Fillmore County

General

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

Race & Age

Race  2020

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  2020

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

Households

Total households:  2,386  2020
With one child:  280  2022
With 2+ children:  390  2022
With seniors (65+):  770  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $66,187  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  9.2%  2022
# of Housing Units:  2,718  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  12
Owner-occupied rate:  77.6%  2020
Median home price:  $140,120  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  70.2%  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:  1.8%  Sept. 2024

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

High school graduate or higher:  93.2%  2020

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%  2020

Community College Service Areas:  Southeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  12 providers; 299 children  2024

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 (GDP):  $370,301,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $79,454,146  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $104,647,000  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 Fillmore County businesses by commuters or teleworkers residing outside of Nebraska.

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $466,638,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $16,891,000  2022

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

Cattle Producers:  116

Crop Producers:  308

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $165/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $307/acre  2024

Dairy Producers:  1

Ethanol Plants (annual production capacity):  POET (131 million gallons)

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity): 

• Exeter: Farmers (3,753,589)
• Fairmont: CPI (3,753,589), Farmers (1,018,772), Manning Grain (1,118,165), Manning Grain (5,643,953)
• Geneva: Aurora (870,000), Geneva Milling (1,699,680)
• Milligan: Farmers (3,514,458), Kassik Milling (1,325,935)
• Ohiowa: Farmers (2,206,707)
• Shickley: Shickley Grain (2,850,425)
• (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:  24.06 main, 7.29 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Exeter, Fairmont, Grafton

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)

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  2,219  2024

Irrigation/Livestock Wells per Square Mile:   3.86  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  142  2024

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 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: $0.2363 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $5,974,855

Total local government property taxes levied: $28,609,508

Total countywide taxable valuation: $2,528,714,539

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:  389  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  193

County Hospital:  Fillmore County Hospital

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  77.36%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  3,983  2024

Number of Precincts:  7  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  6  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  96.09 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. Election Assistance Commission, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)