Bushnell was the last stop of the Union Pacific Railroad before reaching Wyoming.
Bushnell was established. It was named after Cornelius Scranton Bushnell, one of the Union Pacific Rail Road's Board of Directors.
1886: The Post Office was established. Bushnell's mail kept getting sent to Rushville, Nebraska and vice versa, so the Post Office changed Bushnell's name to Orkney.
1895: The name of the village was changed back to Bushnell.
1900: Population 137
1907: Bushnell built its own water tower. JW Bogle built a General Store. The UP RR Depot was moved from Ridge, Wyoming to Bushnell.
1909: Foster Lumber Company opened a yard.
1910: Bushnell State Bank opened.
1910s: Historic Highway 30 (Lincoln Highway) was established from New York to California. Highway 30 was America's first transcontinental highway.
1914: Presbyterian Church was built. Early in the 20th century, Calvary United Methodist Church was also built.
1920: Population 321. The town had many businesses, including banks, general merchandise, drugstore, grain elevators, pool hall, restaurant, and cream station.
1922: Sally Lou Art Shop was built.
1924: JF Bogle and Son established grocery market and butcher shop.
1930: Population 341
1990: Population 119
2000: Population 160
2010: Population 120
