Garden County

General

Population:  1,874
Land area (sq. mi.):  1,705.37
Population per square mile:  1.1

Race & Age

Race  2020

White:  91.9%
African American:  0.2%
American Indian:  0.2%
Asian:  0.1%
Hispanic:  4.7%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.1%
Two or More Races:  2.4%

Age  2020

0-17:  19.4%
18-64:  51.5%
65+:  29.1%

Households

Total households:  883  2020
With one child:  70  2022
With 2+ children:  100  2022
With seniors (65+):  280  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $51,563  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  16.8%  2022
# of Housing Units:  1,181  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  6
Owner-occupied rate:  69.2%  2020
Median home price:  $109,010  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  3.4%  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://gardencounty.ne.gov/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher:  94.4%  2020

School Districts:  Creek Valley Schools, Garden County Schools, South Platte Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  23.1%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Western Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  3 providers; 84 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.

Garden County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $92,773,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $23,385,132  2021

• 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 a Garden County business by commuters or teleworkers residing outside of Nebraska.

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $20,881,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $125,361,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $4,204,000  2022

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

Cattle Producers:  89

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $14/acre/yr  2024

Crop Producers:  71

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• Lisco: Crossroads (542,000)
• Oshkosh: FVC (378,000), Oshkosh Grain (725,475)
• (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:  66.20 main, 3.14 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Lisco, Lewellen, Oshkosh

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

Oil & Gas Wells Producing (barrels of oil & thousand cubic ft of gas/yr):  5 wells (11,666 barrels)

Electricity Providers:  Nebraska PPD, PREMA, Wheat Belt PPD

Wind Turbines Operating (MW):  1 turbine (MW unknown)

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  1,415  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  0.83  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  38  2024

Click for real time:

Groundwater level data in Crescent Lake NWR (3.5 mi. NW of Crescent Lake)

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: $0.4788 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $4,026,869

Total local government property taxes levied: $9,015,809

Total countywide taxable valuation: $841,080,566

Federal PILT payment to Garden County (FY2024): $670 regarding 200 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Garden County

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Levy limits

Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to levy limits under 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

Garden County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 7

Year Authorized: 1909

Year Organized: 1909

Etymology: Aspiration to become a "garden spot" of the west

     Along with Banner County, Garden County derives its name from the lofty aspirations of its residents. Established in 1909 after separating from Deuel County to the south, Garden County’s moniker was result of local real estate agents attempting to brand the area to attract more residents. The county also has strong ties to settlers who moved west from Wisconsin. In fact, the county seat, Oshkosh, was founded by the Oshkosh Land and Cattle Company, one of whose founders hailed from Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

     Garden County is rich in 19th century history. During the 1800’s, numerous groups of people passed through the area. The county was initially part of the Sioux tribe’s territory. Settlers headed to California for the gold rush, as well as Mormons traveling to Utah, passed through the arid land. As the U.S. government continued its westward expansion into Native American lands, battles between native tribes and soldiers increased, and Garden County was no exception. It witnessed several bloody battles between the U.S. Army and the Sioux tribes, including that of renown Lakota leader Chief Red Cloud.

     Though many settlers from the eastern U.S. arrived to farm the land, their early misperceptions about the soil and climate led to widespread agriculture failure. Instead, ranching emerged as the dominant livelihood, while farming became limited to near the North Platte River Valley. 

Each year, the Garden County courthouse employees reach out to help a person or family in need. Previous endeavors have included partnering with Volunteers of America to help local families buy toys for Christmas. Last year, the group raised money for a family with two members who were undergoing a serious medical procedure. This year, the group is helping a community member with numerous medical issues and bills. This spirit of public service and community care is a hallmark of not only the courthouse employees, but all of Garden County. 

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  77

Time Zone:  Mountain

Number of Veterans:  156  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  12

County Hospitals:  Regional West Garden County Hospital

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  84.59%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  1,343  2024

Number of Precincts:  4  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  All Voting by Mail

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource Districts: North Platte NRD

State Lands (acres): Ash Hollow State Historical Park (389), Clear Creek WMA (6,118 Garden & Keith), Crescent Lake WMA (86.20)

Federal Lands (acres): Crescent Lake NWR (45,703)

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)