Wahoo was founded in 1870. The town's name comes from the eastern wahoo, a shrub found on the banks of Wahoo Creek. The town was originally built up chiefly by predominantly Czech, German, and Scandinavian settlers.
At the 2010 census there were 4,508 people, 1,801 households, and 1,131 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 1,962 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 94.5% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5%. Of the 1,801 households 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.2% were non-families. 33.3% of households were one person and 16.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.08. The median age was 38.7 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.
At the 2000 census, there were 3,942 people, 1,583 households, and 992 families living in the city. The population density was 1,841.1 people per square mile. There were 1,669 housing units at an average density of 779.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 98.40% White, 0.15% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population. There were 1,583 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.2% of households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 3.08. The population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males. The median household income was $35,104, and the median family income was $46,094. Males had a median income of $31,729 versus $22,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,765. About 7.5% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Cultural references
Beginning in February 1996, the city was denoted the location of the "home office" that produces the top-10 list for David Letterman's Late Show program, having relocated from Grand Rapids, Michigan. The town had lobbied Letterman for the status for months. It had the Nebraska legislature proclaim him an admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska, as well as inundate Letterman with letters, postcards, and bribes of flowers, clothing, animals, alcoholic beverages, shredded money, and free checkups at the Wahoo Medical Center. When Letterman jokingly said he wanted more, Wahoo sent him a '76 Ford Pinto with a sofa attached to the hood, a wall clock made of cow droppings, and two of the town's teenagers, brothers Jeff and Josh Price. This brought some degree of fame and tourism to the town. The nightly recap of the show on the CBS web site is titled The Wahoo Gazette.
Education
operates the area public schools. Wahoo Public High School has the distinction of having of the third-longest boys' high school basketball winning streak—114 straight games—from 1987–88 through the 1991–92 seasons, winning four state championships. Wahoo was also the home of the now defunct John F. Kennedy College.
