Nickerson

History

Nickerson was laid out in 1872 when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway was extended to that point. The community was named for Thomas Nickerson, president of the railroad company at the time. The first houses were built at the site in 1875. Nickerson was incorporated as a city in June of 1879. In 1875, a schoolhouse was erected. The Nickerson Argosy newspaper was established in 1878 by Sargent & Brown. A wooden bridge was completed across the Arkansas River in 1879. The first set of city officials were: Mayor, Dr. L. A. Reeves; council, M. McCormick, C. S. Morse, J. O. Smith, H. R. Nickerson; police judge, O. O. Olmstead; treasurer, C. F. Heath; clerk, A. H. Jackson; marshal, J. D. Reed; justice of the peace, N. Bolte.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Nickerson has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,020
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  1,013
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  898
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  827
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  680
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  667
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  631
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  560