Understand
As is true for most small towns located in the Platte River valley of Nebraska, the earliest history of Sutherland can be traced to the westward migration. The Oregon-California trail generally ran south of the South Platte river, while the Mormon trail ran north of the North Platte river. In 1843, the Oregon-California trail began to see heavy traffic, and in 1847, the first contingent of Mormons traversed the trail.
OâFallonâs Bluff, just southeast of Sutherland, was a famous landmark referred to by many travelers in their journals. In the days of the trails, the river ran along the base of the bluff. Wagons would converge in this bottle-neck from along a fairly wide path and move single-file between the bluff and the river.
During the years 1858 to 1860, there was a trading post, stage station and Post Office near OâFallonâs Bluff. By 1866, troops sent to protect the wagon trains from ambush near OâFallonâs Bluff had established Fort Heath. In 1867, the OâFallonâs railroad siding, depot and Post Office were built north of the river opposite the bluff. It included a trading post and saloon. In 1869, after the completion of the overland railroad, âCody Sidingâ was established along the Union Pacific near the site of present-day Sutherland.
Though the settlement was quite well established, it was not until 1891 that the railroad platted an official âtownâ. A post office was established in 1892, and the village of Sutherland, named for railroad official George Sutherland, was incorporated in 1905.
Though originally a thriving community that boasted an Opera House, several hotels, a movie theater, a bowling alley and numerous stores, Sutherland has most recently developed into a bedroom community to the larger North Platte located twenty-five miles east.
The primary occupation in the area is farming and ranching, although a large number of people are employed at Nebraska Public Power Districtâs Gerald Gentleman generation station five miles south of Sutherland, and at Union Pacificâs Bailey Railroad Yard, located in North Platte.
The ethanol industry is very important to Sutherland, with an existing plant producing nearly 25 million gallons of ethanol annually, and an expansion underway to produce 120 million gallons from corn grown locally.
