Brown County

General

Population:  2,903
Land area (sq. mi.):  1,211.36
Population per square mile:  2.4

Race & Age

Race  2020

White:  90.6%
African American:  0.1%
American Indian:  0.2%
Asian:  0.2%
Hispanic:  6.1%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  2.8%

Age  2020

0-17:  21.7%
18-64:  52.4%
65+:  25.9%

Households

Total households:  1,350  2020
With one child:  110  2022
With 2+ children:  190  2022
With seniors (65+):  360  2022

Socioeconomics

Median household income:  $51,538  2023
% of population in poverty:  12.1%  2023
# of housing units:  1,642  2020
Owner-occupied rate:  70.0%  2020
Median home price:  $108,390  Q4 2024
2024 building permits for detached single family homes:  0
2024 building permits for non-detached housing units:  0 (townhouse, duplex, or apt. unit)

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable model):  85.8%  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:  2.0%  March 2025

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

High school graduate or higher:  95.5%  2020

School Districts:  Ainsworth Community Schools, Keya Paha County Schools, Rock County Public Schools, Sandhills Public Schools, Valentine Community Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  24.2%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  7 providers; 114 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.

Brown County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $278,750,000  2023

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $27,619,878  2022

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $54,735,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $327,657,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $7,190,000  2022

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

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity): 

• Ainsworth: CVA (393,000)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Local Grain Market:  Click for today's grain prices in Brown County

Cattle Producers: 156

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $29/acre  2024

Crop Producers: 93

• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $176/acre  2024

Electricity Providers:  Custer PPD, KBR Rural PPD, Nebraska PPD

Wind Turbines Operating (MW):  36 turbines (59,400 MW total)

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 Brown County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Brown 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 Brown County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Brown County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

Irrigation, Drinking Water, and Soils

Rural Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  1,266  2024

Rural Commercial/Industrial Wells:  7  2024

Rural Drinking Water Wells:  269  2024

Drinking Water Utility Connections:  1,099 Residential; 137 Commercial; 0 Industrial  2024

Irrigation/Livestock Wells per Square Mile:  1.05  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  27  2024

Click for real time:

Stream data on Long Pine Creek near Riverview

Groundwater level data along NE Hwy 7 four miles south of Ainsworth

Groundwater level data near S. Pine Ave. & Cattleman Rd. (23 mi. southeast of Ainsworth)

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)

2024 Levies and Valuations

County levy rate: $0.3388 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $3,663,550

Total local government property taxes levied: $12,203,803

Total countywide taxable valuation: $1,081,258,567

Federal PILT payment to Brown County (FY2024): $3,152 regarding 942 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Brown County

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: Tanya Storer (District 43)

Committees:

• Judiciary
• Transportation and Telecommunications

Map and statistics for Legislative District 43

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Brown County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 1

Year Authorized: 1883

Year Organized: 1883

Etymology: Disputed; Brown family (early Nebraska settlers); legislators who sponsored bill creating the county

     The exact origin of Brown County’s name is disputed, as several early settlers and senators who sponsored the county’s creation bore the last name of Brown. Although on the northeast edge of the Sandhills, Brown County was once part of an organized territory that stretched as far west as Sioux County. In 1883, Brown County was organized, only to be divided in half in 1888, giving rise to adjacent Rock County. 

     The early years of Brown County were characteristic of many counties in the Sandhills, namely, residents were largely ranchers and cowboys, veterans of the dwindling cattle drives in the late 1880’s. Later, covered wagons and various railroad lines introduced farmers who would later grow award-winning wheat in the region. Ainsworth (named for an engineer who help bring the railroad to the region) became the county seat in 1883, firmly establishing the city as a central place of commerce in north central Nebraska. 

     Today, Brown County continues that proud farming and ranching tradition. In the county seat of Ainsworth, the Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame celebrates the people who carry on that important way of life.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  75

Time Zone:  Central

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of Veterans:  169  2024

County Hospital:  Brown County Hospital

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  46

Number of County-Owned Dams:  1

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  80%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  2,066  2024

Number of Precincts:  3  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  1  2022

Land Area per Polling Place:  1,211.36 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: Middle Niobrara NRD, Upper Loup NRD

State Lands (acres): American Game Marsh WMA (160.55), Bobcat WMA (893), Keller WMA (640), Keller Park SRA (196), Long Pine WMA (160), Long Pine SRA (154), Pine Glen WMA (960), Plum Creek Valley WMA (1,320), South Pine WMA (442.96), Willow Lake B.C. WMA (511), Yellowthroat WMA (480)

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)