Blaine County

General

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

Race & Age

Race  2020

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  2020

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

Households

Total households:  199  2020
With one child:  20  2022
With 2+ children:  30  2022
With seniors (65+):  60  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $54,658  2021
% of population in poverty:  17.7%  2022
# of housing units:  299  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  Data unavailable
Owner-occupied rate:  65.8%  2020
Median home price:  $91,780  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable model):  54.7%  2021

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau (demographics), U.S. Census Bureau (municipalities)

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate:  3.7%  Sept. 2024

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

High school graduate or higher:  94.1%  2020

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

Bachelor's degree or higher:  23.1%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Mid-Plains Community College

Blaine County Economy

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

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $10,002,258  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $6,078,000  2021

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $34,191,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $1,222,000  2022

• For components of nonfarm small business receipts, nonfarm wage income, and farm & ranch commodity sales and operations receipts, see "Notes" below.

Cattle Producers:  82

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $20/acre/yr  2024

Crop Producers:  29

Railroad Miles: 27.31 main, 0.80 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Dunning, Halsey

Electricity Provider:  Custer PPD

Notes

• Nonfarm small business receipts are reported by partnerships and sole proprietorships. They do not include receipts reported by cooperative associations.
• Nonfarm wage income is reported based upon the wage earner's residential address; therefore, it also includes wages earned by Blaine County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Blaine County by residents of other counties or states.
• Nonfarm wage income excludes wages earned by anyone claimed as a dependent.
• Farm and ranch commodity sales receipts and operations receipts are reported based upon the farm or ranch owner's principal county of operations; therefore, those figures also include receipts reported by producers operating principally in Blaine County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Blaine County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  428  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  0.60  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  17  2024

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 Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, Nebraska Public Service Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of the Treasury (IRS), Warehouse and Commodity Management Division (USDA)

2023 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 (FY2024): $34,769 regarding 10,722 federally-owned acres

Federal SRS payment to Blaine County (FY2024): $8,030 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-Elect: Tanya Storer

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  2023

Zoned County:  No

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  17

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  59.77%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  362  2024

Number of Precincts:  1  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  1  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  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. Election Assistance Commission, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)