Alma was launched in the spring of 1871 by a group of Union Pacific railroad laborers initially from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Harlan County was established by the Nebraska Legislature on June 3, 1871, and Alma was created the county seat on July three, 1871. A dispute amongst the authentic settlers led to a dissolution of the town, but it was re-organized in 1874. Alma's position as county seat was challenged by residents of Orleans, but an 1884 Nebraska Supreme Court conclusion affirmed Alma's position as seat of Harlan County. Alma officially incorporated in July 1881. On January thirteen, 1880 the Burlington Railroad achieved Alma, supplying a substantial raise for local commerce and marketplace. In 1887, the Kansas Town and Omaha Railroad also achieved Alma. Phone services reached Alma in June 1899. Electrical power arrived with a steam electricity plant in 1906 and drinking water services adopted in 1907. In 1935, important flooding of the close by Republican River furnished an impetus to assemble a dam on the river. The Army Corps of Engineers up and running development of the Harlan County Dam on August 1, 1946, and finished operate in November 1952. The new synthetic lake, Harlan County Lake, became 1 of Alma's top rated recreation locations. While in Planet War II, Alma hosted a smaller number of captured German troopers..