Smith Center

History

Smith Center was founded in 1871. The first post office in Smith Center was established in January 1873. Like Smith County, Smith Center was named for Maj. J. Nelson Smith of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, a pre-war native of Elwood, Kansas, who died leading his regiment on October 21, 1864 at the Battle of the Little Blue River.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Smith Center is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 281 and 36, approximately 100 miles south of Grand Island, Nebraska and 77 miles north of Russell and Interstate 70.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  152
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  121
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  119
• Red-tailed Hawk

  Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  93
• Common Grackle

  Quiscalus quiscula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  88
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  82
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  81
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  78

Largest nearby schools

• Smith Center Elem
  Elementary · Smith Center · 259 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Smith Center Jr Sr High
  High · Smith Center · 194 students · 13.9:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2026-06-16
  9 km SW of Natoma, Kansas
• M 2.9 — 2026-05-11
  7 km E of Cowles, Nebraska
• M 2.8 — 2026-05-09
  4 km ESE of Cowles, Nebraska
• M 2.5 — 2026-03-12
  6 km ESE of Cowles, Nebraska
• M 2.6 — 2026-03-02
  8 km N of Guide Rock, Nebraska
• M 2.6 — 2026-03-01
  9 km E of Cowles, Nebraska