Laurel sits roughly 40 miles east of Norfolk, Nebraska, west of Sioux City, Iowa, and south of Yankton, South Dakota.

[4] Laurel was founded in 1893 and was originally named Claremont Junction.

The present name is after Laura Martin, the daughter of one of the city's founders.

In 2021 the city completed its last phase of a $2.6 million Downtown Revitalization Project which included removing the median from and pouring new concrete on East 2nd (Main) Street, widening the downtown sidewalks, and constructing a new city hall which houses the city offices, senior center, and can be used for parties and events.

Also in 2021 the city opened its new fire hall in thanks to fundraising and donations.

The volunteer fire department and EMS are housed out of the hall.

This was part of a $25 million bond that passed in 2021 by a single vote, 596–595.

Laurel is served by four community churches: As well as two churches in nearby Concord, Nebraska: At the 2010 census, 964 people in 415 households, including 263 families, lived in the city.