Chase County

General

Population:  3,893
Land area (sq. mi.):  894.42
Population per square mile:  4.4

Race & Age

Race 2020

White:  82.4%
African American:  0.5%
American Indian:  0.1%
Asian:  0.3%
Hispanic:  14.4%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  2.2%

Age 2020

0-17:  25.3%
18-64:  53.5%
65+:  21.3%

Households

Total households:  1,575  2020
With one child:  170  2022
With 2+ children:  300  2022
With seniors (65+):  460  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $72,629  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  9.5%  2022
# of Housing Units:  1,850  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  20
Owner-occupied rate:  73.8%  2020
Median home price:  $219,400  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  50.4%  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:  1.7%  Sept. 2024

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

High school graduate or higher:  89.0%  2020

School Districts:  Chase County Schools, Perkins County Schools, Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  22.2%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Mid-Plains Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  6 providers; 136 children

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

Chase County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $467,467,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $58,891,411  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $66,900,000  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 Chase County businesses by commuters or teleworkers residing outside of Nebraska.

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $585,758,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $17,761,000  2022

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

Cattle Producers:  115

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $21/acre  2024

Crop Producers:  148

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $59/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $227/acre  2024

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• Enders: FVC (653,000)
• Imperial: AK Acres Popcorn Co. (1,474,000), FVC (9,514,000), Trinidad/Benham Warehouse (dry beans) (644,000)
• Lamar: The Scoular Company (6,748,013)
• Wauneta: FVC (3,161,000)
• (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:  104.12 main, 20.29 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Enders, Imperial, Wauneta

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

Oil & Gas Wells Producing (barrels of oil & thousand cubic ft of gas/yr):  9 wells (16,121 barrels; 0 MCF)  2023

Electricity Providers:  City of Imperial, Highline Electric Association, Midwest Electric Member Corp., Southwest PPD, Village of Wauneta

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  1,570  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  3.91  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  14  2024

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:  $0.1838 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $2,838,334

Total local government property taxes levied:  $16,239,668

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $1,544,632,498

Federal PILT payment to Chase County (FY2024):  $18,782 regarding 5,610 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Chase 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: Teresa J. Ibach (District 44)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Agriculture (vice chairperson)
• Business and Labor (vice chairperson)
• Nebraska Retirement Systems (vice chairperson)
• Judiciary

Select Committees:

• Rules

Special Committees: 

• Building Maintenance
• Legislature's Planning

Map and statistics for Legislative District 44

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Chase County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 7

Year Authorized: 1873

Year Organized: 1886

Etymology: Champion Chase (Nebraska’s first attorney general)

     From its earliest days, Chase County has been shaped by the presence of Native American tribes, the growth of agriculture, and the efforts of visionary individuals who sought to build a better future for themselves and their families.

     The earliest known inhabitants of the area were various Native American tribes, including the Pawnee, Sioux, and Cheyenne. These tribes lived in the region for hundreds of years, hunting and fishing in the rolling hills and valleys.

     European settlers began to arrive in the area in the 1860s, and despite the harsh climate and limited resources, these early settlers persevered and built a thriving agricultural community. To this day, agriculture is still one of the main industries in Chase County and remains a source of pride and heritage for many of its residents. Despite being situated near the "Great American Desert," Chase County's surprisingly fertile soil produces bountiful harvests of wheat, beans, beets, and corn.

     Chase County is known for its natural beauty, including parks, nature reserves, and other outdoor recreational areas. One of the most popular of these is the Wauneta Roller Mill, a historic grist mill that was built in the late 1800s and has been preserved as a museum and park. Another popular attraction is the Enders Reservoir, which offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and is a popular spot for hiking, bird-watching, and other outdoor activities.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  72

Time Zone:  Mountain

Number of Veterans:  240  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  27

Number of County-Owned Dams:  1

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  77.63%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  2,409  2024

Number of Precincts:  5  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  5  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  179.50 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: Upper Republican NRD

State Lands (acres): Enders Reservoir SRA (990), Enders Reservoir WMA (4,359), Wanamaker WMA (160)

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)