Sparks Nebraska - Nebraska Directory

Unincorporated community · Cherry County · ZIP 69220 · Founded 1887

About Sparks

Sparks is an unincorporated community on the north side of the Niobrara River in Cherry County, at about 2,602 feet, 16 miles east-northeast of Valentine off NE 12, the Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway. Only a handful of people live here, but in summer it is busy: the 1888 Sparks Store is still a general store and post office, and outfitters and campgrounds along River Road and Sparks River Road rent canoes, kayaks and tubes for the Niobrara National Scenic River. Smith Falls State Park is about 3 miles southwest and the historic Brewer Bridge about 4 miles south. Sparks is on Central Time.

History

The site was known as Hudson's corner, for settler James Hudson. In 1887 Valentine bankers Eldon and Joseph A. Sparks bought it, expecting a railroad northeast from Valentine that was never built, and the town was platted that year. The post office opened on March 15, 1888, in George Sawyer's rock store and has run ever since; the store burned in 1900 and was rebuilt in 1901. In 1890 Sparks had a general store, two blacksmiths and a physician. A church was finished in 1889, and the Old Settlers celebration grew out of an earlier harvest festival. Since 1998 the store has been owned by Edward and Louise Heinert, who also run Dryland Aquatics.

Highways and trails through Sparks

Route	One way	Other way
NE 12The Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway, north of the river	West to Valentine	East to Springview

Nearby towns

Valentine	about 16 mi west-southwest	NE 12
Arabia	about 16 mi south-southwest	County roads
Wood Lake	about 21 mi south	County roads and US 20
Crookston	about 25 mi west	NE 12 and US 20
Springview	about 27 mi east-southeast	NE 12
Johnstown	about 27 mi south-southeast	County roads and US 20

Things to see

the Sparks Store, 101 Main St.: groceries, gas, firewood and post office, with grass RV sites and Dryland Aquatics rentals · Smith Falls State Park, about 3 miles southwest: Nebraska's tallest waterfall (63 feet), reached by a footbridge over the Niobrara · outfitters and camps: Sunny Brook Camp, Rocky Ford, Sharp's Outfitters, Fritz's Island, Penbrook and Rock Barn · Brewer Bridge (National Register), a public river landing about 4 miles south

Health care

Nearest hospital: Cherry County Hospital in Valentine, about 16 mi

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; Who's Who in Nebraska, Cherry County (1940); NEGenWeb Cherry County; Nebraska State Gazetteer (1890); Fitzpatrick, Nebraska Place-Names; Nebraska Blue Books (1920, 1926); History Nebraska and its markers; National Register nominations; 49 CFR 71.7 (time-zone boundary); National Park Service (Niobrara National Scenic River); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Forest Service; Nebraska Game and Parks; Nebraska Department of Transportation; FAA via AirNav; FCC; Cherry County; City of Valentine; Valentine Community Schools; Cody-Kilgore Public Schools; Cherry County Hospital; Visit Nebraska; Nebraska Arts Council; Flatwater Free Press; Nebraska Examiner; Rural Radio Network. Distances marked "about" are straight-line estimates.