Laurel, Nebraska is a thriving and progressive farming community located in the Northeast region of the state, and in the southeast corner of Cedar County. It is conveniently located 45 miles southeast of Yankton SD, 40 miles west of Sioux City IA and Interstate 29, and 40 miles northeast of Norfolk. With two intersecting highways and a railway that runs through town, Laurel has nearly every professional service, and is a great place for retail, industrial and manufacturing businesses, too. Laurel is not too small to have it all!
The Laurel Industrial Park has developed rapidly since 2012. A $1.9 million electrical infrastructure expansion project and $1 million in street extension projects served as the catalysts for the developments in the Laurel Industrial Park. Four new businesses have built facilities. There is an additional 12.47 acres along the south side of the BNSF short-line railway that is zoned for industrial use and is available for new or expanding business.
Downtown Laurel received a new look thanks to CDBG Downtown Revitalization Funds and local investment. Downtown property owners leveraged over $250,000 in CDBG funds for facade and structural improvements on their buildings. A group of local investors partnered with Faith Regional Physicians Services to construct a new downtown medical clinic, which houses Laurel Family Medicine. The Downtown business district received a facelift in 2022 with the reconstruction of new streets, sidewalks, and sewer system. Construction began in Spring 2021 thanks to the efforts of the Downtown Revitalization committee.
Thanks to numerous donations, the City of Laurel and Laurel Community Center Committee completed construction on a new community center in downtown Laurel in the Fall of 2022. The 20,500-foot facility features an open area for larger events, a senior center and social gathering room, city offices, meeting rooms and a kitchen. The community center is available for rent to host any event big or small. Contact the City office for details.
Residential lots for new housing construction are available in the Norris and Galvin Additions on the west side of Laurel. In August 2019, the Community Redevelopment Authority purchased 110 acres on the southeast corner of Laurel, running along the east side of Cedar View Golf Course and the Hillcrest Addition.
Laurel-Concord School partnered with the neighboring Coleridge Community School to consolidate and become Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (LCC) School. LCC Schools provides high quality education opportunities for the youth in our school communities of Laurel, Coleridge, Concord, Dixon, and Belden. The Elementary (grades PK-4) and High School (grades 9-12) campuses are located in Laurel, while the Middle School campus (grades 5-8) is located in Coleridge. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School has earned both Nebraska and AdvancEd accreditation. Voters passed a $18.5 Million Bond resolution in the Summer of 2021 for the construction of a new High School and renovations to the Elementary School. The High School construction is nearly complete with the Elementary School renovations slated for completion in Spring 2024.
Recreational activities in Laurel include four parks (City, Lion’s Club, LCC School, and Arlys Park), Baseball field, Softball field, public swimming pool with a slide and diving boards, Splash Pad, LCC’s Haskell Field Football and Track complex, Disc Golf, Cedar View Country Club and a City Rec Board that provides a comprehensive list of sports activities for Laurel’s youth that includes football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball and baseball.
Laurel is home to nearly 1,000 residents and is a community full of active and dedicated citizens who work together to continue the exciting progress our city is known for. The Laurel Chamber Community Club hosts several family fun events throughout the year including an Easter egg hunt, Laurel Ag Days, Cruise Night, Night of Lights, and the annual Chamber/ FFA Banquet. The entire community takes great pride in our achievements. Browse our site to learn more about our history, our future development plans, our health and recreational facilities, and our government. After learning about us, we wholeheartedly invite you to visit us in person. Be sure to put Laurel on your list of must-see places in Nebraska!
