Pacific Junction

History

Pacific Junction was established by the railroad in 1871 to serve as the western terminus of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, the eastern terminus of the Nebraska Burlington & Missouri River RR, and a station on the Kansas City, Council Bluffs, & Saint Joseph Railroad. All three were consolidated as part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, today's BNSF. After several rough and tumble years of growth Pacific Junction was incorporated in 1882. The scene of violence during the Burlington Railroad Strike of 1888, PJ's population peaked during the early 20th century with just over 700 people. Railroad traffic through town remains almost constant although the town's connections to the railroad have declined significantly since 1971. Historic structures include the 1914 Pacific Junction Public School which graduated its last high school class in 1961 and closed for good in 1986. On the early morning of December 3, 2021, two BNSF trains collided two locomotives and 16 cars derailed in Pacific Junction. The 2019 Midwestern U.S. floods had a devastating impact on Pacific Junction. Following the failing of the Mills County levees on March 17, 2019, the city was flooded completely. Following a federal buyout program and the demolition of damaged structures, most lots now lie empty. The United States Postal Service has yet to return to the town, and the town hall is not currently usable. The city government has struggled financially in the aftermath, and has experienced difficulty in providing services. According to the 2020 Census, only around 20% of the pre-flood population of the city remains.

Geography

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

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  2,770
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,763
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,678
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,013
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,998
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,922
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  1,837
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,786

Most recent

• M 3.6 — 2009-12-17
  2 km NW of Auburn, Nebraska
• M 3.5 — 2004-07-16
  6 km SSE of Riverton, Iowa