Gibbon is located in Buffalo County just east of Kearney, between Wood River and Kearney along US Hwy 30, near the Platte River and the Pioneer Trail.
The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 1,476, a decrease of 49 since 1990.
A siding was built during the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1866. It was named Gibbon Switch in honor of General John Gibbon. Gibbon was laid out and a settlement commenced on April 7, 1871 by a colony of 85 families from Ohio and other eastern states.