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The 100th Meridian is the 100th longitudinal line west of Greenwich, England which was set by Congress as a major goal in building the first transcontinental railroad. Construction of the Union Pacific reached the Meridian on October 5, 1866. The first passenger train brought 250 notables, including railroad and territorial officials, congressmen and newspapermen to celebrate the event here on October 26, 1866. A large wooden sign designating "The 100th Meridian, 247 miles west of Omaha," which stood close to the track for many years, was replaced in 1933 by the Cozad Chapter of D. A. R. In 1879 Major John Wesley Powell in his report for the United States Geological Survey recognized the 100th Meridian as the natural demarcation line between the humid east and the arid west.

In Nebraska, the 100th Meridian passes through eight counties - Furnas, Gosper, Frontier, Dawson, Custer, Blaine, Brown and Keya Paha. These eight counties are confined between the latitudes of 40° and 43° north at the borders. The towns in Nebraska that are nearest to the 100th Meridian are Hendley, Holbrook, Eustis, Cozad, Arnold, Callaway, Dunning, Brewster, Ainsworth, Johnstown, and Norden. Cozad has sought to capitalize on its distinction with promotional signs and historical markers. The Ainsworth Municipal Airport, located between Johnstown and Ainsworth, was built during WWII as the Ainsworth Army Airfield. This airport has its north-south runway lying just east of the 100th Meridian at 99°59'48" or about 945' away.

Cozad is located in Central Nebraska exactly on the 100th Meridian. John J. Cozad was traveling west on the Union Pacific Railroad when he saw the "100th Meridian" sign. It impressed him as a favorable site for a town. Returning to Ohio, He organized a company of people which he brought to this location and founded the town named after him. In Cozad, the 100th Meridian Museum was completed in 1994. The museum became the permanent home for the Concord Touring Coach which can now be viewed by the public. This famous stagecoach carried President Taft during his visits to Yellowstone National Park.

The 100th Meridian has been considered the dividing line where east meets west. It has also been known as the dividing line between the moist portion of the eastern half of the United States and the dryer western half. The 100th Meridian also corresponds to a sharp division in population where the majority of the settled land lies east of the meridian. Vast open stretches lie west of the 100th Meridian until reaching the area of West Coast. Evaporation from the gulf waters supplies most of the rainfall for the eastern half of the United States. West of this line precipitation, which comes largely from the Pacific, is insufficient for agricultural needs without irrigation. Here on the 100th Meridian the humid East meets the arid West.

cozadnebraska.net/community/history/ history.nebraska.gov/blog/marker-monday-100th-meridian www.penryfamily.com/surveying/100meridian.html thumb