Although settled in 1886, Gering officially became a town in 1887 by a corporation headed by Oscar Gardner of Broken Bow, Nebraska and named for Martin Gering, a pioneer merchant with whom Gardner started the first dry goods store.

[4][5] Union Pacific Railroad platted the town in 1887, but did not lay any track until 1910.

The city of Scottsbluff was founded across the North Platte River from the bluff in 1899, by a subsidiary of the Burlington Railroad, and had track and a makeshift depot by 1900.

[6] Separated only by the river, the two cities have since grown together and now form the 7th largest urban area in Nebraska.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.30 square miles (11.14 km2), all of it land.

[8] Gering is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The 2020 United States census[11] counted 8,564 people, 3,089 households, and 2,261 families in Gering.

In 1922, Gering started its annual Oregon Trail Days, a celebration that takes place during the second week of July each year.

The Oregon Trail Days weekend kicks off with the community barbecue on Thursday night.

Saturday morning the community gathers for the annual Oregon Trail Days Parade.

This is followed by the annual Chili-Cookoff in Oregon Trail Park, and a concert at Five Rocks Amphitheater on Saturday evening.

Gering has been served by public transit since January 10, 2018, with two bus routes provided by Tri-City Roadrunner.