Boone County

General

Population:  5,379
Land area (sq. mi.):  686.54
Population per square mile:  7.8

Race & Age

Race  2020

White:  94.0%
African American:  0.4%
American Indian:  0.3%
Asian:  0.1%
Hispanic:  3.4%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  1.7%

Age  2020

0-17:  24.2%
18-64:  52.8%
65+:  23.0%

Households

Total households:  2,253  2020
With one child:  230  2022
With 2+ children:  400  2022
With seniors (65+):  750  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $63,171  2021
% of population in poverty:  9.6%  2022
# of housing units:  2,554  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  4
Owner-occupied rate:  75.6%  2020
Median home price:  $205,770  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable model):  61.3%  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 (building permits), U.S. Census Bureau (demographics), U.S. Census Bureau (municipalities)

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate:  1.6%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://boonecountyne.gov/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher:  94.5%  2020

School Districts:  Boone Central Schools, Elgin Public Schools, Elkhorn Valley Schools, Fullerton Public Schools, Newman Grove Public Schools, Riverside Public Schools, St. Edward Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  19.0%  2020

Community College Service Areas:  Central Community College, Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  14 providers; 228 children  2024

Find child care:  For a list of child care providers by zip code, visit Nebraska DHHS or the Nebraska Resource and Referral System.

Boone County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $436,175,000  2020

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $51,943,474  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $103,302,000  2022

• Nonfarm small business receipts are reported by partnerships & sole proprietorships and do not include receipts reported by cooperative associations. Nonfarm wage income may include wages earned from Boone County businesses by commuters or teleworkers residing outside of Nebraska.

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $674,763,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $14,787,000  2022

• Farm & ranch receipt totals for commodity sales and operations are reported by producers operating principally in Boone County and include those producers' receipts from production in other counties. The totals do not include receipts from sales and operations in Boone County reported by producers operating principally in other counties.

Cattle Producers:  213

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $46/acre  2024

Crop Producers:  276

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $187/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $315/acre  2024

Dairy Producers:  1

Ethanol Plants (annual production capacity):  Valero Renewable Fuels (135 million gallons)

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• Albion: Cargill (4,740,000)
• Cedar Rapids: Country Partners (2,511,050)
• Petersburg: CVA (1,385,000)
• St. Edward: CVA (1,940,000)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Other Grain Purchasers:

• Albion: Pillen Family Farms, Niewohner Farms

Railroad Miles: 60.72 main, 9.06 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Albion, Boone, Cedar Rapids, Primrose, St. Edward

Local Grain Market:  Click for today's grain prices per bushel in Boone County

Farmers Markets:  Petersburg Farmers Market (May - October, Saturdays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Electricity Providers:  Cornhusker PPD, Elkhorn Rural PPD, Loup River PPD

Wind Turbines Operating (MW):  113 turbines (177,070 MW total)

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  2,075  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  3.02  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  82  2024

Click for real time:

Groundwater level data near Beaver Creek and 150th Ave. (6.5 mi northwest of Petersburg)

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 Valuations

County levy rate:  $0.1850 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $4,642,704

Total local government property taxes levied:  $24,158,637

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $2,509,566,259

Click here for all levy rates in Boone 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) (Valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land): "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: Daniel D. McKeon

State Senator: Fred Meyer (District 41)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Education
• Revenue

Special Committees: 

• Executive Board of the Legislative Council (chairperson)
• Reference (chairperson)
• Legislative Performance Audit
• Legislature's Planning

Map and statistics for Legislative District 41

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Boone County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 6

Year Authorized: 1871

Year Organized: 1871

Etymology: Daniel Boone (pioneer and frontiersman

     Named for the famous Kentucky frontiersman, Boone County was originally the plentiful hunting territories of the Sioux and Pawnee tribes. In the 1860’s, the first white settlers began exploring the area, and 1871, a few began constructing sod houses along Beaver Creek. Four months after the Legislature organized the county in March of 1871, three commissioners were sworn into office. They immediately began settling the debate over which town would serve as the county seat. Both Albion and Boone challenged for the honor, but Albion won the county election. Absent a courthouse, county officials met in an Albion hotel until the building was finished in 1897. A new courthouse would later be constructed and dedicated in 1976.

     Boone County is also home to the Olson Nature Preserve, 112 acres of various ecosystems, including prairie, wetlands, and forest. The original owners, Grant and Bernice Olson, left the property to local scout troops and the Albion public school system. Eventually, the land became an outdoor classroom that now features several hiking trails and a summer enrichment program for local youth.
 

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  23

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  305  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

County Hospital:  Boone County Health Center

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  192

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  84.59%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  3,660  2024

Number of Precincts:  9  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  All Voting by Mail

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: East Central

Natural Resource Districts: Lower Loupe NRD, Lower Platte North NRD

State Lands (acres): Beaver Bend WMA (26.99)

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)