1 ratio
• Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Elementary
  Elementary · Exira · 198 students · 12.4:1 ratio