Minden is a Midwest community flush with character
Situated in south central Nebraska, Minden is a small town with a taste for historic charm and the holiday spirit. Known as "Christmas City," the community of 3,100 displays an elaborate collection of holiday lights on its 120-year-old courthouse, a tradition dating back to 1915. Minden also features a 20-acre museum complex with tens of thousands of artifacts. “We’re kind of a bedroom community to Kearney , which is a larger city just 20 minutes north of us,” says Dawn Thompson, a Minden-based associate broker with eXp Realty, who has over 30 years of industry experience. “So we have a lot of people that move here because housing is a little bit cheaper here, and then they commute there for work. They like the smaller community, the smaller schools.”
Well-established housing stock spans multiple decades
Most of Minden’s homes were built between 1910 and 1980, though some sprang up after the turn of the 21st century. On any given block, buyers can find a Craftsman-style bungalow, a ranch-style house or a colonial. “We do have a variety of homes in the area,” Thompson says. “You’ve got the cool ones that have the old character. You have some newer ones that are the ranch style that people like. And it kind of hits all different price points.” Floor plans range from about 900 square feet to well over 3,000. Homes line wide neighborhood blocks bordered by tall oak trees. Properties sell for $90,000 to $370,000, based on condition and square footage.
Downtown is a destination for dining and more
Minden’s downtown orbits the area’s Classical Revival-style Kearney County Courthouse, built in 1906. The district is full of tall brick buildings with glass storefronts, housing businesses like The Corner Nook, a coffee shop that Thompson says stays busy. Hissy Fit Boutique is a family-owned clothing store with items from hats to shoes. The Cozy Corner next door carries a variety of holiday decorations for the Christmas City. El Agave is a popular Mexican restaurant known in part for its salsa. South Side Diner, just south of downtown, serves homestyle fried chicken, pies and other dishes. Locals can grab groceries at Mason's Supermarket and other household items at Hardware Hank. Downtown’s Minden Opera House is a staple for live entertainment, dating to 1891. Thompson says it's a huge attraction for Minden, drawing bands, comedians and more.
Holidays come with community gatherings in Minden
Minden hosts several events and activities each year. The area celebrates the Fourth of July with fireworks and food trucks at the Kearney County Fairgrounds. There’s a costume parade and trunk-or-treat for Halloween. Christmas Traditions is a fixture of the day after Thanksgiving, with an appearance from Santa, a Christmas parade and the annual debut of the elaborate courthouse lights. The display features over 12,000 lights. “It never gets old,” Thompson says. “I love it.”
Students in Minden get hands-on experiences
Minden Public Schools carries a B grade on Niche. The B-minus-rated Minden East Elementary integrates hands-on activities like pumpkin dissections to teach plant life cycles. C.L. Jones Middle also has a B-minus and a journalism program where students can produce their own articles and videos. Minden High gets a B and counts competitive bareback horse riding among its athletic programs.
River to museum, recreation options run deep
Community green spaces in Minden include Jaycee Park, which has a ball field that hosts youth games, a playground and basketball courts. American Legion Park offers tennis courts and a pool open from May to September. Locals also make the roughly 12-mile trip north to explore the Platte River and its surrounding areas. “A lot of people go and do the walking and biking trails up that way, or kayak,” Thompson says.
Pioneer Village is a unique attraction in Minden, offering a mix of outdoor and indoor spaces to explore across a 20-acre campus. The brainchild of late businessman Harold Warp, who was born in the area, Pioneer Village features over two dozen buildings and some 50,000 items about the history of the country and this region. There are classic cars, planes, toys, a train and art. The village has a campground, too, and is currently undergoing renovations. “It is very cool,” Thompson says.
Kearney is a haven for more amenities
Kearney, a city roughly 12 times the size of Minden, is just about 20 miles north on Nebraska highways 10, 50A and 44. The Kearney Regional Airport operates daily flights to Denver. Though the Minden Medical Clinic provides some services, the 93-bed Kearney Regional Medical Center is the closest full-service hospital.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
