Fillmore County

General

Population: 5,551
Land area (sq. mi.): 575.37
Population per square mile: 9.6

Race & Age

Race

White: 93.3%
African American: 0.4%
American Indian: 0.3%
Asian: 0.2%
Hispanic: 3.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 2.5%

Age

0-17: 19.8%
18-64: 57.0%
65+: 23.1%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $68,697
% of Population in Poverty: 8.5%
# of Housing Units: 2,718
Owner-occupied rate: 77.6%
Median home price: $105,360

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 70.2%

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: 1.7% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://fillmorecountyne.gov/webpages/board/board_members.html

High school graduate or higher: 93.2%

School Districts: Bruning-Davenport Public Schools, Exeter-Milligan Public Schools, Fillmore Central Public Schools, Friend Public Schools, Heartland Community Schools, McCool Junction Public Schools, Meridian Public Schools, Shickley Public Schools, Sutton Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.4%

Community College Service Areas: Southeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity: 11 providers; 289 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.

Fillmore County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $370,301,000

Cattle Producers: 116

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.): $39/acre

Crop Producers: 308

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.): $161/acre
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.): $279/acre

Dairy Producers: 1

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Aurora Cooperative, CPI, Farmers Union Coop, POET

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

Farmers Market: Geneva Farmers Market (June - October, Tuesdays 5 - 6 p.m.)

Electricity Providers: Nebraska PPD, Perennial PPD, South Central PPD, Village of Fairmont, Village of Shickley

Wind Turbines Operating (MW): 15 turbines (6,900 MW total)

Rail-served Communities: Exeter, Fairmont, Grafton

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells: 2,209

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation): 142

Groundwater level data at Rd. J & Rd. 20 (7 miles northeast of Geneva)

Groundwater level data between Rd. J & Rd. K / Rd. 20 & Rd. 21 (7.25 miles northeast of Geneva)

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: $0.2378 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $5,764,277

Total local government property taxes levied: $28,635,338

Total countywide taxable valuation: $2,423,957,887

Click here for all levy rates in Fillmore 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: Tom Brandt (District 32)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Natural Resources
• Transportation and Telecommunications

Map and statistics for Legislative District 32

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Fillmore County History

Year Authorized: 1856

Year Organized: 1871

Number of Registered Historic Places: 17

Etymology: Millard Fillmore (13th U.S. president)

     Fillmore County, established in 1856 and formally organized in 1871, was named after Millard Fillmore, who assumed the presidency following Zachary Taylor’s death in July of 1850. Initially, the county experienced slow growth, due mainly to the railroad line running just north of the county. However, in 1871, the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company moved the planned rail line five miles south, placing its projected path just inside Fillmore County. The arrival of the railroad helped generate a mild population boom starting in the 1870’s; the county grew to over 16,000 residents by 1890.

     In 1871, the county formally removed itself from Saline County and organized its present-day borders. Originally, the county seat’s name was “Henry,” but was quickly changed to “Geneva.” The origin over the change is disputed. Some sources believe Geneva, New York or Geneva, Switzerland was the namesake, while others report that the name was suggested by a young child who wanted to name the town after Geneva, Illinois, her family’s former home. Regardless, the decision over the county seat and its name appears to have been amicably reached among residents and officials (unlike in other Nebraska counties, where the county seat was a source of major contention).

     Southeast Nebraska became home to several immigrant communities, and these enclaves also established roots in Fillmore County, including Swedish, Czech, and German settlements. The Fillmore County Courthouse was built in 1894 and later included a three-story clocktower. The courthouse still stands today and is one of the most unique courthouse structures in Nebraska.

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number: 34

Time Zone: Central

Number of Veterans: 392

Zoned County: Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 193

County Hospital: Fillmore County Hospital

Election Data

General Election Turnout % (2022): 61.40%

Total Registered Voters (2020): 4,028

Number of Precincts (2020): 9

Number of Election Day Polling Places (2020): 6

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.) (2020): 95.90 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: Little Blue NRD, Upper Big Blue NRD

State Lands (acres): Bluebill WMA (80), Marsh Hawk WMA (173), Redhead WMA (171.30), Sandpiper WMA (160), Sora WMA (310.09)

Federal Lands (acres): Brauning WPA (240), Griess WPA (20), Krause WPA (534.26), Mallard Haven WPA (1,246), Miller's Pond WPA (130.78), Morphy WPA (89.54), Rauscher WPA (250.75), Rolland WPA (128.56), Wilkins WPA (529.63)

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)