Atlanta, Nebraska
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Atlanta is a village in Phelps County, Nebraska, in the United States. During World War II the town was neighbored by Camp Atlanta, which housed more than 3,000 Nazi German prisoners of war over three years. The camp was said to house more prisoners during the war than the town had in its entire existence. In the first part of the 20th centu
ry Atlanta was home to several amenities for neighboring farmers. They included a grocery store, post office, cafe, and a tourist shop for drivers on U.S. Route 6, as well as corn and grain elevators and two gas stations. Chataqua groups entertained at the town hall, with annual events such as the Atlanta Institute, which was an annual fair. There were also free outdoor "picture shows", and the Atlanta Industry Day Picnic. The Atlanta schoolhouse had eight grades. At the beginning of WWII, there was one street about two blocks long, with only a few business buildings drooping and dwindling along its edges. During World War II, Camp Atlanta was established next to the town as an Allied prisoner-of-war camp for German P.O.W.s. The Atlanta area had been the final choice of the U.S. Army to establish a $2 million P.O.W. camp after the outbreak of World War II. When construction began in September, 1943 people were told this would be a "Conchie Camp" for the conscientious objectors from the United States. By November it became known by locals that Atlanta would be a prisoner-of-war camp expected to guard German prisoners. There were approximately 275 enlisted men and 60 officers. Soldiers were hired out to local farms to help retrieve the increased crop production demanded by the war. More than 30 local farmers sought assistance, paying the government for work completed by the P.O.W.s. Soon after the first of the year in 1946, some soldiers returned to live in Atlanta, and at least two of the Germans applied for U.S. citizenship and returned as well. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.23 square miles (0.60 km2), all of it land
As of the census of 2010, there were 131 people, 52 households, and 39 families residing in the village. The population density was 569.6 inhabitants per square mile (219.9 /km2). There were 60 housing units at an average density of 260.9 per square mile (100.7 /km2). The racial makeup of the village was 99.2% White and 0.8% Native American. There were 52 households of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 9.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.0% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age in the village was 38.5 years. 29.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 1.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.7% were from 25 to 44; 33.6% were from 45 to 64; and 5.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
