Chase County

General

Population:  3,718
Land area (sq. mi.):  894.42
Population per square mile:  4.2

Race & Age

Race 2024

White:  77.8%
African American:  0.4%
American Indian:  0.0%
Asian:  1.7%
Hispanic:  17.9%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  2.2%

Age 2024

0-17:  24.5%
18-64:  51.4%
65+:  24.4%

Households

Total households:  1,476  2024
With one child:  150  2023
With 2+ children:  290  2023
With seniors (65+):  240  2023

Socioeconomics

Median household income:  $68,173  2024
% of Population in Poverty:  10.1%  2024
# of Housing Units:  1,870  2024
Owner-occupied rate:  73.8%  2024
Median home price:  $172,740  Q4 2025
2024 building permits for detached single family homes:  13
2024 building permits for non-detached housing units:  0 (townhouse, duplex, or apt. unit)

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  94.6%  2025

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:  2.7%  February 2026

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

High school graduate or higher:  89.2%  2024

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

Bachelor's degree or higher:  24.1%  2024

Community College Service Area:  Mid-Plains Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  6 providers; 168 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):  $433,592,000  2024

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $68,394,198  2023

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $74,893,000  2022

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

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

• Enders: FVC (653,000)
• Imperial: AK Acres Popcorn Co. (1,474,000), FVC (9,514,000), Trinidad/Benham Warehouse (dry beans) (644,000)
• Lamar: Scoular (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

Cattle Producers:  115

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $20/acre  2024

Crop Producers:  148

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $51/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $250/acre  2024

Oil & Gas Wells Producing (barrels of oil & thousand cubic ft of gas/yr):  9 wells (12,498 barrels; 0 MCF)  2025

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

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

Irrigation, Drinking Water, and Soils

Rural Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  1,578  2026

Rural Commercial/Industrial Wells:  6  2026

Rural Drinking Water Wells:  198  2026

Drinking Water Utility Connections:  1,137 Residential; 166 Commercial; 3 Industrial  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  1.76  2026

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)

2025 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate:  $0.161 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $3,005,006

Total local government property taxes levied:  $16,688,094

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $1,863,892,962

Federal PILT payment to Chase County (FY2024):  $19,399 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:

• Agriculture
• Business and Labor
• Revenue
• Committee On Committees
• Reference
• Rules
• Executive Board

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:  157  2026

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  25

Number of County-Owned Dams:  1

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  78%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  2,383  2024

Number of Precincts:  5  2024

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  5  2024

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  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)