Sewer Bond of the Village of Pilger, Nebraska - 1925 dated Town Sewage Bond

State of Nebraska Sewer Bond of the Village of Pilger, Nebraska; $500 Bond; Printed by The Beacon Press.

Pilger, Nebraska, a small village nestled in Stanton County, was originally established as Canton in 1880. Later, it was renamed in honor of its founder, Peter Pilger. For much of its history, Pilger thrived as a peaceful farming community. In 1887, it was incorporated, and by 2010, it had a population of approximately 352 residents. The town’s development was closely tied to the railroad, but service ended in 1982 due to significant flood damage.

Despite its modest size, Pilger gained global recognition in the meteorological community for the rare and violent “twin tornadoes” that struck on June 16, 2014. This event remains the defining moment in Pilger’s modern history. The EF-4 tornado disaster destroyed roughly 75% of the town and tragically claimed two lives. Scientifically, the event was significant for its unique occurrence of two nearly identical, violent tornadoes rotating around one another simultaneously.

In the years that followed, the community embraced the moniker “The Town Too Tough to Die” and successfully rebuilt key infrastructure, including its co-op, bank, and several churches. While the population has fluctuated since the storm, falling to approximately 215 residents by 2017, Pilger continues to honor its resilience. However, the village’s recovery efforts were further complicated by a 2020 legal scandal involving the misappropriation of nearly $700,000 in village funds by a former clerk.