Harlan County

General

Population: 3,091
Land area (sq. mi.): 553.47
Population per square mile: 5.6

Race & Age

Race  2020

White: 94.6%
African American: 0.0%
American Indian: 0.2%
Asian: 0.4%
Hispanic: 2.9%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 1.9%

Age  2020

0-17: 21.6%
18-64: 51.1%
65+: 27.2%

Households

Total households:  1,355  2020
With one child:  120  2022
With 2+ children:  210  2022
With seniors (65+):  440  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $63,131
% of Population in Poverty:  10.5%
# of Housing Units:  1,915
2023 housing unit building permits:  9
Owner-occupied rate:  81.8%
Median home price:  $162,960

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  59.5%  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://harlancounty.ne.gov/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher:  93.4%  2020

School Districts:  Alma Public Schools, Franklin Public Schools, Holdrege Public Schools, Loomis Public Schools, Southern Valley Schools, Wilcox-Hildreth Public Schools

Bachelor's degree or higher:  23.8%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Central Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  1 providers; 80 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.

Harlan County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  $233,273,000  2022  

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $27,429,379  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 Harlan County business for telework that is performed partially outside of Nebraska.

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $52,637,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $187,091,000  2022

Farm & Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $7,705,000  2022

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

Cattle Producers:  137

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $35/acre  2022

Crop Producers:  125

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $103/acre
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $260/acre

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• Alma: CHS (3,419,000)
• Orleans: Ag Valley (4,907,324)
• Ragan: CPI (5,597,000)
• Republican City: CPI (282,000)
• (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:  48.69 main, 6.70 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Alma, Flynn, Mascot, Orleans, Oxford, Republican City, Stamford

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers:  Ag Valley, CHS, CPI

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

Farmers Markets:

• Alma Farmers Market (Saturdays, 9 AM - Noon)
• Orleans Farmers Market (June - September, Fridays 5 - 7 PM)

Oil Wells Producing (barrels of oil/yr):  29 wells (42,121 barrels)

Electricity Providers:  Southern PPD, Twin Valleys PPD, Village of Oxford

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

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  1,292  2024

Irrigation/Livestock Wells per Square Mile:  2.33  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  97  2024

Click for real time:

Streamflow data on the Republican River near Orleans

Streamflow data on Sappa Creek near Stamford

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:  $0.2305 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $2,762,800

Total local government property taxes levied:  $15,588,465

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $1,198,612,026

Federal PILT payment to Harlan County (FY2024):  $89,715 regarding 30,537 federally-owned acres

Click here for all levy rates in Harlan 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: Dave Murman (District 38)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings): 

• Education (chairperson)
• Revenue

Select Committees:

• Committee on Committees

Map and statistics for Legislative District 38

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Harlan County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 7

Year Authorized: 1871

Year Organized: 1871

Etymology: Disputed; James Harlan (either a politician or revenue collector)

     Originally, Harlan County was the hunting ground for several Native American tribes, most notably the Cheyenne and Sioux, who valued the land for its fertile soil, abundant game, and numerous rivers and streams. To defend their territory, these tribes began conducting a series of raids after European settlers began staking claims in the area. However, after winning the Battle of Summit Springs in 1869, the U.S. Army successfully suppressed any further raids and uprisings, thereby securing the settlement of south-central Nebraska, including Harlan County.

     In 1871, a group of pioneers from Wyoming settled near what would become the county seat, Alma. One of these settlers was named Thomas Harlan, though historians dispute whether he or James Harlan (the contemporary Secretary of the Interior) was the county’s namesake. In any event, Thomas Harlan’s party of settlers firmly established Alma as the county seat, though neighboring towns also grew in size and challenged Alma for this honor, including Orleans. As in many other counties, the dispute for the county seat reached the Nebraska Supreme Court, who ruled in favor of Alma.

     The county steadily grew in population over the next several decades, aided by the fertile soil and abundant water. In 1935, the Republican River flooded, prompting calls for a dam to be built. However, it was not until 1952 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finally completed the Harlan County Dam, which in turn created one of the county’s gems, the Harlan County Reservoir. Today, Harlan County is a one of Nebraska’s premier recreation destinations.

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

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Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  51

Time Zone:  Central

Number of Veterans:  207  2023  

Zoned County:  Yes

County Hospital:  Harlan County Health System

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  47

Number of County-Owned Dams:  6

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  77.98%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  2,360  2024

Number of Precincts:  2  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  3  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  553.47 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource District: Lower Republican NRD

State Lands (acres): Burton's Bend WMA (77 Furnas, Harlan & Red Willow), South Sacramento WMA (167), Southeast Sacramento WMA (185.05)

Federal Lands (acres): Harlan County Reservoir (31,010)

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)