Nebraska               Community "Fast Facts" Profile               Ponca, Nebraska               Date generated: 9/2/2010

LOCATION
Ponca, Nebraska (click for larger view)		Ponca is located in the northeast corner of Nebraska. The city is nestled in a valley two miles from the banks of the Missouri River, a national recreational river. The community is served by scenic State Highway 12, and U.S. Highway 20 is five miles north of the community. Ponca is 20 miles northwest of the Sioux City, Iowa metropolitan area, and 114 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska.

POPULATION

General: Last Census Latest Year % 2000 2009     Change Ponca ....... 1,062 1,084 2.1% Dixon County ....... 6,339 6,289 -0.8% Labor Market Population1 ....... 79,350 79,936 0.7% 1) Labor market population is the county population plus the contiguous county population. Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Estimates of the Population, City populations released June 2010, County populations released April 2010.

County Age Distribution (2009) : Age: 0-17 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+ 85+ Total % Split Male......... 792 295 597 883 573 99 3,140 49.9 % Female...... 701 233 595 818 802 185 3,149 50.1 % Total: 1,493 528 1,192 1,701 1,375 284

Median Age (2009):     State 35.8 years       County 44.2 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, County Population Estimates by Selected Age and Gender. Released June 2010.
State Data. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey

LABOR

State (2009) County (2009) Area Labor Force (2009)1 Labor Force..... 995,635 3,356 43,302     Unemployment..... 33,217 137 2,222     Unemployment as % of Labor Force..... 3.3% 4.1% 5.1%     Total Employment..... 962,418 3,219 41,079     1) Area labor force and employment data are for the county plus the contiguous counties. For further information regarding underemployment in the area, please contact NPPD at (800) 282-6773. Source: Year end 2009, Nebraska DOL, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Online Data, April 2010.

Wages: Sample of hourly wage rates in manufacturing occupations (production and/or clerical). Job Title 10th Percentile Median 90th Percentile Assemblers/Fabricators, All Others $10.78 $14.39 $17.34 Data Entry Keyers $7.67 $10.94 $15.65 Laborers, Helpers & Material Movers, Hand $8.15 $12.14 $17.31 Lathe Tool Setters $14.56 $17.72 $21.83 Machinists $10.20 $16.75 $36.81 Secretaries, exc. Legal & Medical $8.26 $11.56 $16.86 Welders & Cutters $10.27 $13.52 $19.41 Welding Machine Operators $11.82 $14.60 $18.63 Source: Nebraska Workforce Development, Occupational Employment Statistics Program, First Quarter 2010.

	Percent of Manufacturing Labor Force Unionized	............	0%
	Number of Work Stoppages in Past 5 Years	............	0

TRANSPORTATION Motor Carrier: Number & Type of Roads Serving Community - Federal State County INTERSTATE Hwys..... 0 Limited Access, Four-Lane Hwys..... 0 0 0 Improved Two-Lane Hwys..... 0 1 0 Hwy. Name Miles Miles to nearest Interstate hwy..... Interstate 29 20 Miles to nearest four-lane hwy..... Motor Freight Carriers:   There are more than 8,000 licensed motor freight carriers with global connections in Nebraska. These carriers can serve businesses throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Transit Time for Carload or Truckload Lots to: Destination Distance by Hwy. Miles Days by Railroad Days by Motor Freight Omaha..... 114 N/A 1 Day Lincoln..... 167 N/A 1 Day Chicago..... 549 N/A 1-2 days Dallas..... 775 N/A 2-3 days Denver..... 584 N/A 1-2 days Kansas City..... 296 N/A 1-2 days Los Angeles..... 1595 N/A 2-3 days Minneapolis..... 298 N/A 1-2 days New York..... 1323 N/A 3-5 days St. Louis..... 547 N/A 2-3 days

Scenic east-west Nebraska Highway 12 serves Ponca and connects with east-west U.S. Highway 20 five miles south of Ponca. North-south Interstate 29 is 20 miles east and Interstate 80 is 115 miles south of Ponca. The Newcastle-Vermillion Bridge provides easy access to Vermillion, South Dakota. Through bus service is provided in Siouxland, 20 miles, by Greyhound Bus Lines, Arrow Stage Lines, and Crusader Coach Lines. Bus parcel service is available.

Air: Distance to nearest public airport..... 20 minute(s) Elevation..... 1,100 feet Length of longest runway..... 8,999 feet Runway lighted..... Yes Private aircraft storage available..... Yes Private aircraft maintenance available..... Yes Distance to nearest commercial air transportation..... 20 minute(s) Distance to nearest international airport: Name of Airport Miles to Airport from Community Omaha Eppley International 118 Kansas City International 279 Denver International 577 The Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, 20 miles southeast of Ponca, is the major metropolitan airport serving the tri-state area. Conveniently located adjacent to Interstate 29, this Class A, all-weather commercial airport is easily accessible from all points in the tri-state area. The nearest airfield for private planes is Martin's Field, located 15 miles southeast of Ponca. Martin's has two runways, hangars, and fuel. There are 28 private planes hangared there; none are available for charter. Barge: Barge service is available at 19 barge terminals on the Missouri River in Nebraska. Siouxland, 20 miles southeast of Ponca, is the northern most post of navigation on the Missouri River. These river ports are navigable approximately eight months per year. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains a 9-foot deep, 300-foot wide channel for 735 navigable miles from Sioux City to the mouth of the Missouri River. Rail: Community Served by Railroad..... No Distance to Nearest Railroad..... 16 mile(s) Functional Piggyback Ramp Available..... No Distance to Nearest Piggyback Service..... 115 mile(s) Name of Railroad(s) Serving Community: Burlington Northern Santa Fe The Burlington Northern Santa Fe provides main line rail service to South Sioux City, Nebraska 16 miles southeast of Ponca. Amtrack provides Omaha, 115 miles (2 hours) south of Ponca, with rail passenger service east to Chicago and west to Denver and San Francisco/Oakland. The Superliner features coach and first-class accommodations, dining car service, adn checked baggage service from most cities. Travel time is 9 1/2 hours to Chicago and 40 hours to the West Coast. Amtrak has one train each way daily. UTILITIES Electricity:  State Electric Power Deregulated.....   No Electric System Operator: Northeast Nebraska Public Power District   phone - (800) 750-9277 or (402) 375-1360   website - www.nnppd.com Wholesale Supplier: Northeast Nebraska Public Power District Additional Comments: Northeast Nebraska Public Power District (NNPPD) retails electricity to the city of Ponca. Service is supplied from one local station at 69,000 volts. The substation, with 2,499 kVA capacity, is served from Twin Churst and an alternate source is available from Emerson. Natural Gas: Natural Gas Service Available..... Yes Supplier in Community..... Ponca Public Utilities Natural gas is distributed in the community by Ponca Public Utilities. Northern Natural Gas Company is the pipeline transporter. U.S. Energy Services, Inc., is the supplier. Water: Provider..... Ponca Public Utilities Major Source..... Wells If Wells, Average Depth..... 260 feet Average Capacity..... 0.360 mgd Peak Demand..... 0.700 mgd Storage Capacity..... 200,000 gallons Hardness..... 411 ppm Treated..... No Temperature Range..... 51 (degrees Fahrenheit) The municipal water system in Ponca is supplied by three wells, which have an average depth of 260 feet. The system has a combined pumping capacity 1,000 gallons per minute. Groundwater is available for industrial uses. A 289 foot well will produce 645 gallons of water per minute. Sanitation/Waste Water: Name of Provider..... Ponca Public Utilities Type of Service..... New mechanical fine screen system - flow metering capability. Rated Capacity..... 0.135 (mgd) Average Daily Demand..... 0.110 (mgd) Peak Demand..... 0.155 (mgd) Sewer Connection Fee..... Yes The orbital treatment facility was built in 2005 - 2006, and designed to handle a population of 1,500. Telecommunications: Name of Local Service Provider..... Great Plains Communications Great Plains Communications provides telecommunications service to Ponca with a digital central office served by fiber optics. The central office is monitored on-site and remotely. Great Plains Communications Netlink in Ponca provides both dial-up and high speed Internet to the community. MUNICIPAL SERVICES Type of Government..... Mayor-Council Comprehensive City Plan..... No, (year) City Manager..... Yes City Engineer..... Yes City Zoning Ordinance in Effect..... Yes County Zoning Ordinance in Effect..... Yes Garbage Service Provider..... Private Public Library in City..... Yes Percent of Streets Paved..... 100 % Number Full-Time Fire Department Personnel..... 0 Number Volunteer Fire Department Personnel..... 37 Number Full-Time Police Officers..... 2 Inside City Outside City Fire Insurance Class..... 6 9 Ponca, a second-class city, has a mayor-council form of government. The Ponca Public Library contains more than 8,000 items in its collection with an average annual circulation exceeding 9,000. EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES   Public Schools # of Schools Enrollment Teacher/Student Ratio Elementary 1 198 1:14 Senior High 1 208 1:12 Trade & Tech Schools 0 Community College 0 Four-Year College 0 University 0   Private Schools # of Schools Enrollment Teacher/Student Ratio Elementary 0 Middle / Jr. High 0 Senior High 0 Colleges 0 Serving children since 1859, the Ponca Public School has a K-12 enrollment of 421 students and offers outstanding educational programs as well as a number of extracurricular opportunities which are enjoyed by the entire community. The district has two completely networked computer labs. Ponca Public Schools is a fully accredited, K-12 Class III school district. The philosophy of the Ponca School District is to help each student develop to his or her fullest extent--mentally, socially, emotionally and physically--enabling them to take their place in society as well-adjusted, contributing members. Special education services are available for all ages. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES   Type of facilities in city or within 30 minutes: Public Golf Course(s)..... 1 Private Golf Course(s)..... 0 Public Tennis Court(s)..... 1 Public Swimming Pool(s)..... 1 Public Park(s)..... 4 Public Camp Ground(s)..... 1 Nearest Public Access to Lake or River..... 2 mile(s) Camping..... Yes Swimming..... Yes Fishing..... Yes Motorized Boats..... Yes Water Skiing/Tubing..... Yes There are four parks in Ponca covering 20 acres. A three-acre park, Friendship Park was developed by the Ponca Improvement Club as a play area for small children. The Chief Standing Bear Park has a basketball area; horseshoe pits; sand volleyball court; shelter house; picnic area; playground area; and locally carved totem pole. Ponca State Park, 1,269 acres of wooded hills, is located two miles north of Ponca on the banks of the Missouri River. Facilities include boat access to the river for boating, skiing, and fishing; swimming pool; trail rides; camping facilities with bath house, electrical hook-ups, and dumping station; hike and snow skiing trails; picnic shelters and playground areas; and modern cabins. HOUSING Average Monthly Rental - 3 Bedroom House..... $375 Average Cost of Houses Sold (last 2 years)..... $165,000 Poineer Square is a 22-unit, low cost elderly housing facility built in 1980. The three-story brick facility, with an on-site manager, has a common meeting room. Ponca Heights built in 1981, is an 8-unit, low-cost family housing facility. HEALTH FACILITIES Number of Hospitals in Community..... 0 Number of Beds in Hospital(s)..... 0 Number of Outpatient Clinics..... 1 Medical Personnel in or Serving Community: Medical Doctor(s) / Physician Assistant(s)..... 2 Dentist(s) / Orthodontist(s)..... 1 Nurse(s) (registered or practical)..... 7 Veterinarian(s)..... 0 The Ponca Medical Center is staffed with two board certified family practioners and one physician's assistant. The clinic is open five days a week. Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City, 20 miles southeast of Ponca, is a 286-bed tertiary care facility established in 1890, is the hub for an integrated healthcare delivery system serving a tri-state, a 33-county area at the intersection of Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. It provides a complete continuum of preventive, primary, acute, and tertiary health care for more than 100,000 patients annually. COMMERCIAL SERVICES Machine Shops in City....... 1 Tool & Die Services in City....... 0 Electric Motor Repair Services in City....... 1 Type of Newspaper in City....... weekly Local Radio Station(s)....... 7 Number of TV Channels Received without Cable....... 6 Cable Antenna Television Serves City....... Yes Maximum Number of Cable Channels Received....... 153 Number of Protestant Churches....... 4 Number of Catholic Churches....... 1 Number of Synagogues....... 0 Number of Motels & Hotels in Community....... 1 Total Number of Rooms Available....... 16 Number of Banks in City....... 1 Trails Inn is a new motel in town. LARGEST EMPLOYERS Leading Employers in Community: #1. Business Name: Elms Health Care Center Service Sector: Services Employment Number: Total: 58   (Male: 3   Female: 55) Year Established: 1951 Unions: No Products/Service: Nursing Home   #2. Business Name: Dixon County Service Sector: Government Employment Number: Total: 55   (Male: 35   Female: 20) Year Established: 1859 Unions: No Products/Service: Government   #3. Business Name: Ponca Public School System Service Sector: Services Employment Number: Total: 49   (Male: 13   Female: 36) Year Established: 1859 Unions: Yes Products/Service: Education   #4. Business Name: State of Nebraska Service Sector: Services Employment Number: Total: 25   (Male: 12   Female: 13) Year Established: 1934 Unions: No Products/Service: State recreation park   #5. Business Name: Oscar's Service Sector: Services Employment Number: Total: 12   (Male: 5   Female: 7) Year Established: 2007 Unions: No Products/Service: Retail   #6. Business Name: Trading Post Service Sector: Services Employment Number: Total: 17   (Male: 2   Female: 15) Year Established: 1990 Products/Service: Retail   #7. Business Name: Bank of Dixon County Service Sector: Services Employment Number: Total: 13   (Male: 5   Female: 8) Year Established: 1881 Unions: No Products/Service: Finance   #8. Business Name: Cooks Country Store Service Sector: Government Employment Number: Total: 13   (Male: 1   Female: 12) Year Established: 1980 Unions: No Products/Service: Retail   #9. Business Name: A-1 Mist Service Sector: Services Employment Number: Total: 4   (Male: 3   Female: 1) Year Established: 2000 Unions: No Products/Service: Sprayers   #10. Business Name: Ponca Medical Clinic & Home Health Care Service Sector: Services Employment Number: Total: 11   (Male: 1   Female: 8) Year Established: 1974 Unions: No Products/Service: Medical   INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS Industrial Buildings Available in Community....... 0 Spec Buildings Available....... 0 Details Available Online....... No Details Available in Print....... No INDUSTRIAL SITES Controlled Industrial Sites Available in Community....... 0 Details Available Online....... No Details Available in Print....... No COMMUNITY NOTES Suggested Sites: City of Ponca @ www.ci.ponca.ne.us Ponca Public Library @ www.poncapubliclibrary.org Ponca State Park @ www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/ponca.html   Local Development Contact: Denise Peterson City of Ponca PO Box 465 123 West Third Ponca, Nebraska 68770-0465 Phone:(402) 755-4165 Fax:(402) 755-2618 Email: poncane@gpcom.net Website: www.ci.ponca.ne.us   Thomas L. Higginbotham Jr. Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District 111 South 1st Street Norfolk, Nebraska 68701 Phone:(402) 379-1150 Fax:(402) 379-9207 Email: thomash@nenedd.org Website: www.nenedd.org   State Contacts: Richard Baier, Director Neb. Dept. of Economic Development PO Box 94666 301 Centennial Mall South Lincoln, NE 68509 Phone: (402) 471-3111 or (800) 426-6505 Fax: (402) 471-3778 Email: richard.baier@nebraska.gov Website: www.NebraskaAdvantage.org   Economic Development Team Nebraska Public Power District PO Box 499 1414 15th Street Columbus, NE 68601 Phone: (402) 563-5534 or (800) 282-6773, ext. 5534 Fax: (402) 563-5090 Email: econdev@nppd.com Website: sites.nppd.com Fast Facts Community Profiles sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Nebraska Public Power District. Copyright © 2001-2010 Nebraska Public Power District (sites.nppd.com). All rights reserved.