Curtis was laid out in 1886, soon after the railroad was extended to that point.[6] The community has the name of a trapper who operated in the area.[7] Curtis is home to Medicine Valley Schools, which was formed in 1969. The school name is derived from its location in the Medicine Creek Valley.
In 2021, the town proposed a program to increase the population offering free land if you have a house built and financial incentives for enrolling children into the public school system.[8]
As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 939 people, 365 households, and 193 families residing in the city. The population density was 782.5 inhabitants per square mile (302.1/km2). There were 426 housing units at an average density of 355.0 per square mile (137.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.7% White, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.
There were 365 households, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.1% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.98.
The median age in the city was 27.6 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 23.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.4% were from 25 to 44; 19.1% were from 45 to 64; and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
2000 census
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 832 people, 336 households, and 193 families residing in the city. The population density was 693.0 inhabitants per square mile (267.6/km2). There were 381 housing units at an average density of 317.4 per square mile (122.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.88% White, 0.24% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 336 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 18.4% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $26,667, and the median income for a family was $36,458. Males had a median income of $28,500 versus $16,324 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,943. About 14.3% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
^"Curtis, Frontier County". Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. University of Nebraska. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
^"Station: Curtis, NE". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
