Hastings, NE · The Birthplace of Kool-Aid

Moving to or from Hastings?

The birthplace of Kool-Aid — where Edwin Perkins invented the powdered drink mix in 1927. A small south-central Nebraska city with Hastings College, the Hastings Museum, and the annual Kool-Aid Days festival every August celebrating the local invention.

  • 25,000 City population
  • 37,000 Metro area
  • 1872 Founded
  • South-Central Nebraska / Adams County Region
What Hastings Is Known For

Why people move to Hastings.

  • Being the birthplace of Kool-Aid (1927)
  • Annual Kool-Aid Days festival every August
  • Hastings College
  • Hastings Museum of Natural & Cultural History (with Kool-Aid exhibit)
  • Being the official Kool-Aid state (Nebraska's state soft drink)
  • J.M. McDonald Company retail chain founding
Fun Fact

Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in Hastings, Nebraska in 1927 — he took an existing liquid drink concentrate called 'Fruit Smack' and figured out how to dehydrate it into powder form, creating a far cheaper and easier-to-ship product. Kool-Aid became one of the most commercially successful food inventions of the 20th century. Hastings celebrates the annual Kool-Aid Days festival every August with Kool-Aid-themed events, tastings of rare flavors, and a Kool-Aid Man mascot.

Neighborhoods

Where people live in Hastings.

A quick guide to Hastings's most moved-to neighborhoods.

  • Downtown

    Historic core

  • Central Hastings

    Established residential

  • Hastings College area

    Near campus

  • Fremont Heights

    Residential

  • Juniata (nearby)

    Small town west

  • Ayr (nearby)

    Small community

Things To Do

Where people spend their time in Hastings.

  • Hastings Museum of Natural & Cultural History Central Hastings
  • Kool-Aid Days Festival (annual) Downtown
  • Hastings College Central Hastings
  • Rainbow Lake Central Hastings
  • Lake Hastings Central Hastings
  • Imperial Mall Central Hastings
What To Know

Planning a Hastings move.

  • Winter is severe; plan weather-buffer days November-March
  • Tornado risk is real in central Nebraska
  • Cost of living runs well below national averages
  • Hastings College calendar drives small rental spikes
Common Questions

Moving in Hastings: FAQ.

Is Kool-Aid really from here?

Yes, definitively. Edwin Perkins invented Kool-Aid in Hastings in 1927 by developing the powdered form of a preexisting liquid drink concentrate. The original Perkins house and manufacturing site are preserved. Hastings Museum has a dedicated Kool-Aid exhibit. Nebraska designated Kool-Aid as the official state soft drink in 1998. The annual Kool-Aid Days festival draws visitors from around the country.

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