The city is named for Charles E. Friend,[3] who homesteaded the land and initially named the community Friendville. He operated a dry goods store and post office. In 1873 the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad named its new train station there "Friend."[4]
The Friend Police Department, which was initially housed in a tool shed during construction of U.S. Route 6, was reported by Ripley's Believe It or Not! to be the smallest police station in the world. In the 1960s, the shed doubled in size so the Nebraska State Patrol could also be stationed there to issue traffic citations and make arrests. Afterwards, Friend still claimed to have the smallest combined police station. It was demolished in 2015 and replaced with a neon Friend sign.[6]
As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 1,027 people, 431 households, and 292 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,237.3 inhabitants per square mile (477.7/km2). There were 501 housing units at an average density of 603.6 per square mile (233.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.1% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.
There were 431 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.3% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 47.9 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64; and 24.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,174 people, 475 households, and 326 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,473.4 inhabitants per square mile (568.9/km2). There were 516 housing units at an average density of 647.6 per square mile (250.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.64% White, 0.26% Native American, 0.34% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.
There were 475 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 29.1% 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 2.36 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $34,833, and the median income for a family was $40,667. Males had a median income of $32,946 versus $17,829 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,422. About 4.9% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
