Blaine County

General

Population: 431
Land area (sq. mi.): 710.69
Population per square mile: 0.6

Race & Age

Race

White: 92.1%
African American: 0.2%
American Indian: 0.0%
Asian: 0.2%
Hispanic: 2.6%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 4.9%

Age

0-17: 21.0%
18-64: 58.6%
65+: 20.4%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $62,594
% of population in poverty: 13.3
# of housing units: 299
Owner-occupied rate: 65.8%
Median home price: $91,780

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable model): 54.7%

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate: 3.3% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://nebraskacounties.org/nebraska-counties/county-employment-opportunities.html

High school graduate or higher: 94.1%

School Districts: Anselmo-Merna Public Schools, Loup County Public Schools, Sandhills Public Schools, Sargent Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher: 23.1%

Community College Service Area: Mid-Plains Community College

Blaine County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $28,843,000

Cattle Producers: 82

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $17/acre/yr

Crop Producers: 29

• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $144/acre/yr

Electricity Provider: Custer PPD

Rail-served Communities: Dunning, Halsey

Well Locations (Irrigation/Livestock), Soils, Groundwater & Surface Water

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 401

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 17

Click for real time stream flow data in the

• Middle Loup River at Dunning (every 15 minutes)

• North Loup River at Brewster (every 15 minutes)

Click the section numbers in the grid below the map for annual groundwater levels.

Note: Geocodes in the map's squares are in the grid next to Township & Range (T&R).

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau

2022 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate: $0.2209 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $783,102

Total local government property taxes levied: $3,360,111

Total countywide taxable valuation: $354,518,194

Federal PILT payment to Blaine County (FY2022): $30,713 regarding 10,722 federally-owned acres

Federal SRS payment to Blaine County (FY 2022): $5,982.91 regarding the Nebraska National Forest

Click here for all levy rates in Blaine County

Agricultural Land Valuation Market Areas

Commercial Land Valuation Groups

Residential Land Valuation Groups

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Levy limits

Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to the levy limits listed in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3442 and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3443.

Statutes and regulations

Nebraska Revised Statutes (Chapter 77)

Nebraska Administrative Code (Title 350)

Local tax reductions, exemptions, and credits:

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-902(5)(a) (Deed "stamp tax" exemption): "The [stamp tax] shall not apply to: ... (5)(a) Deeds between spouses, between ex-spouses for the purpose of conveying any rights to property acquired or held during the marriage, or between parent and child, without actual consideration therefor."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-201(2) (Agricultural land and horticultural land valuation): "Agricultural land and horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359 shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, unless expressly exempt from taxation, and shall be valued at seventy-five percent of its actual value, except that for school district taxes levied to pay the principal and interest on bonds that are approved by a vote of the people on or after January 1, 2022, such land shall be valued at fifty percent of its actual value."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-6703(1) (Tax credit for school district taxes paid): "(1) For taxable years beginning or deemed to begin on or after January 1, 2020, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, there shall be allowed to each eligible taxpayer a refundable credit against the income tax imposed by the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967 or against the franchise tax imposed by sections 77-3801 to 77-3807. The credit shall be equal to the credit percentage for the taxable year, as set by the department under subsection (2) of this section, multiplied by the amount of school district taxes paid by the eligible taxpayer during such taxable year."

Sources: Nebraska Department of Revenue

State Senator: Tom Brewer (District 43)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings):

• Government, Military and Veterans Affairs (chairperson)
• Agriculture

Special Committees:

• State-Tribal Relations

Map and statistics for Legislative District 43

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Blaine County History

Year Authorized: 1885

Year Organized: 1886

Etymology: James G. Blaine (Congressman, Senator, and President candidate)

     Although named for the Republican Party's 1884 presidential candidate, Blaine County owes a greater debt to George Washington Brewster, who helped settle the area at great personal expense. While other homesteaders departed the region after surveying the soil quality and lacking rainfall, Brewster established his homestead near the North Loup River. Beginning in 1884, Brewster spent considerable money helping to build the town, including constructing a bridge and establishing a newspaper.

     Ladora was originally selected as the county seat in 1886. However, in 1887, Blaine County held a general election, during which the town of Brewster became the county seat. The county set about constructing a courthouse that lasted for nearly twenty years before a fire forced construction of a new courthouse in 1907. That structure then enjoyed remodeling and the construction of an addition in the 1960’s and 70’s and now continues to serve Blaine County residents as their courthouse today.

     Another important structure in Blaine County today is the Millburn Diversion Dam on the Middle Loup River, completed in 1956. It provides irritation for local farmers, as well as enjoyment downstream of the dam for canoers and kayakers.

Blaine County Historical Township & Range Maps

Highlight an important program in your county in this space! Send an email to:

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 86

Time Zone: Central

Number of Veterans: 53

Zoned County: No

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 17

Election Data

General Election Turnout % (2022): 59.77%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 362

Number of Precincts (2020): 1

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): 1

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.) (2020): 710.69 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: North Central/Sandhills

Natural Resource Districts: Upper Loup NRD

State Lands (acres): Milburn Dam WMA (672)

Sources: Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Secretary of State, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)