Preston is a village in Richardson County in Southeastern Nebraska, United States.

The offspring of mixed marriages (primarily progeny of early French trappers and adventurers) were given land on the Half-Breed Tract.

[6] In February 1880 Philip R. Shelly, the town's founder, built a store and applied for a post office.

The town was then platted on a total of approximately 40 acres in 1881 by Shelly from a point running along the railroad tracks, where a siding was available, to the south.

He built one of the general stores and a drugstore, ran the saloon, and owned a livery stable.

In addition, he bought and sold cattle and hogs, shipping them to markets in St. Joseph (MO), Kansas City (KS), and Chicago (IL).

On Monday and Tuesday nights, the rail yards were busy as men loaded two or three carloads of livestock.

[9] Preston's first one-room school served the community until 1889, when a larger schoolhouse was built.

The two two-story hotels provided traveling men a place to stay overnight while selling their wares to the local merchants.

The proprietor who ran the business at the Central Hotel couldn't read or write, so he made an "X" whenever his written approval was needed.

[10] The local school provided a place for public events such as political debates at Third and Russell Streets.

The Central Hotel and Farmers National Bank were torn down and moved to Falls City.

The post office was made a rural branch in 1974 and the elementary school merged with Falls City.

The depot closed in 1953, although coal trains continue to rumble along the north side of town on a regular schedule.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2), all land.