A partial view of Ord as it appeared in 1905. Looking Northwest, North & East. The above panorama of Ord, the most important town on the North Loup river, was taken in August 1905. Not without justice is the county seat of Valley County spoken of as a City of Homes. Beautiful, modern city dwelling houses, well kept lawns & gardens, shaded streets, broad cement and brick walks all go to make this an ideal home town. Ord is a moral town. The licentious element so common in many large places has never found a harbor here. It is essentially a town of churches, all the leading Protestant denominations being represented. Its schools too rank amongst the best in the state. Its intellectual atmosphere is of the very best. In industrial lines, too, Ord is on the alert. Her business men are progressive; her business houses are rapidly becoming modern; gas and electric lights are used and one of the best water plants in the state, supply with cool spring water. Two railroads connect Ord with the world and excellent facilities for quick communication with stock and produce markets are thus afforded.

     In a way of contrast it is interesting to study, Ord in 1887, appearing elsewhere in this book with the above cut. The former picture is that of a public town, smooth and unpretending, not a tree in site, not a telegraph or telephone post-- just an average western town with all the thumbmarks of hard times upon it -- and now, a city of houses and trees, where beautiful elms, maples and box elders threaten soon to hide the houses entirely from view. Then Ord numbered a thousand souls, now it numbers more than two thousand strong,  with bright prospects for a continual growth.