Laurel

History

Laurel was founded circa 1893. It was originally named Claremont Junction. The present name is after Laura Martin, the daughter of one of the founders. In 2021 the city completed its last phase of a $2.6 million Downtown Revitalization Project which included removing the median from and pouring new concrete on East 2nd (Main) Street, widening the downtown sidewalks, and constructing a new city hall which houses the city offices, senior center, and can be used for parties and events. Also in 2021 the city opened its new fire hall in thanks to fundraising and donations. The new fire hall holds up to seven fire engines, two ambulances, and has storage, a classroom, and common area spaces. The volunteer fire department and EMS are housed out of the hall. Laurel was the site of a quadruple murder that occurred on August 4, 2022. A 53-year-old woman was shot to death in her own home, which was then set on fire. A house three blocks away was then broken into several minutes later, where an elderly couple and their daughter were also shot and killed before their home was also set on fire. Laurel resident Jason Jones was arrested shortly after and charged with their murders. He was convicted in 2024 and sentenced to death in 2026. His wife Carrie was later arrested as well and charged with aiding him in the murders. She was convicted in 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The murders were the town's first homicide since 2005 and the first multiple murder since a double homicide in 1918. In 2024, Laurel finished construction on their school building which houses the elementary and high school students. The former high school was demolished, a new addition was added, and the remainder of the school that still stood was completely renovated. This was part of a $25…

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  300
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  289
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  263
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  252
• Dark-eyed Junco

  Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  222
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  208
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  186
• Ring-necked Pheasant

  Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  168

Largest nearby schools

• LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · LAUREL · 164 students · 11.7:1 ratio
• LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
  High · LAUREL · 132 students · 8.8:1 ratio
• LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · COLERIDGE · 119 students · 10.8:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.7 — 2025-02-05
  8 km SSE of Tilden, Nebraska
• M 2.5 — 2024-03-06
  6 km SSE of Santee, Nebraska
• M 3 — 2023-12-10
  11 km ESE of Wakonda, South Dakota
• M 3.1 — 2021-01-04
  5 km N of Tyndall, South Dakota