Tekamah, Nebraska

Tekamah is a city located in Burt County, Nebraska. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,892. It is the county seat of Burt County{{GR|6}}.

Related Topics:
Burt County, Nebraska - 2000 - County seat

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A claim was staked to establish Tekamah as a town in October 1854. On March 14, 1855, Tekamah

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became an incorporated city by an act of the first territorial legislature of Nebraska.

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A peculiar method produced the town's name. According to the diary of Colonel B.R. Folsom, who

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worked with the original townsite company, Tekamah was literally chosen by the luck of the draw.

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When the decision had been reached to make the location a settlement, a problem arose in naming it. It

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was agreed that each of the exploration parties should write their favorite name on a slip of paper and

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drop it into a hat. The first name drawn out would then become the official name of the community. The

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first name drawn was "Tekamah."

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A surveyor, William Byers, contributed the name. An Indian translation defines Tekamah as meaning

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"big cottonwoods," and this is appropriate due to the large cottonwood trees that grew along the banks

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of Tekamah creek and were scattered over the territory. Another translation found through research says

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the name "Teka-mah" comes from the Egyptian or Arabic language and means "bloody battlefield."

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Researchers claim that centuries ago many tribes of Indians collided with a pale-faced foe in the

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Tekamah valley. During the years following the settling of the area, documentation was found indicating

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that many exposed human bones were found. The translation in either language is appropriate as there is

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evidence enough for both. It is unclear which translation prompted Byers to suggest it as a contender. To

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this day Tekamah is a name that belongs exclusively to Burt County.

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