Chadron, Neb
Chadron, Neb., earned its nickname, “the Magic City,” when it was founded in July 1885 as a stopping point on the new westward extension of the Elkhorn, Fremont and Missouri Valley Railroad. Fannie O’Linn, an early settler, had started a town about a year earlier, and tried to get railroad officials to build their line to her community — known as O’Linn.
But the railroad bosses secretly set up their own township six miles to the southwest. When the people of O’Linn found out, they packed up their belongings, even putting entire buildings on skids, and moved to the new site. The speed at which the village of O’Linn vanished and reappeared six miles away made Chadron the “Magic City” to some.
Chadron is named after Chadron Creek, which derived its name from Louis B. Chartran, manager of a fur trading post that was built in 1841 on a site about 6 miles south of the town. The name Chartran was pronounced “shattron” by settlers and eventually evolved into Chadron.
Fur trading still plays a role in Chadron, which is now home to the Museum of the Fur Trade, the only museum in the world devoted entirely to the history of the North American fur trade. Railroading has faded in importance, but agriculture continues to be a vital part of the economy.
Over the years, higher education has become Chadron’s real mainstay, however. Chadron State College is one of three institutions in the Nebraska State College system, and welcomes a student body of about 3,000 each year.
Trade and tourism also play a significant role with nearby attractions such as Chadron State Park, Fort Robinson State Park and thousands of acres of Nebraska National Forest land.