Hastings, NE

Hastings is best known as the birthplace of Kool-Aid, and the community loves celebrating that claim to fame. Edwin Perkins invented the iconic drink mix here in 1927, and today you will find traces of it all over town. The Hastings Museum features a dedicated Kool-Aid gallery with vintage ads and fun memorabilia, while the annual Kool-Aid Days festival every August draws crowds for a downtown parade, 5K runs, and cardboard boat races on Lake Hastings. It gives the city a playful personality and gives new residents a fun local tradition to look forward to every summer.

At the heart of the city is a vibrant historic downtown filled with brick-paved streets, local restaurants, boutiques, and renovated loft apartments. Hastings College brings a lively campus feel to the north side of town, complete with cultural events, athletics, and green open spaces. Daily life here offers a comfortable small-city balance, backed by a sturdy local economy anchored in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and agricultural technology. With Highway 6 and U.S. 281 running right through the area, getting around town or connecting to Interstate 80 for a quick trip to Grand Island or Lincoln is remarkably easy.

Just southeast of town lies one of the area's most interesting historical footprints: the former Naval Ammunition Depot. During World War II, this massive facility supplied a huge portion of the Navy's ammunition and brought thousands of new workers to the region. Today, the sprawling site has found a second purpose as home to Central Community College, agricultural research facilities, and several local businesses. It is an unexpected piece of local history that highlights how Hastings preserves its heritage while continuing to provide modern education, job opportunities, and room to grow.