city, seat (1896) of Red Willow county, southwestern Nebraska, U.S., on the Republican River, about 70 miles (115 km) south of North Platte and about 15 miles (25 km) north of the Kansas state line. The settlement was founded near the existing community of Fairview as a division point on the Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1882 and was named for Alexander McDowell McCook, a Union general in the American Civil War. Early development was closely tied to railroads and farming, but after World War II the economy became diversified, with oil production and manufacturing. The contemporary economy is based on agriculture (primarily wheat, corn 【maize】, sorghum, cattle, and hogs), oil production, telemarketing, transportation services, manufacturing (including industrial hoses, fertilizer, and irrigation equipment), and dairy processing. Fishing on nearby lakes (including Hugh Butler Lake, impounded by Red Willow Dam) and pheasant hunting provide added income. McCook Community College, a part of the Mid-Plains Community College system, was established in 1926. The home (1886) of Sen. George W. Norris (Norris, George W.) is preserved as a historical landmark. The Museum of the High Plains contains pioneer-era artifacts and historical photographs. Red Willow Reservoir, Medicine Creek, and Swanson Reservoir state recreation areas are nearby. Inc. village, 1883; city, 1886. Pop. (2000) 7,994; (2005 est.) 7,680.