Burt County

General

Population: 6,709
Land area (sq. mi.): 491.59
Population per square mile: 13.7

Race

White: 91.4%
African American: 0.8%
American Indian: 2.5%
Asian: 0.4%
Hispanic: 3.9%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.1%

Age

0-17: 23.3%
18-64: 51.9%
65+: 24.8%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $56,557
% of population in poverty: 11.5%
# of housing units: 3,333
Owner-occupied rate: 75.9%
Median home price: $123,900

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable model): 76.0%

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: 2.0% (as of September 2022)

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

High school graduate or higher: 90.9%

Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.3%

School Districts: Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools, Logan View Public Schools, Lyons-Decatur Northeast Schools, Oakland Craig Public Schools, Tekamah-Herman Community Schools, West Point Public Schools

Countywide child care capacity: 11 providers; 122 children

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

Burt County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $302,309,000

Ag. Producers (Cattle): 107

Ag. Producers (Crop): 112

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Central Valley Ag, Farmers Pride

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

Electricity Providers: Burt County PPD, City of Lyons, Cuming County PPD, Nebraska PPD, Omaha PPD, Village of Decatur

Rail-served Communities: Oakland, Lyons

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 Valuations

County levy rate: $0.2454 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $4,609,507

Total local government property taxes levied: $29,436,710

Total countywide taxable valuation: $1,878,649,374

Click here for all levy rates in Burt 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: Ben Hansen (District 16)
Committees: Agriculture, Business and Labor, Government, Military and Veterans Affairs

Map and statistics for Legislative District 16

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Burt County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 14

Year Authorized: 1854

Year Organized: 1854

Etymology: Francis Burt (1st Territorial Governor)     

     Burt County was originally home to several Native American tribes, including the Pawnee, Omaha, and Winnebago, who lived and hunted in the region for centuries before the arrival of European settlers. The presence of these tribes has had a lasting influence on the county, and their cultural heritage is still evident today in the local museums, historical sites, and Native American ceremonies that take place in the area.

     In the early 1800s, European settlers began to arrive in Burt County, drawn by the fertile soil and abundant wildlife. The area was soon transformed by the arrival of the homesteaders, who cleared the land, built homes and farms, and established new communities. Burt County quickly became an important center of agriculture, with crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans being grown in large quantities. In addition, the county was home to a thriving livestock industry, with cattle, pigs, and sheep being raised on the rolling prairies.

     After the Civil War, the county experienced a period of rapid growth and development, as the population increased and new businesses were established. The arrival of the railroad in the 1870s was another important event in the history of Burt County. The railroad completely transformed the county, making it easier for goods and people to be transported, opening up an array of new markets. The railroad also helped to spur the growth of the county's agriculture and livestock industries, as crops and livestock could now be easily transported to previously unreachable markets.

     Burt County boasts a wide variety of flora and fauna, including prairie grasses, wildflowers, and deciduous trees. The county is also home to a large number of wetlands and waterways, which provide habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including waterfowl, fish, and mammals. Uniquely, a popular hunting and fishing area called Tieville Bend is in a portion of Burt County on the eastern side of the Missouri River.

     The county has a rich cultural heritage, with a number of historic sites and landmarks that tell the story of the area's past. One of the most important of these is the Burt County Courthouse, which was built in 1884 and is one of the oldest courthouses in the state of Nebraska. Other important landmarks in the county include the Burt County Historical Society Museum, which contains a large collection of local artifacts and memorabilia, and the former Burt County Jail, which was built in 1873 and is now a museum dedicated to the history of the county.

     In recent years, Burt County has continued to evolve and grow, with new industries and businesses being established in the area. Today, the county is a thriving and vibrant community, with a strong economy and a high quality of life. Despite its rapid growth, Burt County has remained true to its roots, and its residents are proud of their rich cultural heritage and the important role that the county has played in the history of the state of Nebraska.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

License Plate Number: 31

Time Zone: Central

Zoned County: Yes

Number of Veterans: 491

Voter Turnout (2022): 58.32%

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

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 141

Number of County-Owned Dams: 1

State Lands (acres): Pelican Point SRA (36.41), Summit Lake SRA (535)

Federal Lands (acres): Little Sioux Bend (190), Middle Decatur Bend - north (690), Middle Decatur Bend - south (187), Tieville Bend (1,013)

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)