Loretto was originally called Loran, in honor of Loran Clark, a pioneer settler, but when it was discovered another town of that name already existed elsewhere in the state, it was renamed Loretto in order to avoid repetition.[5] The present name is after Loreto, in Italy.[6] A post office was established at Loretto in 1888, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1971.[7][8] A state bank named Loretto State Bank was established in 1909.[9] At its peak in the 1920s Loretto was also home to a cheese factory, several general stores, a butcher shop, and hotel.[10]
Geography
Loretto is located in north-central Boone County along Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Loup River. Nebraska Highway 14 passes through the CDP, leading southeast 7 miles (11 km) to Albion, the county seat, and north 6 miles (10 km) to Petersburg.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Loretto CDP has a total area of 0.27 square miles (0.7 km2), all land.