Tecumseh is a distinctive rural community of 1,800 located in Southeastern Nebraska at the intersection of State Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 136. It is only an hour drive from Lincoln or Omaha and a short two-hour drive from Kansas City. Tecumseh is only 28 miles west of I-29 and 55 miles south of I-80. Tecumseh's historic town square contains many buildings which were significant architectural pieces in the past. The 130 year old county courthouse and Tecumseh City Hall are especially impressive pieces of Romanesque, Classic Revival-style architecture.
Tecumseh was originally called Frances, and under the latter name was established in 1856. The label of Frances has long been falsely attributed as the name of the wife of Col. Richard M. Johnson, the namesake of Johnson County. Johnson's only marriage was to Julia Chinn, a common-law spouse. Some historians have accepted the possibility that the legislature intended to name the county seat after Francis Burt, the first Governor of the Nebraska Territory. Shortly after being founded, the name was changed to Tecumseh after the Native American Chief said to have been killed by Johnson during the Battle of the Thames. The Nebraska Territorial Legislature established Tecumseh as the county seat in February 1857.
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