Deuel County

General

Population:  1,838
Land area (sq. mi.):  439.85
Population per square mile:  4.2

Race & Age

Race  2020

White:  91.7%
African American:  0.1%
American Indian:  0.4%
Asian:  0.3%
Hispanic:  5.4%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  0.0%

Age  2020

0-17:  21.8%
18-64:  50.7%
65+:  27.5%

Households

Total households:  834  2020
With one child:  70  2022
With 2+ children:  100  2022
With seniors (65+):  230  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $46,682  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  12.2%  2022
# of Housing Units:  1,048  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  1
Owner-occupied rate:  75.8%  2020
Median home price:  $117,680  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  0.0%  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:  2.5%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://co.deuel.ne.us/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher:  89.9%  2020

School Districts:  Creek Valley Schools, South Platte Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  20.7%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Western Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  3 providers; 64 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.

Deuel County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $118,177,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $18,263,491  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $24,407,000  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 Deuel County businesses by commuters or teleworkers residing outside of Nebraska.

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $73,563,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $10,396,000  2022

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

Cattle Producers:  49

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $17/acre  2024

Crop Producers:  38

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $44/acre/yr  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $195/acre/yr  2024

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity): 

• Big Springs: Ag Valley (4,417,635)
• Chappell: FVC (1,727,000), FVC (1,727,000)
• 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:  53.08 main, 1.49 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Big Springs, Chappell

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

Electricity Providers:  City of Chappell, Highline Electric Association, Nebraska PPD, Wheat Belt PPD

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  347  2024

Irrigation/Livestock Wells per Square Mile:  0.79  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  17  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)

2022 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate:  $0.4575 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $2,071,203

Total local government property taxes levied:  $6,519,847

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $452,742,788

Click here for all levy rates in Deuel 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-Elect: Paul E. Strommen

State Senator: Steve Erdman (District 47)

• Appropriations

Select Committees:

• Rules (chairperson)
• Committee on Committees

Map and statistics for Legislative District 47

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Deuel County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 5

Year Authorized: 1889

Year Organized: 1889

Etymology: Deuel family (early Nebraska settlers)

     Prior to the arrival of European settlers, Deuel County was the hunting ground of the Oglala and Brule tribes. As more and more pioneers moved into western Nebraska, frequent battles erupted between the settlers claiming land tracts and Native Americans protecting their ancestral homes.

     Originally, Deuel County composed the eastern part of Cheyenne County. At the time of its founding in 1889, Deuel County also included Garden County until 1909. At that time, Garden County split away, leaving the southern settlements to Deuel County.

     The county seat, Chappell, was named after Charles Henry Chappell, a key railroad official charged with numerous construction projects in western Nebraska. According to local accounts, shipments would arrive near the end of the line bearing very simple directions: “Send to Chappell.” The moniker stuck, and the settlement forever bore the railroad man’s name. The county itself was also named after a railroad official: Henry Deuel.

     However, designation of the county seat was another matter. Following the organization of Deuel County, three towns vied to become the county seat during a special election: Chappell, Big Springs, and Froid. Although Chappell had 275 eligible voters and Big Springs had 200 eligible voters, the special election witnessed remarkable and dubious tallies. Chappell reported over three thousand votes for their town while Big Springs claimed over five thousand votes. Deuel County’s early integrity apparently persisted in Froid though, which reported just under three hundred votes. Due to the obvious deceit in election reporting, a judge ordered a new election. Ultimately, it would take two more elections before Chappell claimed the prize as county seat.

     Today, Deuel County is a farming community responsible for growing oats, millet, milo, alfalfa, but most of all, wheat. Deuel County’s prodigious wheat production supports its motto: Deuel County, Where Wheat is King.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  78

Time Zone:  Mountain

Number of Veterans:  159  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  16

Number of County-Owned Dams:  1

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  72.52%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  1,412  2024

Number of Precincts:  3  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  2  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  220.36 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: South Platte NRD

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)