Chase County

General

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

Race & Age

Race

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

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

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $69,366
% of Population in Poverty: 8.2%
# of Housing Units: 1,850
Owner-occupied rate: 73.8%
Median home price: $164,420

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 50.4%

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: 1.6% (as of September 2022)

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

High school graduate or higher: 89.0%

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

Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.2%

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 (2020): $312,830,000

Cattle Producers: 115

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

Crop Producers: 148

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $50/acre
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $224/acre

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: FVC

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): 8 wells (17,317 barrels; 0 MCF)

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

Rail-served Communities: Enders, Imperial, Wauneta

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 1,566

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 14

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 Valuation

County levy rate: $0.1956 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $2,846,168

Total local government property taxes levied: $16,120,257

Total countywide taxable valuation: 1,455,499,568

Federal PILT payment to Chase County (FY2022): $16,481 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

Zoned County: Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 27

Number of County-Owned Dams: 1

Election Data

General Election Turnout % (2022): 64.11%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 2,500

Number of Precincts (2020): 5

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): 5

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.) (2020): 178.88 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)