Rock County NEGenWeb Project
a part of the USGenWeb Project

[Return to Home Page]

Rock County's Place Name Origin

A History of the Origin of the Place Names wrote about how the origins of names came about in nine Northwestern States including States, Counties, Towns, Villiages and Stations. However, in this piece, it is about Rock County's own place name origin.

Nebraska was named after a Sioux Indian word meaning "shallow water," "broad water." It is supposed the word was by the Indians, applied to the Platte River. Lincoln is the State Capital, being named after Abraham Lincoln.

Rock County, Nebraska

Rock County, State of Nebraska. Named on account of its rocky soil. County seat, Bassett; was name for J. W. Bassett, a ranchman, who in 1871, took the first "bunch" of cattle into the county, to test the quality and fitness of the native grasses for cattle food, and who thus became the "father" of one of the most important industries of the state.

Cities, Towns, and Villages of Rock County

BASSETT, ROCK COUNTY, NEBRASKA, was named for J. W. Bassett, a ranchman, who in 1871 took into the country the first "bunch" of cattle to test the quality and fitness of the native grasses for cattle food, and who thus became the founder of one of the most important industries of the state.

NEWPORT, ROCK COUNTY, NEBRASKA. During the time the Government was building the United States Military Post at Fort Niobrar, a bridge was built across the Niobrara River some ten or twelve miles north of the place, and mule trains crossed there and followed the north side of the river for a good many miles west. This bridge was called the Newport Bridge. When the railroad was built the Chief Engineer thereof, though it proper to call this place Newport, because it was the nearest point to the bridge aforesaid.

Other Known Cities, Towns, Villages

• Butha
• Cuba
• Duff
• Hammond
• Kirkwood
• Mariaville
• Spragg
• Sybrant
• Thurman

Citations

A History of the Origin of the Place Names: Nine Northwestern States including States, Counties, Towns, Villiages and Stations (Chicago: 1908): 29, 41, 107. Google eBook, http://books.google.com/ (accessed: October 20, 2008).