Garfield County

General

Population:  1,813
Land area (sq. mi.):  569.33
Population per square mile:  3.2

Race & Age

Race  2020

White:  96.6%
African American:  0.2%
American Indian:  0.0%
Asian:  0.0%
Hispanic:  1.3%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander:  0.0%
Two or More Races:  1.8%

Age  2020

0-17:  18.5%
18-64:  52.6%
65+:  28.9%

Households

Total households:  776  2020
With one child:  70  2022
With 2+ children:  110  2022
With seniors (65+):  250  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $48,806  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  12.2%  2022
# of Housing Units:  1,053  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  5
Owner-occupied rate:  68.4%  2020
Median home price:  $156,910  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  44.6%  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:  1.7%  Sept. 2024

County Employment Website:  https://garfieldcounty.ne.gov/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher:  95.9%  2020

School Districts:  Burwell Public Schools, Chambers Public School, Wheeler Central Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  29.3%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Northeast Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  5 providers; 98 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.

Garfield County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $88,337,000  

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $35,662,675  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 Garfield County business by commuters or teleworkers residing outside of Nebraska.

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $27,687,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $116,130,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $6,486,000  2022

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

Cattle Producers:  121

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $29/acre/yr  2024

Crop Producers:  52

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $225/acre/yr  2024

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

Electricity Providers:  City of Burwell, Custer PPD, Loup Valleys Rural PPD, Niobrara Valley Electric Membership Corp.

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  447  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  0.79  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  67  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)

2023 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate:  $0.3086 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $4,569,101

Total local government property taxes levied:  $7,876,984

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $508,502,285

Federal PILT payment to Garfield County (FY2024):  $6,941 regarding 2,073 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Garfield 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: Tanya Storer

State Senator: Tom Brewer (District 43)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings):

• Government, Military and Veterans Affairs (chairperson)
• Agriculture

Special Committees:

• State-Tribal Relations

Map and statistics for Legislative District 43

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Garfield County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 3

Year Authorized: 1884

Year Organized: 1884

Etymology: James Garfield (20th U.S. president)

     Originally part of Wheeler County, Garfield County split off and became organized in 1884. Its name pays tribute to President James Garfield, who was assassinated in 1881. Although Burwell is perhaps the county’s best-known community, early odds were on the town of Willow Springs to become Wheeler County’s enduring city. However, the railroad ended up passing through Burwell, spurring a population boom that dried up Willow Springs. In 1890, county residents voted to move the county seat to Burwell, whose proximity to the railroad, river, and fertile farmland drew residents from the rest of the county. In fact, Garfield County once featured nearly a dozen towns, but today, Burwell remains the only incorporated community.

     Following Burwell’s election as the county seat, residents built the first courthouse. Unlike many other county courthouses which lasted only a few decades, Garfield County’s first courthouse lasted until the early 1960’s, despite its humble wooden structure. In 1963, the county completed construction of its current courthouse. Notably, U.S. Senator Roman Hruska, formerly the NACO president, delivered the dedication for the new courthouse.

     Garfield County is a county of mixed and beautiful topography. The northern part of the county witnesses the beginnings of the Sandhills, the southern half offers fertile farmland, and the southeast corner features the twisting, scenic North Loup River. Notably, the river does not derive its name from its “looping” path, but from the French word for “wolf.” The river was named for a band of Pawnee Native Americans whose name was translated as “Wolf People.”

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

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  83

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  109  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  13

County Library:  Garfield County Library

Election Data

Voter Turnout:  78.30%  2024

Number of Registered Voters:  1,304  2024

Number of Precincts:  2  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  1  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  571.38 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: North Central/Sandhills

Natural Resource District: Lower Loup NRD

State Lands (acres): Calamus Fish Hatchery (136), Calamus Reservoir WMA (9,942 Garfield & Loup), Mirdan Canal WMA (52)

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)