Hamilton County

General

Population: 9,386
Land area (sq. mi.): 842.11
Population per square mile: 17.4

Race

White: 93.8%
African American: 0.5%
American Indian: 0.4%
Asian: 0.4%
Hispanic: 4.0%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%

Age

0-17: 24.0%
18-64: 55.5%
65+: 20.5%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $65,739
% of Population in Poverty: 6.7%
# of Housing Units: 4,115
Owner-occupied rate: 79.3%
Median home price: $193,590

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 79.6%

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: 1.8% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://hamiltoncountyne.com/home/employment/

High school graduate or higher: 96.4%

Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.6%

Countywide child care capacity: 9 providers; 213 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.

School Districts: Aurora Public Schools, Central City Public Schools, Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools, Giltner Public Schools, Hampton Public Schools, Harvard Public Schools, Heartland Public Schools, High Plains Public Schools, Sutton Public Schools

Hamilton County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $662,747,000

Ag. Producers (Cattle): 141

Ag. Producers (Crop): 377

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Aurora Cooperative, Central Valley Ag

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

Electricity Providers: City of Giltner, Howard Greeley Rural PPD, Perennial PPD, Polk County Rural PPD, South Central PPD, Southern PPD, Village of Hampton

Rail-served Communities: Aurora, Giltner, Hampton, Hordville, Phillips

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: $0.1732 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $5,284,306

Total local government property taxes levied: $38,501,780

Total countywide taxable valuation: $3,050,699,069

Click here for all levy rates in Hamilton 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: Loren Lippincott (District 34)
Committees: Appropriations

Map and statistics for Legislative District 34

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Hamilton County History

Year Founded: 1870

Number of Registered Historic Places: 6

Etymology: Alexander Hamilton (U.S. Secretary of the Treasury)

One-hundred years ago, what was termed at the time as "one of the finest courthouses in Western Nebraska" burned to the ground. But before 1894 came to a close, Hamilton County residents rallied together and began work on a $60,000, three-story, brick and stone courthouse. Next year Hamilton County residents will be rallying once more. This time it will be to celebrate the centennial of their grand courthouse building.

Located on Central Park Square, in the heart of downtown Aurora, the symmetrically-arranged courthouse features a tower on each corner and a center tower measuring 150 feet high. Over the years, very few alternations have been made to the courthouse. Much of its original ornate woodwork is still in place today.

The 100-year-old courthouse is actually the third to serve the county, which was organized in 1867 and named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, who was Secretary of the Treasury in George Washington's cabinet. The county's first courthouse was built in 1870 in a settlement named Orville City, which was platted along the Blue River. Orville City was intent on remaining the county seat, despite efforts to the contrary.

In 1873 a petition was filed to move the county seat to Aurora. An election followed and Aurora prevailed. Commissioners, however, refused to move and a court order was issued against them. The commissioners fought it up to the Supreme Court, which ruled against Aurora.

Not to be deterred, Aurora residents brought the issue to a second vote of the electorate the following year and again prevailed. The commissioners still refused to move. At that point, 150 supporters of Aurora traveled to Orville City and captured the county records. A court order, however, forced them to be returned to the original county seat.

It would take three subsequent elections before Aurora finally became the county seat. To ensure its victory would stand, Aurora townspeople in 1877 built, without expense to the county, the courthouse that would eventually burn down in 1894.

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License Plate Number: 28

Time Zone: Central

Zoned County: Yes

Number of Veterans: 703

Voter Turnout (2022): 61.64%

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

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 128

State Lands (acres): Deep Well WMA (238.30), Gadwall WMA (90), Pintail WMA (478.42)

Federal Lands (acres): Nelson WPA (160), Springer WPA (640), Troester WPA (421.50)

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)