In 1887, the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad extended to Hastings, the establishment of Henderson on land sold by Cornelius Regier. Named after early settler David Henderson, the village quickly developed into a community with businesses, homes, and a school. Despite losing railroad service in 1941, the town thrived through irrigation and manufacturing, doubling its population and expanding its facilities in the 1950s and 60s. The cooperative spirit of residents has made Henderson a notable small-town community in Nebraska.