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Ravenna, Nebraska
Ravenna is a city in Buffalo County, in south-central Nebraska, part of the Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 1,441 residents.
History
Ravenna was founded in 1886 when the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad extended its line to that point, and the city was formally incorporated in October of that year. It was named after Ravenna, Italy, and many of its streets carry names drawn from Italian locations, a distinctive touch that still marks the city’s layout today.
Location & Geography
Ravenna sits at approximately 41.029°N, 98.912°W, at an elevation of 2,015 feet, and covers about 1.66 square miles. It lies in eastern Buffalo County within the Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area, giving residents easy access to the region’s larger commercial and medical hub in Kearney.
Notable Event: The 2017 Solar Eclipse
Ravenna sat within the path of totality for the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, drawing an estimated 8,000 visitors to the small city — travelers came from as far away as Europe, Japan, and Australia to view the event, a remarkable moment in the community’s history.
Community Life
Ravenna’s population has grown modestly and steadily over the past two decades — 1,341 in 2000, 1,360 in 2010, and 1,441 in 2020. The city hosts an annual community celebration called “Annevar” (Ravenna spelled backwards), which features a demolition derby, a tractor pull, and a variety of other recreational events that draw residents and visitors from across Buffalo County each year.
Ravenna, Nebraska (68869)
City in Buffalo County within the Kearney Micropolitan Statistical Area, founded 1886 with the extension of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. Incorporated October 1886. Named after Ravenna, Italy, with many streets named for Italian locations. Population 1,441 (2020 census).
ZIP: 68869 | Pop: 1,441 | Elevation: 2,015 ft | Area: 1.66 sq mi
Known for sitting in the path of totality during the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse, drawing roughly 8,000 visitors from as far as Europe, Japan, and Australia. Hosts the annual “Annevar” celebration each year, featuring a demolition derby and tractor pull.