Surprise is a village in southwestern[4] Butler County, Nebraska, United States.

[5] White people began settling southwestern Butler County in about 1866.

In 1881, George Miller built a gristmill on the Big Blue River.

In 1887, the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad established a depot in Surprise, resulting in further expansion of local businesses.

Events held at the latter included local gatherings, lectures, musical performances, and moving pictures.

The opera house's role in the community declined after about 1917, as increasing automobile ownership enabled residents to attend events at larger facilities in David City, Seward, and Osceola.

Its businesses included a brick factory and two grain elevators; it was an important shipping point for livestock, and exported ice cut from the millpond in the winter.

29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13.3% of families and 19.6% of the population living below the poverty line, including 22.2% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.