The author Willa Cather lived in Red Cloud for several years with her family, starting in 1883 at age nine. She used the town as inspiration for several in her novels, including Black Hawk in "My Ántonia". In addition to writing about the city Cather also published while living in Red Cloud. The "Red Cloud Chief", the city's first newspaper, published early contributions from the author. Several 19th-century buildings described in her books are included in the Willa Cather Historic District, the largest district dedicated to an author that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Her childhood home is part of the district.