2 | Dawson & Gosper County Travel Guide 2025
NEBRASKA Cozad
Right In The Center Of It All
BY JOSE PEREZ Lexington Clipper-Herald C
ozad has the geographic distinction of being founded on the 100th Meridian. It lies in Dawson County in south-central Nebraska, along U.S. Highway 30 and Nebraska Highway 21 and just under a mile north of Interstate 80. The community is located 247 miles west of Omaha and 317 miles
east of Denver. Cozad is proud of its location at the 100th Meridian. In fact, the town was founded in the 1870s after John J. Cozad became intrigued by a sign along the railroad tracks marking the 100th Meridian, the spot where scientists claim that the “humid East meets the arid West.” Cozad decided to build a town on the very spot. Cozad built a hotel from which to conduct his business while offering settlers a place to stay when they first arrived on the plains. His hotel, the Hendee Hotel, was restored in 1984 and underwent a major restoration project. Cozad’s son Robert would become the world-renowned artist Robert Henri (pronounced ‘hen-rye’), who was author of the book “The Art Spirit.”
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator