Buffalo County

General

Population:  50,084
Land area (sq. mi.):  968.22
Population per square mile:  52.0

Race

Race 2020

White:  84.1%
African American:  1.2%
American Indian:  0.3%
Asian:  1.3%
Hispanic:  10.1%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.1%
Two or More Races:  2.8%

Age 2020

0-17:  23.0%
18-64:  61.2%
65+:  15.8%

Households

Total households:  19,590  2020
With one child:  2,440  2022
With 2+ children:  3,470  2022
With seniors (65+):  4,380  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $64,345  2021
% of population in poverty:  13.0%  2022
# of housing units:  20,947  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  119
Owner-occupied rate:  63%  2020
Median home price:  $263,160  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable model):  87.1%  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:  1.8%  Sept. 2024

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

High school graduate or higher:  95.5%  2020

School Districts:  Amherst Public Schools, Ansley Public Schools, Centura Public Schools, Elm Creek Public Schools, Gibbon Public Schools, Kearney Public Schools, Pleasanton Public Schools, Ravenna Public Schools, Shelton Public Schools, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  24.2%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Central Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  105 providers; 4,053 children  2024

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

Buffalo County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $4,066,964  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $1,918,152,338  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $1,122,739,000  2021

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $527,052,00  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $36,047,000  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): 

• Elm Creek: CHS (3,684,000), KAAPA Ethanol (7,511,000)
• Gibbon: Cargill West (8,528,000)
• Kearney: The Andersons (565,413), Viterra (3,942,000)
• Riverdale: The Andersons (2,598,430), Viterra (2,832,000)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Railroad Miles:  158.20 main, 29.92 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Buda, Elm Creek, Gibbon, Kearney, Odessa, Ravenna, Shelton

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

Cattle Producers:  468

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $42/acre/yr  2024

Crop Producers:  491

• Dryland Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $137/acre/yr  2024

Dairy Producers:  2

Ethanol Plants (annual production capacity):  KAAPA Ethanol (130 million gallons)

Farmers Markets:

• Fairgrounds Farmers Market (June - October, Wednesdays 3 - 7 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
• Kearney Area Farmers Market - Hilltop Mall (May - October, Wednesdays 2 pm to 6 pm and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Kearney Night Market (Every First and Third Thursday from April 6th, 2017 until October 5th, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
• Ravenna Farmers Market (June - October, 4 - 7 p.m. on the 1st Friday of each month at 5 - 9 p.m.)

Electricity Providers:  Custer PPD, Dawson PPD, Nebraska PPD, Southern 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 Buffalo County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Buffalo 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 Buffalo County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Buffalo County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 3,790  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  3.91  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 91  2024

Click for real time:

Stream data on Elm Creek near the Village of Elm Creek

Stream data on the Platte River near Kearney

Stream data on the South Loup River at Saint Michael

Groundwater level data at Saint Michael

Groundwater level data near Kearney High School

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:  $0.3212 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $23,561,502

Total local government property taxes levied:  $124,151,294

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $7,335,203,440

Click here for all levy rates in Buffalo 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: Daniel D. McKeon (District 41)
Committees: Agriculture; Business and Labor; Government, Military and Veterans Affairs; Building Maintenance

Map and statistics for Legislative District 41

State Senator: Stanley Clouse (District 37)
Committees: General Affairs; Natural Resources; Urban Affairs; Streamlined Sales and Use Tax System; Rural Broadband Task Force

Map and statistics for Legislative District 37

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Buffalo County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 21

Year Authorized: 1855

Year Organized: 1870

Etymology: The American Bison

     Buffalo County was established in 1855 and named after the American Bison which once dominated the landscape. Prior to the arrival of white settlers, Buffalo County was fertile hunting ground claimed by both Pawnee and Sioux Native American tribes. The first settlers in Buffalo County were Mormons whose early settlement became a stopover for emigrants headed to Utah and Oregon. In 1848, due to westward migration, Fort Kearny was constructed as a formal way station, offering shelter, supplies, and protection in the form of soldiers and a fortified structure. Although the county initially consisted of a few homesteads and small communities, it quickly grew as settlers from the east and other parts of the country arrived in search of new opportunities.

     The first wave of settlers consisted primarily of farmers, ranchers, and traders. These early settlers were drawn to the area by the fertile soil, abundant water resources, and rolling prairies that were ideal for farming and livestock grazing. The arrival of the railroad in the 1870s further fueled the growth of the county, making it easier for settlers to move in and for crops and livestock to be transported to markets.

     Buffalo County played an important role in Nebraska’s early development. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the county was a major center of commerce and industry, with thriving agricultural and livestock industries, as well as manufacturing and transportation businesses. In addition, Buffalo County was a major player in the state's political and cultural development, with several influential politicians and cultural leaders hailing from the area. The county also played a key role in the nation's military history. During World War II, the area was home to several Army training centers, where thousands of soldiers were trained for service in Europe and the Pacific

     Today, Buffalo County is a vibrant and thriving community, with a rich history and a bright future. The county is home to a diverse population, including families, students, business owners, and farmers, as well as the University of Nebraska - Kearney. The area's strong agricultural and economic base, combined with its close proximity to the cities of Kearney and Grand Island, make it one of the fastest growing areas in Nebraska.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  9

Time Zone:  Central

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of Veterans:  2,644  2024

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  328

Number of County-Owned Dams:  4

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  77.0%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  31,434  2024

Number of Precincts:  29  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  24  2022

Land Area per Polling Place:  40.64 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: Central Platte NRD, Lower Loup NRD

State Lands (acres): Bassway Strip WMA (915), Blue Hole WMA (275.57), Bufflehead WMA (22.74), Coot Shallows WMA (43.35), East Odessa WMA (131.43), Fort Kearney SRA (186.18 Buffalo & Kearney), Kea Lake WMA (28.38), Kea West WMA (11.04), Kearney Rest Area EB (23.5), Kearney Rest Area WB (22.3), Sandy Channel SRA (180.57), Union Pacific SRA (37.95), War Axe SRA (25.07), University of Nebraska-Kearney (515), Windmill SRA (167)

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)