Perkey's Nebraska Place-Names is one of my most frequently used reference books in the reference collection at the Bennett Martin Public Library. It is an essential tool for those doing historical research on the state of Nebraska. The book is organized on a county-by-county basis, and within each county is a master list of all the communities that have existed there -- both those that are still around, and those that died off decades ago. For each community listed, there is background information about how it was named, where it was located, when/if a post office was first established, when/if rail travel existed to it, and when/if it was absorbed by a larger community or simply ceased to exist. Liberally scattered throughout the book are rare B&W photographs or pieces of art, highlighting historical events or locations throughout Nebraska. At the back of the book is a bibliography citing all of Perkey's research sources, and a master alphabetical index to all the communities and individuals referenced throughout this volume.

Originally reviewed for my local library's website: http://www.lincolnlibraries.org/depts/bookguide/srec/staffrec11-06.htm ( )