Harlan County Reservoir

Harlan County Reservoir
Outlet structure of Harlan County Dam, seen from downstream
Location	Harlan County, Nebraska / Phillips County, Kansas, US
Coordinates	40°04′15″N 099°12′41″W / 40.07083°N 99.21139°W / 40.07083; -99.21139Coordinates: 40°04′15″N 099°12′41″W / 40.07083°N 99.21139°W / 40.07083; -99.21139
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Republican River
Primary outflows	Republican River
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	7 mi (11 km)
Surface area	13,250 acres (5,360 ha)
Surface elevation	603 m (1,978 ft)

The Harlan County Reservoir includes a dam and a reservoir of 13,250 acres (54 km²) located in Harlan County in south-central Nebraska. Its southernmost part extends into northern Phillips County, Kansas. The reservoir is formed by a dam in the Republican River, which starts in Colorado and ends in Kansas.

The two closest towns are Republican City and Alma. Republican City offers fishing supplies, boat rentals, restaurants and cabins. When the lake is at normal pool, Alma is on the shore line of the lake and offers lodging, restaurants, stores, and churches.

A number of Native American tribes lived in the Republican River Valley throughout history. The Pawnee, Arapahoe and Cheyenne relied on the land for their survival. Early settlers and trappers arrived in the 1850s when the Nebraska Territory was formed. The rich river bottom soil lured many farmers into the area. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Native Americans told early settlers not to build big houses close to the river because of the "big water." In 1872, Dr. John McPherson moved from his Brownville, Nebraska home to the river valley. McPherson opened several stores and laid out lots in a town he called Republican. Once a post office was built, the town took the official name of Republican City. The Burlington Railroad reached the town in 1881, creating a booming trade center.