Garland Map
Garland is a village in Seward County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 247 at the 2000 census. Garland is the current residence of Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, and the subject (among other aspects of rural life) of Kooser's book Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps.
Garland was originally named Germantown, after the predominate heritage of the local settlers. Germantown was created when Midland Pacific Railway wanted a line west of Lincoln, NE. The Germantown post office, with John Westerhoff postmaster, began March 1873. Germantown was platted by Hiland Frazier in 1874 , and incorporated in 1892. The Germantown State Bank, located on Main Street, is listed among the National Register of Historic Places. According to the U.S. Geological Service, what is now the Garland Post Office opened as Germantown 03/19/1874. Name changed to Garland 03/10/1919.
When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, anti-German sentiment prompted the inhabitants to change their name. They chose to name it after the first resident to give their life in the war effort, Private Raymond A. Garland, who died August 23, 1918. Unknown to the town council, Garland died of pneumonia en route to France. There is also a local rumor that Garland died of a gangrenous toe after having his foot ran over by a truck stateside. Germantown was officially changed to Garland November 11, 1918.
Nearby cities include Raymond, Pleasant Dale, Valparaiso, Milford, Ulysses.